There isn’t any real background on who he was. He was only a man who waited, and he was waiting for one of the two most important moments in history.  He waited for an arrival that was predicted by the prophets like Isaiah, Micah, and Malachi who lived before him. But his waiting was rewarded. He was given the privilege of holding the baby. The baby in which the future of the world hung. And he became a spokesman for the greatest event in human history, while the famous, rich, and rest of the religious establishment in Jerusalem missed it. As we anticipate this Christmas, let us learn from Simeon. Many of us today miss the meaning of Christmas just like the religious establishment did in Simeon’s day. Let us take the example of Simeon as we go in prayer to our Lord each day this December.

Christmas is our societies communal celebration of Jesus Christ. Pray that we would not miss the true reason for it.  

Simeon rejoices. He has now seen the Christ child. Each Christmas there is a lot of emphasis on peace. The majority of peace cards, posters, and signage on city boulevards proclaiming peace have little to do with the peace Simeon was proclaiming at the temple.  Simeon states that he can “depart from this world” now because he has seen Jesus. His peace isn’t just a nice peaceful snowy day in the neighborhood with the economy going well and the chaos of Covid-19 wiped from the earth. His peace is the kingdom of Heaven. Jesus is that kingdom. Jesus is the reconciler between God and man. Jesus is peace. The kingdom has arrived and Simeon knows that the fate of all eternity is in his hands as he holds the baby. The peace of Christmas is an eternity free from the ravages of the fall of mankind beginning with Adam and Eve. That is real peace. Pray this Christmas that many would be called to seek and find this type of peace.

Simeon proclaims that in this Baby his eyes have now seen God’s salvation. Let us also pray, let us desire deeply, that we ourselves would see Jesus as salvation. Jesus is unquestionably more than a holy version of  Santa Claus. Jesus’ purpose in arriving as that baby in Simeon’s hands was to be a savior. He is going to be the sacrifice killed for my sin, your sin, and everyone else who has rebelled against God, but has repented of it and now trusts in the Father’s sacrifice of His only Begotten Son as the solution to that sin.  Pray that this Christmas there would be many who see their separation from God. Pray that they would be reconciled to Him through death and yes, the resurrection, of His Son.

Simeon’s proclamation was public and open for all to hear.  Jesus is an open book. Christmas is the most open time in the entire Western world to proclaim Him. Let us pray that we would shine and point others toward him.  Pray that there would be a call to repentance and grace.  Pray that Jesus would be revealed to many in the “Gentile” world and the glory and completion of the Old Testament narrative revealed to all Israel.

Let us also pray to be amazed this Christmas. Mary and Joseph despite all that they had gone through, including the world’s first and only virgin birth, were still “amazed” at Simeon’s declaration.  Let us pray that we would also be amazed just like Mary and Joseph of who Jesus is. Let us pray deeply that we not become complacent with the record of Jesus’ birth. This complacency is the danger of Christmas. We pray that we would not be dulled by the stories, songs, and decorations, but that the opposite would occur and they would encourage and remind us of who Jesus truly is.

Simeon finally, and perhaps shockingly to us, proclaims that Jesus  will cause turmoil in the world. Let us also pray to understand and to realize that many will react to him in ways we do not desire. Pray to realize the “the light” will shine in the darkness and darkness will not like it. Jesus will cause conflict. Let us pray to accept the strife that will come because of Jesus, and let us be open to the revealing of our own hearts and purification of sin, that may be hidden in the darkness. Pray that it would be brought to the light and healed. That would be a wonderful Christmas gift indeed.

Doug

The words of British poet Robert Abrahams say it well, “For some men die by shrapnel, And some go down in flames, But most men perish inch by inch, In play at little games.”  Our goal is to identify the little games and put a stop to them and put the right weight on the right things.