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Luke 2:25-32
Simeon has been put in place by God for announcing the birth of the Christ Child in the temple. Jesus has been revealed to Mary (His mother), Elizabeth (the mother of the one to announce His coming), Zacharias (a priest and the father of the one to announce His coming), the shepherds (regarded as the lowliest people of society), and now to Simeon (a just and devout man who was led by the Holy Spirit and would announce the birth of salvation for all peoples (Luke 2:25-32).
The announcement is a cry to God from Simeon declaring, “A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles” (Luke 2:32a, NKJV), And the glory of Your chosen people Israel” (Luke 2:32b).
This is the birth of the Messiah being announced in the temple.
This is the announcement that salvation (Jesus) is for all peoples; Gentiles and Israel.
I find it very interesting that in this passage God reveals salvation for “all peoples,” (Luke 2:31, NKJV), “Gentiles,” (Luke 2:32a), and then “Israel” (Luke 2:32b). This is not to put one people group before another, but that for thousands of years the Israelites have been God’s chosen people to show the world that He is the one and only true God, and to show the need for a Savior of the world.
God uses Simeon to announce, “For my eyes have seen our salvation Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles,” (Luke 2:30-32a) first because it is the unexpected part of the announcement, and for it to not get looked over as an after-thought, it needed to be the attention-getter. The Savior was sent to save the world from sin, not just the Israelites. Jesus declared in John 3:16-17, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”
This is the announcement of God uniting all peoples to salvation in His Son Jesus. If salvation was just for the Israelites, then the Israelite people would still be able to utilize the sinful nature that was brought out by the Law and say, “Look at me, I’m better than you.” This shows pride and arrogance, which shows a continuance of living in the sinful nature.
Jesus taught humility, and to gain salvation in Him, one needs to humble himself to the need for salvation first. One cannot be humble while being prideful and arrogant; a choice must be made to be one or the other. One must choose the old ways of the sinful nature or the new life in Christ Jesus.
Dear Lord,
Thank You for giving this specific announcement that includes all peoples in Your great plan of salvation through Christ Jesus, whom You sent to save the world from sin. Whoever we are, wherever we have been, whatever we have done in the past, You sent Your Son Jesus to save us from sin. Thank You Lord. In Jesus name I pray, amen.