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We are studying the lives of common everyday people in the Bible. They were people like us, yet the Holy Spirit included their stories in the Bible for our benefit. One such man was Simeon, and his story is told in Luke 2. Luke 2:25 And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. Vs 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. Vs 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, Vs 28 then he took Him into His arms, and blessed God, and said, Vs 29 “Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace According to Your word; Vs 30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation, Vs 31 Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, Vs 32 A light of revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.” There are a number of things that make Simeon uncommon. He was righteous which means he lived in conformity with the character and conduct of God. He thought like God thought, and so he acted like God acted. He was a devout man; he lived in reverence and awe of God’s holiness. It says three times in three verses that he was filled with the Spirit, intimate with the Spirit, and directed by the Spirit. He was a man in whom and through whom the Holy Spirit lived and worked. The Holy Spirit had told him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Christ. The name Lord means master, or supreme ruler, and refers to God. The Greek name Christ and the Hebrew name Messiah both mean ‘the anointed one.’ This official title, Christ or Messiah, occurs 514 times in the New Testament. It denotes His role as the One chosen and sent by God save His people from their sins. The name Jesus means, ‘the Lord is salvation’ or ‘Savior’, which means to rescue, to deliver or to save. Simeon was looking for the consolation of Israel which was Jesus the promised Messiah. He was seeking the One who would bring comfort to Israel through salvation. He obviously knew the Old Testament prophecies about the coming Messiah, and he longed to see God’s promise fulfilled. Here was a man who made God his supreme priority. Now the Holy Spirit arranged a divine appointment between Simeon and Jesus. 33 days after His circumcision, Joseph and Mary brought Jesus into the temple to present their first born Son to the Lord, and to offer a sacrifice as commanded by the Mosaic Law. When Simeon saw Jesus, he took him in his arms and blessed God. Simeon praised God for keeping His promise and allowing him to see God’s salvation. Now that he had seen the Messiah, he was ready to die. This is a profound truth. No one is ready to die, until they have placed their faith in Jesus’ payment for their sins. God only has one solution for human sin and His name is Jesus. Jesus came to earth on Christmas to pay the penalty for our sins by dying in our place, so that all who believe in Him by faith will be forgiven by God. And Christ’s salvation is offered to all, Jew and Gentile alike. The greatest gift anyone could receive is the gift of salvation and forgiveness of their sins. This Christmas, as we give presents to each other, let’s not forget the greatest gift of all; God’s gift of His Son Jesus. This was not a cheap gift. For us to inherit eternal life, Jesus, the most perfect being who ever lived, had to die in our place. Simeon didn’t take God’s gift for granted. He believed God’s promise, He pursued God’s promise, and He gave thanks for the fulfillment of God’s promise. Let’s do the same. Remember, God designed us to ‘do life together!’ Love and prayers, Brad ••• For more information, visit mannapodcast.com. ©2018, 2019, & 2020 - Brad Hannink - All Rights Reserved