Day 6 Christmas Countdown Devotional: Simeon–waiting on the Lord when you’re hurting

Christmas time for children is a time of waiting. It forces them to practice, painfully at times, delayed gratification. The gifts are purchased, wrapped, and under the tree. Then they wait, and wait, and wait. We all know stories of kids (or spouses) who couldn’t wait, snuck a peak, rewrapped the gift and pretended to be surprised on Christmas Day.  As I’ve grown older, I’ve come to realize that it isn’t only Christmas Day that teaches us the practice of waiting. Life does. Wisdom, love, and relationships all take time to develop. In the meantime, we wait.

Within 40 days of Jesus’ birth we are introduced to two characters in the temple by the names of Simeon and Anna. Both, it appears, have been waiting for a long time to see the Messiah. Simeon, we are told, was a good man; a man who lived in prayerful expectancy of hope for Israel. He was waiting to see the Messiah. When Mary and Joseph bring the one-month old Jesus into the temple, Simeon walks up, takes him from their hands, and begins to prophesy.

Put yourself in Mary’s sandals for a moment. You take your baby to his one-month check up at the physicians. Before you see the pediatrician, an older, kind gentleman walks up, asks to hold your child and then prophesies about his future. And here is what he says,

Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!” (Luke 2:29-32, NLT)

Simeon had waited a long time to see Jesus and give his blessing. The biblical text says that the Holy Spirit made it possible for him to recognize Jesus; that same Spirit has something further for him to tell Mary and Joseph. Giving them back the baby he says,

This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, and many others to rise. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul” [emphasis added] (Luke 2:34-35, NLT).

Like Simeon, Mary and Joseph have waited too—nine months to be exact. Now they are told this child will not only bring great joy, but also great pain—soul-piercing pain. That last phrase is a warning to the young mother—her son will proceed her in death.

In The Lord of the Rings, King Théoden stands at the grave of his son, and holding a small white flower laments, “…ever has this grown on the tombs of my forebears. Now it shall cover the grave of my son…The young perish, and the old linger…No parent should have to bury their child.”

Three decades after Jesus’ birth Mary must have had the same thought at the foot of the cross. But her son’s death—with its soul-piercing pain—would bring life to others.

Simeon’s reminder of the death of Jesus so close to the birth of Jesus is a warning of the pain that is to come and the hope that will follow for each of us. The loss of a loved one—whether parent, spouse, child, or friend—will always bring pain. But because of that first Christmas, there is a hope beyond the grave. Just like the child waiting for Christmas morning, we await the day that we’ll trade in the pain of our loss for the joy of being reunited with those we love.

PHIL MOSER is the author of the Biblical Strategies series, and the developer of 4M Training: a 13-week small group study for men. All of his resources can be found on amazon or at biblicalstrategies.com.

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