Simeon’s Prophecy

In our reading from Luke, Joseph and Mary take the baby Jesus from Bethlehem to Jerusalem, about a 6-mile walk, to be circumcised at the Temple of God on the eighth day as Moses commanded. Here they ran into a man named Simeon, who was devout, full of the Holy Spirit, and who listened to the Holy Spirit. Luke says that Simeon had been told by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before the Messiah, the Savior of Israel would arrive.

Deuteronomy 31:9-13; Psalm 50; John 15:1-8; Luke 2:22-40

That day, he was led by the Holy Spirit to go into the Temple court and he was led to Jesus and His parents. The Child was here to be consecrated to God, set aside for God’s work. Taking the boy in his arms, he chanted over Jesus a song:

“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
For my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.”

What a prophecy! Imagine this happening to you and your child! Was Jesus just this beautiful? Or did Simeon have such a view of the future?

I think the latter, for Luke specifically talks about the relationship between Simeon and the Holy Spirit. Simeon truly was prophesizing, and he knew what he was saying. This child will be the glory – not “a” glory, but “the” glory – of Israel, and a light to bring revelation – the knowledge of God – to the Gentiles – all those people who were not Jewish. This child would be the salvation of humankind.

And Simeon now felt his life could end.

This is the degree of change finding Jesus can bring upon a life. When you find Jesus, you no longer fear your life ending. You are ready to move on in peace.

Those who fight growing old, who fear becoming older, who have a deep-seated fear of death – need to understand Jesus more deeply.

So Simeon was at peace with God and his life because he had found the Christ. Then Simeon issued a second prophecy:

“This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. “

Notice the odd word order. “Falling and rising”. Many will fall and others will rise.

The child will be a sign – of what? A sign that will be spoken against, and the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed by their words against Jesus.

So far, the prophecy is about others and their relationship to the child. How people speak about Jesus reveals their hearts. But now Simeon spoke ominously:

“And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

What frightening words for parents to hear! I suspect a deep worry set in their hearts, and that was why it was easy for Joseph to take the family off suddenly to Egypt a couple years later when Herod commanded the death of the young boys in Bethlehem.

And for us who know Jesus, swords pierce our souls, too, when a dear friend dies without knowing Christ. Our hearts ache for those who grow older and avoid church, for those who behave as though they will never die, for those who sit in the hospital or home in anger at growing old. Knowing Christ would erase the fear of death that underlies that anger.

Do such prophecies still occur, like Simeon gave about Jesus?

Denzel Washington claims that as a teenager, a prophecy was made that he would preach to the nations. Denzel became an actor, a filmmaker. His films can be rough, gritty, violent, bloody. But buried in his films are his intense faith that is preached to his audiences. These are not feel-good films – they are full of the life that is lived in the real world of the inner city, the apocalypse, the Third World. And yes! Christ is preached around the world in Washington’s films.

Yes, these prophecies still occur. And prophecy is just one part of a life committed to God – the icing on the cake, if you will.

A covenant is needed between us and God – a contract, if you will. God will fulfill God’s side of the covenant and give us eternal life, as well as substantial healing in this life. Will we fulfill our side by giving ourselves to God’s care, recognizing that we are too weak to live eternally on our own, recognizing that without God’s guidance we will continue to harm ourselves and others, recognizing that God is God – and we are not?