Simeon’s Testimony, Part 3 – Luke 2:25-35

What is essential during this global pandemic? Everyone is talking about washing your hands, wearing masks and social distancing. Jesus already has declared, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God’ (Mt4:3-4). What is most essential is God, His word, worshipping Him and gathering in fellowship. Instead of deprioritizing Jesus during these times, Jesus must be central and first for the believer.

After waiting a long time, Simeon finally met the infant Jesus. He then prophecies about Jesus. In this prophecy we see that Jesus matters in what matters most, life and death. Everything else in life is temporal. One thing we cannot avoid is death, and one thing we need most is eternal life. Christ alone is the host of our life and death. Jesus also matters in all matters, including this coronavirus. So we should not fear but remember Jesus.

For some people Jesus is a stumbling block. They don’t like it when Jesus is mentioned. Instead they think they need masks, vaccines and ventilators. They don’t want to hear about Jesus during hard times. Like the rich young ruler, when hearing he needed to follow Jesus, he went away grieving .(Mt19:21-22). Even though Jesus is the most necessary to avoid death, many stumble. We should not make this mistake (Mt:116). Jesus is the first to comfort and care for us.

Rise means to ‘stand again’. No matter our situation, we can stand again because our rise depends on Jesus Christ. By the name of Jesus, even the lame can rise, walk and leap (Ac3:6-8). We too, will rise, just as Jesus was resurrected. Our fall is due to our sin, but by faith in Jesus, we are justified and raised from death into life (Ro9:31-33).

Why is life and death a matter of Jesus? First, Jesus is the Messiah, it is His role and work to save the chosen. All are lost in sin and depraved in nature, but God’s love sent Jesus the Messiah to die for our sin and resurrect on the third day (Ti3:3-4;1Cor15:3-4). Therefore, we must repent for our sin, believe in Jesus as Lord and submit to Him to be saved. God’s love not only saves us, but it will never be separate from us (Ro8:39) and we can fully depend on Him even in the midst of crisis (Dan3:27).

Secondly, Jesus who is God, is sovereign over all the universe. He is ruling and governing all the matters in the universe, this world, the nations, and all people and things (Rev4:11;Jn1:3). God is also sovereign in salvation, for no one else could conceive of such a unique and powerful salvation through Jesus Christ (Ro11:33;Jn17:3). Since God is sovereign, all things have been determined in the best way, for His glory, for us to trust, obey and enjoy (Jn5:17). God’s will will never be thwarted or hindered, all things are in His will. Do not worry or panic, but worship Him (Job1:21)

Jesus is the sign for the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is where God reigns, where Jesus dwells, which is the church and the hearts of believers (Lk17:2). Those who repent receive the kingdom of God(Mt4:14,6:33). Therefore death is not a thing we fear, but it is a necessary but joyful event to enter heaven to be with Jesus eternally (Jn11:25,26). Death is not final for the believer. We must remember who is our King during this time. Jesus is our King who rules over all things, and this sign is in our hearts.

Jesus knows us personally. No one knows the depths of our hearts except for Jesus. Our hearts are as deep as sin, without end (Jer17:9-10;Mk7:21-23). Even the righteous men, like Isaiah, will be terrified of their sin before Holy God (Is6:5). We too must be terrified of our sin in our hearts more than this virus. Though Jesus knows our heart, he doesn’t abandon us, but convicts us through the Word by the power of the Holy Spirit (Jn14:16;Jn16:8,14). Men cannot know themselves, but God knows you.

Simeon was a true prophet (Deut18:21-22). Before the foundation of the world, in His foreknowledge, God truly had appointed Jesus to be the one true Savior (Acts2:23,4:12). Jesus was also opposed, in other words, persecuted (Mt12:24;Jn8:12). Jesus even said that not everyone will be saved. He openly excluded people, which offends and angers many people. People wrongly think most are innocent and that these tragedies are unfair. In truth, only one man is innocent, His name is Jesus and He died on the cross for our sins. This Jesus is the Messiah, the sovereign King and our hope. He is what we need most.