Luk 2:28 | KingComments | STEP | After doing to the Lord Jesus what had to be done according to the law, the words “and there was“ direct our gaze to “a man in Jerusalem”. He is one of the many men in Jerusalem, but he is a man with special characteristics. His name is “Simeon”, which means “hear”. He has learned to listen to the voice of the Lord. This can also be seen in his life. He is “righteous” to other people and “devout” Godward. He lives with a view to the honor of God. That is why he also has love for God’s people, who are in so terrible a condition. He is also a man with expectations for the future. He is “looking for the consolation of Israel“, which he knows will come. He knows that from the Scriptures. The Holy Spirit likes to connect Himself with such a person. In Simeon we see the God-fearing remnant that recognizes the Lord as the Coming One according to what the Spirit works in them. Among the remnant are those who are aware of the misery and decay of Israel, but who at the same time are waiting for the God of Israel in faith for His unshakable faithfulness for the consolation of His people. They keep crying: “How long?” ( ). We see still more in Simeon. We see in him the Spirit of sonship. He who possesses the Spirit of sonship and is guided by Him is someone with whom God can have fellowship and share His thoughts. God can make His thoughts known to Simeon. Simeon expects the consolation of Israel and the first to be consoled is he himself. He believes all God’s promises with a view to the consolation of Israel. He also believes the promise of God for him personally. It must have been a great encouragement for him to hear that he will see the Christ of the LORD, Yahweh , with his own eyes. Simeon comes into the temple, not by a star or by a dream or by an angel, but by the Holy Spirit Who is upon him. He is led by the “Spirit of sonship” ( ). A man like Simeon who is so guided by the Spirit comes into the temple at the right time. He comes into the temple and there walk Joseph and Mary with the Child Jesus. He does not need to ask whether the Child that this couple has with them is the Christ of the Lord. The Spirit makes this clear to him. The shepherds have seen the angel and bow down before the Child. The wise men have seen the star and bow down before the Child. Simeon takes the Child into his arms. He embraces Him and encloses Him in His Heart. In his arms lies the salvation of the world and peace for the earth. In fact, whoever encloses the Child in his heart has the salvation and peace already in his heart, while there is no peace on earth yet. If you have Christ in your arms, you can only praise God.

‏ Luke 2:28

Simeon Takes the Child Into His Arms

After doing to the Lord Jesus what had to be done according to the law, the words “and there was“ direct our gaze to “a man in Jerusalem”. He is one of the many men in Jerusalem, but he is a man with special characteristics. His name is “Simeon”, which means “hear”. He has learned to listen to the voice of the Lord. This can also be seen in his life. He is “righteous” to other people and “devout” Godward. He lives with a view to the honor of God. That is why he also has love for God’s people, who are in so terrible a condition. He is also a man with expectations for the future. He is “looking for the consolation of Israel“, which he knows will come. He knows that from the Scriptures. The Holy Spirit likes to connect Himself with such a person.

In Simeon we see the God-fearing remnant that recognizes the Lord as the Coming One according to what the Spirit works in them. Among the remnant are those who are aware of the misery and decay of Israel, but who at the same time are waiting for the God of Israel in faith for His unshakable faithfulness for the consolation of His people. They keep crying: “How long?” (Psa 6:3 ; Psa 13:2 ; Psa 35:17 ; Psa 79:5 ; Psa 89:46 ; Psa 90:13 ; Psa 94:3).

We see still more in Simeon. We see in him the Spirit of sonship. He who possesses the Spirit of sonship and is guided by Him is someone with whom God can have fellowship and share His thoughts. God can make His thoughts known to Simeon. Simeon expects the consolation of Israel and the first to be consoled is he himself. He believes all God’s promises with a view to the consolation of Israel. He also believes the promise of God for him personally. It must have been a great encouragement for him to hear that he will see the Christ of the LORD, Yahweh, with his own eyes.

Simeon comes into the temple, not by a star or by a dream or by an angel, but by the Holy Spirit Who is upon him. He is led by the “Spirit of sonship” (Rom 8:15). A man like Simeon who is so guided by the Spirit comes into the temple at the right time. He comes into the temple and there walk Joseph and Mary with the Child Jesus.

He does not need to ask whether the Child that this couple has with them is the Christ of the Lord. The Spirit makes this clear to him. The shepherds have seen the angel and bow down before the Child. The wise men have seen the star and bow down before the Child. Simeon takes the Child into his arms. He embraces Him and encloses Him in His Heart. In his arms lies the salvation of the world and peace for the earth. In fact, whoever encloses the Child in his heart has the salvation and peace already in his heart, while there is no peace on earth yet. If you have Christ in your arms, you can only praise God.