The Testimony of Simeon: Jesus is God's Salvation for All

New King James Version:
Luke 2:25-35 NKJV And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. (26) And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. (27) So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, (28) he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: (29) "Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; (30) For my eyes have seen Your salvation (31) Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, (32) A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel." (33) And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. (34) Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (35) "(yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."

Ang Bag-ong Testamento (Gihubad sa pinulongang Cebuano gikan sa Griego, by Dr. Gadiel T. Isidro):
Lukas 2:25-35  Karon may usa ka tawo didto sa Jerusalem ang iyang ngalan Simeon, kini siya matarung ug diosnon, nga naghulat sa paglipay sa Israel ug an Balaang Espiritu  nagsangkap kaniya  (26) Ug gipadayag kaniya sa Balaang Espiritu nga dili siya mamatay kong dili pa niya makita ang Kristo sa Ginoo.  (27) Ug miadto siya sa templo pinaagi sa Espiritu ug didto usab gidala sa iyang mga ginikanan ang Batang Jesus aron ilang buhaton sumala sa sulondon sa balaod mahitungod kaniya.  (28) Ug iyang gidawat siya ngadto sa iyang mga bukton ug nagdayeg sa Dios nga naga-ingon: (29) Karon buhi-i na O Ginoo ang imong ulipon nga may kalinaw sumala sa imong pulong. (30) Tungod kay ang akong mga mata nakakita na sa imong kaluwasan, (31) Nga imong giandam sa atubangan sa dagway sa tanang mga tawo, (32) Ang kahayag ngadto sa pagpadayag sa mga nasud, ug ang himaya sa mga tawo sa Israel. (33) Ug ang iyang amahan ug inahan natingala sa mga gisulti mahitungod kaniya. (34)  Ug si Simeon nanalangin kanila ug miingon kang Maria nga iyang inahan: Kini nga bata gipabarug aron sa pagpukan ug sa pagbangon sa daghan sa Israel ug usa ka ilhanan nga pagasupakon, (35) Ug mahitungod kanimo, ang usa ka pinuti molagbas sa imong kalag, aron ang mga pagpamalandong sa mga kasingkasing ikapadayag.

Introduction

Last Sunday we got to meet a credible witness testifying who Jesus is while Jesus was still a baby presented by Mary and Joseph in the temple according to the custom of the Law. Jesus was still 40 days old at this time when Simeon, our credible witness, providentially met the baby Jesus and His parents in the temple. Luke gathered in testimonies of witnesses who attested to the identity of Jesus while Jesus did not do any miracles yet or teach the public about Himself and God’s kingdom.

I.        Simeon, the credible witness – v. 25

A. He was from Jerusalem

B. He was just or righteous

C. He was devout

D. He was looking for the Consolation of Israel

E. The Holy Spirit was upon him

II.     The Influence of the Holy Spirit on Simeon – v. 26, 27

A. Revealed to him that he will see the Messiah – v. 26

B. Led him to meet the Messiah – v. 27

Today, we will study what Simeon has said about Jesus Christ.

III.  The Testimony of Simeon – v. 30-35

Simeon serves as a crucial, divinely inspired, faithful, righteous witness to the identity of this little baby.

A. Jesus is God’s salvation. – v. 30

God is a saving God. It is God's salvation that he sees in the Jesus the Messiah. God has sent His salvation because God has sent, as Zacharias called Him in 1:69, the horn of salvation, who is the Messiah. Here, Simeon’s praise flows because God's salvation has come, because God's Savior has come.

He understood that salvation was the word for deliverance and it could mean deliverance from your enemies and those who oppress you. But it wasn't just deliverance from other nations.  It wasn't just the extension of the borders to fit the original covenant of God with Abraham.  Zacharias knew; Mary knew that this child would not just extend the borders of Israel, would not just bring sovereignty back to Israel over all its enemies, but would bring forgiveness of sin and eternal salvation with it.  That's all embodied in that word because when Jesus was named Jesus, it was not because He would save His people from their enemies; it was because He would save His people from their sins, Mat. 1:21. 

Yes there will be a national deliverance through the Messiah, the kingdom will be established in Israel, the Messiah will rule over Israel.  They will be a sovereign state ruled by the sovereign Lord. And they will not only have a sovereign Lord ruling them, but they will be the sovereign nation ruling the world as Messiah mediates His rule through Israel.  There will be sovereignty.  All their enemies and oppressors will be destroyed and broken.  There will be an earthly extension of the promises of the Abrahamic Covenant, but even more than that, there will be eternal salvation and the forgiveness of sins.  Messiah will save His people from their sins.[i]

To see Jesus is to see God’s salvation.[ii]

B. Jesus is the glory of Israel – v. 32b

Simeon says, "For my eyes have seen Your salvation Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel." Jesus serves as light in two distinct ways. For Gentiles he is a revelation. This term refers to his opening up the way of salvation to the nations in a way unknown before his coming. But for Israel, God’s people, Jesus is glory—that is, his activity represents the realization of promises made by God and thus shows Israel’s special place in his heart (Is 46:13).[iii]

Simeon sees the fulfillment of all the hopes and dreams of the Jewish people across the centuries. All of God’s promises are coming true. The salvific covenants that He made with them will be fulfilled by and through the Messiah. The Davidic, Abrahamic and New covenants will be accomplished and Israel will be restored. That’s what Simeon means when he calls Jesus “the glory of Israel.”

Israel will be forgiven and be saved then restored. Isaiah 46:13  I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.

Jesus is also the glory of Israel because salvation is from the Jews, the Savior is a Jew, the truth about God and His work of redemption was revealed to and through the Jews first.

C. Jesus is a light to lighten or bring revelation to the gentile nations – v. 32a

Again, Simeon says, "A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel." While it is easy for us to understand now, the Jews believed that the Messiah would come and be their Messiah and establish their kingdom. And with the establishment of that kingdom they would rule over the Gentile world. But Simeon here says God has brought a Savior and prepared salvation in the presence of all people to be a light of revelation to the Gentiles as well as the glory of Israel.  This is shocking information to many of the Jews.

Many Jews hated what Gentile stood for, anti-God, anti-Scripture, desecration of the true and living God, violation of the first and great commandment to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, violators of the first commandment not to have any other gods, violators of making no images commandment.  They saw them as violators of God's commands.  They saw them as blasphemers.[iv]

Remember our study in Ephesians, the dividing wall of hostility in the temple. The Gentiles cannot come closer or else they will be put to death, for Gentiles are unclean for the Jews. That’s Jewish perspective of the Gentiles.

Simeon explicitly says that this baby will not only be the glory of his own people Israel. He will also be the light of revelation for the Gentiles. He’s not just for Israel. He didn’t come just for their benefit. He came to shine a light of the revelation of God into every nation, every tribe, every kindred and every tongue. Through Jesus, the way back to God, His salvation and His righteousness was revealed to the gentiles. The cross demonstrates it and all the world came to know His mercy and forgiveness.

God’s salvation is for all people. Simeon here says, "God has brought with the Messiah a salvation that has been prepared in the presence of all peoples and the Messiah is called a light of revelation to the Gentiles." Salvation has been prepared by God but it's been prepared for the whole world because God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  And that message is consistent throughout all the Scripture.  The Great Commission: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations.” God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. The salvation that Christ offers is not just for the Jews but for anyone who will believe in Him.

This light language comes from the Old Testament and is not new to Simeon. Let’s quote just three verses from Isaiah and we will close here.

Isaiah 9:2  The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

Isaiah 42:6  I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; He's talking to the Messiah. That's a conversation between God the Father and God the Son. And God the Father says to the Son who is called the servant in this chapter, "I will appoint you as a light to the nations.”

Isaiah 49:6  And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.

Conclusion

This goes to show that Simeon was familiar with the Old Testament, yet in his salvation he trusted God and not on his own efforts of carefully following the Law. He understood that it is God who will forgive sins and who will provide a Savior, the Messiah. He understood that the Law cannot save anyone. He was waiting for God’s Messiah and when they met, he said, “my eyes have seen Your salvation”.

Simeon is telling us something crucial. By sending his Son to the earth, he is not only fulfilling his promises to the nation. He is also bringing to the world a Savior for all people everywhere.

Mary and Joseph knew their child was the virgin-born Son of God. They knew He was the Son of David.  They knew He would reign on David's throne forever and ever.  They knew He was Israel's Savior who would fulfill all the covenants and all Old Testament promises.  They knew He would bring the kingdom of God on earth with peace and joy and righteousness.  They knew He would be a child for the redemption of His people and a horn of salvation for them, but for the whole world?  This was way beyond their understanding. The whole thing was just beyond their grasp.[v] That’s why the marveled in verse 33.

What do you believe about Jesus Christ? Simeon is telling us here that He is God’s salvation for all people. He will not be your Savior until you will acknowledge that there is nothing you can do to be saved from God's judgement or penalty of sin. And He will be your Savior if you repent and believe Jesus Christ to be your Savior and Lord, nothing else and no one else. It’s your decision to make. He is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”[vi]

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[i] John MacArthur. MacArthur New Testament Commentary.

[ii] Bock, D. L. (1994). Luke. The IVP New Testament commentary series (Lk 2:22). Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press.

[iii] Ibid.

[iv] John MacArthur

[v] Ibid.

[vi] 2 Peter 3:9