DAY 15
Simeon, the Elder
Unlike most popular versions of the Nativity story, Luke’s doesn’t end at the manger, and the three
Magi do not appear. Instead, like any Jewish newborn of the day, Jesus is circumcised eight days
later and is presented at the Temple in Jerusalem (Luke 2:21–22). At this occasion, a devout man
named Simeon rejoices to see the Messiah and gives a prophecy concerning him (Luke 2:29–32).
Who is this Simeon character that just appears from the shadows into the Gospel story? Luke only
included one thing about Simeon – he was “righteous and devout,” waiting for the consolation of
Israel (the Messiah). Simeon was a faithful follower of God.
God revealed to Simeon that he would not see death until he beheld the Lord’s Christ (Luke 2:26), the
comforter of Israel who would fulfill all the promises of the Abrahamic and Davidic covenants, the One
who would bring both personal and national salvation. Simeon counted the days until God revealed
what he had promised to him personally.
We don’t know how long Simeon waited, but we do know that he was led by the Spirit to go to the
temple that day, and he recognized Jesus the moment he saw Him.
Imagine the scene in the temple that day. An old man, stooped and praying, coming often to the
temple expecting to see the Messiah. He was probably seen as an eccentric, the one we make jokes
about – you know the ones we roll our eyes at?
Simeon, and generations before him, waited for the coming of the One who would console God’s
people. But unlike those around him, Simeon still believed God would save His people. He believed
the promise of a coming Servant-King, the son of David threaded throughout the law and the
prophets. He may not have understood everything he read, but he knew enough to believe. Simeon
knew enough to listen to the Holy Spirit’s whisper and was more in tune with God than the scholars
who were paid to study and the scribes who were paid to teach.
And then the day came...the day he would finally meet his Savior. In this child Simeon saw the
fulfillment of all the hopes and dreams of the Jewish people down through the centuries, and he was
overjoyed.
Simeon’s own name comes from a word that means “to hear intelligently.” And he is portrayed as
deliberately listening to God’s Spirit. We are told that the Holy Spirit rested on him (v. 25), the Holy
Spirit showed things to him (v. 26), and the Holy Spirit moved him (v. 27).
The outcome of Simeon’s listening is one of the most tender scenes in Scripture: Simeon enters the
temple to discover Mary and Joseph with their newborn. Then he picks up baby Jesus (v. 28). He has
the distinction of being the only person in the Bible who we are explicitly told held the Christ child in
his arms.
In that act, he provided a striking visual of not just meeting Jesus but receiving Him unto himself. As
Simeon gazed into the brand-new eyes of the Ancient of Days, Christ for him went from being “God
with us” to “God with me.” Nothing outwardly about Simeon’s life had changed, yet he told God he
could die in peace (Luke 2:29). His inner disquiet had been calmed by Christ, and his soul was at
rest.
There is so much to learn from Simeon’s life. HIs perseverance, his attentive listening to God in a
cynical age, his worship of the baby Jesus. But what is most important about Simeon was his
relationship with Jesus. Simeon could die not because he’d checked off all the right religious boxes or
performed all the outward rituals of the Jewish faith, but because he put his faith in the God-man.
We all should do the same.
Look Up – Connect with God
Read: Luke 2:22-35
Key Verse: “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.” (Luke 2:26)
Pray: Father God, what a tremendous and encouraging story of faith. Give us Simeon’s
perseverance, teach us to listen to you as attentively as Simeon did. We love you Lord and we
worship you.
Look In – Family Memories
Discuss: Talk about how in times of waiting it helps to remember the promises God made and the
times He fulfilled those promises. Come up with one or two ideas for practicing attentive listening in
your family and share those experiences with God as you invite Him to hone this skill in all your lives.
Look Out – Connect with Others
Reach out to senior citizens in your church, neighborhood or family and ask them to share stories of
times they waited expectantly for something they treasured. Listen to how they did it and what the
outcome was. Learn from their experiences. If the opportunity arises, share your faith with them and
talk about Simeon and the reason you’re asking for their wisdom.
Magi do not appear. Instead, like any Jewish newborn of the day, Jesus is circumcised eight days
later and is presented at the Temple in Jerusalem (Luke 2:21–22). At this occasion, a devout man
named Simeon rejoices to see the Messiah and gives a prophecy concerning him (Luke 2:29–32).
Who is this Simeon character that just appears from the shadows into the Gospel story? Luke only
included one thing about Simeon – he was “righteous and devout,” waiting for the consolation of
Israel (the Messiah). Simeon was a faithful follower of God.
God revealed to Simeon that he would not see death until he beheld the Lord’s Christ (Luke 2:26), the
comforter of Israel who would fulfill all the promises of the Abrahamic and Davidic covenants, the One
who would bring both personal and national salvation. Simeon counted the days until God revealed
what he had promised to him personally.
We don’t know how long Simeon waited, but we do know that he was led by the Spirit to go to the
temple that day, and he recognized Jesus the moment he saw Him.
Imagine the scene in the temple that day. An old man, stooped and praying, coming often to the
temple expecting to see the Messiah. He was probably seen as an eccentric, the one we make jokes
about – you know the ones we roll our eyes at?
Simeon, and generations before him, waited for the coming of the One who would console God’s
people. But unlike those around him, Simeon still believed God would save His people. He believed
the promise of a coming Servant-King, the son of David threaded throughout the law and the
prophets. He may not have understood everything he read, but he knew enough to believe. Simeon
knew enough to listen to the Holy Spirit’s whisper and was more in tune with God than the scholars
who were paid to study and the scribes who were paid to teach.
And then the day came...the day he would finally meet his Savior. In this child Simeon saw the
fulfillment of all the hopes and dreams of the Jewish people down through the centuries, and he was
overjoyed.
Simeon’s own name comes from a word that means “to hear intelligently.” And he is portrayed as
deliberately listening to God’s Spirit. We are told that the Holy Spirit rested on him (v. 25), the Holy
Spirit showed things to him (v. 26), and the Holy Spirit moved him (v. 27).
The outcome of Simeon’s listening is one of the most tender scenes in Scripture: Simeon enters the
temple to discover Mary and Joseph with their newborn. Then he picks up baby Jesus (v. 28). He has
the distinction of being the only person in the Bible who we are explicitly told held the Christ child in
his arms.
In that act, he provided a striking visual of not just meeting Jesus but receiving Him unto himself. As
Simeon gazed into the brand-new eyes of the Ancient of Days, Christ for him went from being “God
with us” to “God with me.” Nothing outwardly about Simeon’s life had changed, yet he told God he
could die in peace (Luke 2:29). His inner disquiet had been calmed by Christ, and his soul was at
rest.
There is so much to learn from Simeon’s life. HIs perseverance, his attentive listening to God in a
cynical age, his worship of the baby Jesus. But what is most important about Simeon was his
relationship with Jesus. Simeon could die not because he’d checked off all the right religious boxes or
performed all the outward rituals of the Jewish faith, but because he put his faith in the God-man.
We all should do the same.
Look Up – Connect with God
Read: Luke 2:22-35
Key Verse: “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.” (Luke 2:26)
Pray: Father God, what a tremendous and encouraging story of faith. Give us Simeon’s
perseverance, teach us to listen to you as attentively as Simeon did. We love you Lord and we
worship you.
Look In – Family Memories
Discuss: Talk about how in times of waiting it helps to remember the promises God made and the
times He fulfilled those promises. Come up with one or two ideas for practicing attentive listening in
your family and share those experiences with God as you invite Him to hone this skill in all your lives.
Look Out – Connect with Others
Reach out to senior citizens in your church, neighborhood or family and ask them to share stories of
times they waited expectantly for something they treasured. Listen to how they did it and what the
outcome was. Learn from their experiences. If the opportunity arises, share your faith with them and
talk about Simeon and the reason you’re asking for their wisdom.