Luke 2:25-32, Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 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. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
according to your word;
for my eyes have seen your salvation
that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel.”
Jesus was brought into the temple in his early days of life, as was the custom for the Jewish people. There in the temple was Simeon, who had been told he would see the Christ before his death. In beauty he raises the child in his arms and proclaims these wondrous words. His reaction to the Christ is peace, and it should be our reaction as well. No matter what comes, peace is possible - eternal peace. That means that Romans 8 is right: whether there is war or famine, sword or pestilence, marital discord, family drama, disease, car crash, or loss of job - eternal peace can still be yours. Jesus came to reconcile God and man - a separation that was the result of sin, and it’s a gulf that has been repaired because of the sacrifice of Christ. So no matter what happens - if you trust in the Lord Jesus, you will spend eternity in peace with him.
Now notice this shocking thing that Simeon says. Remember he is in the temple, the place for the Jewish people to come into the presence of God, a mediated presence - but a presence none the less. They were to worship him there, and Gentiles who had converted were to stay in the outer courts. But when Genitles converted, they became Jewish, so in that sense, the message of God’s care and provision for Jews was for all who were descendants of Abraham and the few converts who joined them along the way. But Simeon says here this message of the gospel found in the newborn baby is a “light for revelation to the Gentiles.” They are mentioned before the Israelites, following Isaiah’s prophecy in Isaiah 9, who says that God made “glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles.” Jesus would show that the physical temple is no longer necessary for God’s people, for as he says to the woman at the well in John 4, people will worship the Lord not in certain geographical spaces, but wherever they are, and they will worship in “Spirit and in truth.” Be grateful that you are a Gentile (most of ya), who have become the recipient of these far reaches of the gospel.
Hymn for Reflection: Silent Night. Here’s a link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GUnfLPpjLs