Spirited Away--Luke 2:25-32

“Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of the Israel and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God saying, ‘Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.’” (Luke 2:25-32) NIV

Random Thoughts:

Because of the presence of the Holy Spirit in Simeon's life, he was able to be in the right place at the right time to witness the fulfillment of a promise God had made to him. I am often tempted to think of God’s presence in the form of His spirit as an “it” or a “what” but in actual fact, the Holy Spirit is a “who”. And in this story of Simeon we have the “who” of God’s Spirit directing this man’s life and communicating to him in a remarkable way. Perhaps, in part, because Simeon was a remarkable man.

We are told he was righteous and devout. And that is certainly remarkable but I suspect there were others about whom the same could be said. But what set this man apart such that God would preserve his life to fulfill a promise? One clue might be found in what Simeon was patiently waiting for: Israel’s consolation, the Lord’s Messiah. 

But unlike so many who believed the Messiah’s role was simply to take back their nation from the grasp of Roman rule, Simeon’s heart and mind divined the true purpose of God’s promise. Simeon understood that God’s plan was so much bigger than just restoring Israel’s national pride. God’s vision was global; His gift would be for everyone, everywhere. Jew and Gentile. 

Simeon had insight into God’s ways. How beautiful that God would bless him with the the eyes of the Holy Spirit to recognize in an infant child the Messiah who had come to save the world.

Question:

As Christians, gifted with the presence of the Holy Spirit, we are enabled to better recognize Christ and His work the world. Is there something God’s Spirit is showing you or helping you to see more clearly? 

Journal Response:

In the shower today I had an epiphany. And it’s not the first time. Something about hot water, soapy bubbles and a few moments sans interruption just makes me start thinking about God-stuff or even praying. Today it was about Passover and Easter. I really love Passover--there’s just something that connects to my heart when I think about sharing a  meal that Jesus himself was sharing with his closest friends the night before he offered himself up for me and the rest of humankind. 

And then there’s Good Friday. I love that too, remembering and marveling that my God gave himself as the ultimate sacrifice to forgive us all for all time. So then what is it about Easter that to me seems so anti-climactic? Why is it that the most life-changing event in the history of the universe doesn’t just make me erupt into joyous celebration? Because I think it really should.

And then God directed me toward an answer that began with a question. (Well, either it was God directing me or the mind-altering influence of my aroma therapy scrub. I’m pretty sure it was the former). And the question confronting me was this:

What is Easter really about? 

Is Easter just about a neat Life-Over-Death trick that no one else has ever done? Well, yes, in part. “He is Risen! He is Risen, Indeed!” as we like to chant in unison on Easter morning certainly comes to mind. But what is Easter really about? Because as nifty as the empty tomb is, it doesn’t make me want to sing for joy. Smile, yes. Celebrate like I’ve won the lottery? Not so much.

My thoughts moved to images of Jesus, revealing himself to his friends, eating with them, touching them and assuring them that He was real. Really real. And then those images of Easter struck a chord. Something in my grinch-like, hardened heart seemed to soften. What is Easter really about? And I knew.

Heaven.

Easter celebrates the fact that we can know, beyond any doubt, that there is life after death. That there is a Heaven and what is waiting for us isn’t just a nondescript, disembodied lighter-than-air eternity of harp-strumming jam sessions. It’s real just as He is real. And we will be real too, complete with eyes to see and ears to hear and hands that can touch and hug and feel. Easter is God’s proof--his assurance--that Life in the fullest sense of every sense is what awaits each and every one of us who takes hold of Jesus’ invitation to join him. Oh what a wonderful thought! What a wonderful, wonderful thought! 

Something tells me that I’m going to love Easter Sunday this year.