We know little of Simeon who uttered the words: “For my eyes have seen Your Salvation” (Luke 2:30, 25-33). We don’t know his age or marital status or occupation, but we do know that he was a very godly man. Luke uses a cluster of words that we would use of few men then or now. Luke the writer chose “upright and devout”, and it was such a man that was convinced that God would bless Israel with a great “consolation” (Luke 2:25) – the nation being restored to favour with the God against whom they had sinned.

Simeon had not been invited to join Mary and Joseph, who had come to the temple in Jerusalem for their eight-day-old child Jesus to be circumcised, a ceremony that every Jewish baby boy went through. We learn at Luke 2:26 that God had revealed to Simeon that he would see Lord’s Christ, the Lord and Saviour that Israel had been promised. Without express permission from Joseph, Simeon took the Chlid in his arms and blessed God for sending the Saviour. God had revealed to him that he would see the Messiah before he died. It was then that he said: “My eyes have seen Your salvation.” He knew that the salvation that his nation needed would be provided by this Child Jesus once He grew up. The salvation was not by the efforts of the Child’s godly parents; it would be solely the work of that Child in later life. We cannot be certain that Simeon knew this Child would die at Calvary, although Prophets like Isaiah had prophesied the nature and purpose of Christ’s death; see Isa 53. Only on account of that death would He be able to bless Gentiles and bring glory to Israel.

The Child Simeon saw is now exalted in heaven – a Prince and Saviour (Acts 5:31) – upon whom men and women, boys and girls can call for salvation. The Jesus Simeon had in his arms can forgive sin and assure those who come to Him by faith that they will be with Him in heaven for all eternity.