This Advent, we’re giving you a weekly gift from Darrell Johnson’s new devotional, Awaken Wonder: Daily Devotions for Advent. Each week, we will share one devotional featuring a short reading, reflection, and prayer: a moment of pause in the midst of the season to make room for the wonder of Christ’s coming and promised return.
This week’s excerpt, from Week Four: Sunday, invites you to sit with the story of Simeon as you continue your Advent journey.
Read
Luke 2:22-40; Matthew 2:1-23; Luke 2:41-52
Reflect
It is so easy to go through the Christmas season and miss the point of it. One person who got it was a man named Simeon. Simeon had eyes to see the point of Christmas.
Simeon sang what he saw in the temple that day: “Now, Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, according to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation” (Luke 2:29-30). Simeon had been watching for the rising of what the prophet Malachi called “the sun of righteousness” (Malachi 4:2), for the rising of the Star from the house of Jacob. At last, the wait was over! Simeon sees in the Christmas Child the Bright Morning Star (Revelation 22:16), the star that appears when the night has reached its darkest darkness. Simeon sees in the Child all that the Child’s name implies. Jesus—in Hebrew, Yeshua (Joshua)—means “God is salvation,” “Yahweh saves,” or better yet, “Yahweh to the rescue!”
So Simeon sings his heart out! “My eyes have seen Your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light of revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel” (Luke 2:30-32). Quite a song for a Jewish man to sing! The Child is salvation not only for Israel, but also for Syria and Jordan and Lebanon—for all nations, races, and people groups.
Simeon sees what others in the temple that day missed. He sees that salvation is not a technique or principles to live by. Simeon sees that salvation is a Person—he is looking at a Person when he sings of “God’s salvation.” Simeon sees that salvation is a particular Person—the One who laid in a manger, hung on a cross, and stood outside an empty tomb.
Simeon sings about a Person. It is in a Person that the world finds peace. It is in a Person that we discover joy. It is in a Person that we experience freedom from addictions. It is in a Person that evil meets its match. It is in a Person that death is overcome. God’s salvation of the world is a Person.
And Simeon realizes that God’s salvation would precipitate a crisis. How could it be otherwise? Light has come! Some would welcome it and others would not, for the light uncovers and exposes. “Behold this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed—and a sword will pierce even your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed” (Luke 2:34-35).
Simeon realizes that when the little Child grows up to become a man, He would pose a crisis for everyone He encounters. Again and again the issue would be, “What are you going to do with Me?” We are dealing with One who determines our eternal destiny.
When the Christmas Child became an adult, he offended the prejudices of His people. He lived by standards of right and wrong that challenged theirs—and challenge ours. He called into question the values that shaped their lives. His presence compelled them to renounce their love affairs with lesser gods.
The Child comes to our lives not to walk with us down the paths we have chosen, but to stand in our way, calling us into His path. He is the Rock upon which we build our lives or over which we trip and fall. Jesus Himself would later say, “Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on Earth? I tell you, no, but rather division; for from now on five members in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three” (Luke 12:51-52). He must have said that with great pain and great sorrow, but that is the way it is. His presence precipitates a crisis: “Are you with Me or against Me?”
Pray
Blessed are You,
O Lord our God,
for You have sent us Your salvation.
Inspire us by Your Holy Spirit
to recognize Him who is the glory of Israel
and the light for all nations,
Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.*
*The Book of Alternative Services of the Anglican Church of Canada (Toronto: Anglican Book Centre, 1985), 401.
If you enjoyed this reflection, consider getting yourself a copy of Awaken Wonder to continue your journey through Advent, to gift to a friend, or to revisit in the years ahead.
