I realized only recently that the Christmas
songs of the Bible are all -- and only -- in Luke's Gospel. The first two
chapters by Luke are a marvelous eruption of music, of glad songs of
praise. Elizabeth sang the joy of the
Beatitude (Luke
1:42) --- "blessed" (Luke 1:42-45), expressing
the joyful situation of those whom God favors.
Mary responded with the
incomparable Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55). Her song turns on
four themes: 1. Praising God for what He has done including His blessing upon
Mary (Luke 1:46-48); 2. Declaring the
power, holiness, and mercy of God (Luke 1:49-50); 3. Affirming God's
sovereignty (Luke 1:51-53); and 4. Recalling
God's mercy to His people Israel (Luke 1:54-55).
Zechariah, at the loosing of his tongue,
broke forth with the Benedictus (Luke 1:68-79), praising God for
remembering His oath to deliver His people.
What then can compare with the Glorias of
the angelic host echoing over the Shepherd's fields (Luke
2:14)?
In the Gospel according to Luke, Jesus is
presented as the Promised One, the Anointed One, the One who comes to redeem
humanity, who altogether identifies with our humanity. Majesty came down to be
with us in the midst of Mundane. In the
commonplace of man's everyday, our Lord God delights to break through, declare,
and relate Himself to His creature.
No Gospel event shows this more vividly than
that which holds the fifth Gospel song, known as the Nunc Dimittis, the song of
Simeon. There is no mention of an office,
recognition, or special influence. Simeon was merely a man who lived "in Jerusalem," " -- the center of Jewish religious
corruption. There was little true religion in Israel when Christ was born. The
doctrines of the Pharisees and Sadducees had spoiled that. Yet there "in
Jerusalem" was a man who lived as one of God's true ones, Simeon. He was a
common man, it seems, but he was "righteous and devout and the Holy Spirit was
upon him" (Luke
2:25).
Simeon was a man of great hope, "looking for
the consolation of Israel," the consolation that would came through Messiah. He
marshaled to himself all the promises of the Covenant. He anticipated
them. Simeon's was no empty expectation. The
Holy Spirit upon him had given him special assurance. He would see the Lord's
Christ before he died.
The Temple was undoubtedly a familiar place
to Simeon. He must have gone there frequently. On that day, however,
especially that day, "moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts"
(Luke
2:27). It would have been exciting had
the Holy Spirit somehow let Simeon know he would see Messiah that day, but the
Bible does not express this. Yet, the events of that day were clearly not
accidental. Mary and Joseph, as faithful Jewish parents, brought their
first-born son to the priest to conform to the Law. They brought their
offerings without apparent special feelings or awareness.
The commonness of the event is clear. Other
parents with their babies were there. It was probably a noisy, even congested
scene of milling and hurrying people. Nothing indicated Joseph, Mary, and their
Son were special. There was nothing intimate to the setting. It is likely that
it occurred in the open court of the women, beyond which Mary could not go. The parents must wait there for the priest
to come and receive their offerings. So it is in that very ordinary, yet
particular moment the Spirit moved upon Simeon.
Simeon by the Spirit recognized Him - the
Messiah. Remarkably, Mary without hesitation gave her baby into Simeon's arms.
All was so ordinary, so natural, so common. At the same time it was so
extraordinary, so particular, so supernatural. It was all by the directing power
of the Holy Spirit. The church historically
knows this psalm as the Nunc Dimittus, the Latin translations of the first two
words, "Now dismiss...." "Lord, now lettest
thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word."
Simeon broke out in praise, announcing:
"Mine eyes have seen..." Simeon saw
Salvation! Though all the Christmas psalms rejoice that salvation had come,
none is so grand and far-reaching as the song of Simeon. Even Zechariah failed
to grasp the breadth and consequence of what God was accomplishing in Christ.
He had sung of the God of Israel, of the "horn of salvation" for the house of
David (Luke
1:69).
Simeon too earnestly had looked for the
"consolation of Israel" (Luke
2:25). He had known it would happen in
his lifetime and he rejoiced in his own salvation and for Israel's (Luke 2:29-30). He went on to say,
"Thou has prepared [thy salvation] in the
presence of the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory
to thy people Israel". (Luke 2:31-32)
Standing there in the courts of the Temple,
Simeon beheld the Savior of those who could not go further in. The "glory of
Israel," yes, but the Savior of the Gentiles also, hope for all the
world! Simeon could receive no further word.
All his desires were satisfied. His only request was, "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace,
according to thy word; For mine eyes have seen
thy salvation...."
Praise the Lord that in 2014 we once again
celebrate the Gift and the birth of Jesus.
May we live and enter 2015 expectantly.
"Jesus has come." This holy season -- and in every season - "May God Himself,
the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul,
and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who
calls you is faithful and he will do it" (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).
In Christ,
Brown
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