A HEART FULL OF HOPE

Katie Gaultney

Central Truth

Simeon’s hope in the coming Messiah characterized his life, making him see through spiritual eyes, speak truth boldly, and face death with confidence. As believers, we ought to have the same transformative anticipation as we await our Savior’s return!

“Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.” (Luke 2:25-26)

21 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Jesus Presented at the Temple

22 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant^{1

2:29
Or bondservant} depart in peace,
    according to your word;
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation
31     that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
    and for glory to your people Israel.”

33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.^{2

2:37
Or as a widow for eighty-four years} She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

The Return to Nazareth

39 And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.

Footnotes

[1] 2:29 Or bondservant
[2] 2:37 Or as a widow for eighty-four years

I grew up in a “Leave It to Beaver” neighborhood near a field where a local high school band practiced. Some afternoons, when the Texas humidity was just so, I could hear the brass section warming up. Now, I was raised in a Christian home where words and phrases like “rapture” and “second coming” were as familiar to me as A-B-C. So I have to laugh when I recall hearing those trumpets and eagerly running to the window, expecting to see the clouds part to reveal the splendor of the returning Savior Jesus, unaware that it was merely some teenagers with tubas.

My innocent heart was full of hope in the coming Christ. As I read Luke 2, “hopeful” seems too passive of a word to describe the passion driving Simeon’s expectancy. Today, I’m hopeful that I can make it through Target without one of my children asking for a snack 20 times. But Simeon’s heart was utterly brimming with hope that he would see “the consolation of Israel” (verse 25) before his death, as the Spirit had promised. And in just these few verses, we see how this anticipation characterized his life.

The hope-filled heart sees with spiritual eyes. Simeon saw in an infant what his heart had felt for many years: God’s salvation.

The hope-filled heart is tender to the Spirit’s prompting. To onlookers, Simeon’s declaration that this tiny babe would be “a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel” (verse 32) must have sounded bizarre. But guided by the Holy Spirit, Simeon spoke marvelous truth.

The hope-filled heart finds significance in Christ and faces death with confidence. Simeon boldly proclaimed that, now that his eyes had beheld the glory of the Lord, he could die in peace.

The hope-filled heart trusts in God’s promises. From before Jesus’ birth until this very day, our Father has been impressing the anticipation of Christ into the hearts of His people, and the day of His return draws ever nearer. May we approach each day as Simeon did, with hearts fueled by hope in the coming King.

1. It is possible that Simeon had to wait decades before seeing Jesus, as the Holy Spirit promised. Proverbs 13:12 tells us, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.” Think of a time you had to wait for something. Did you allow the Lord to teach you during that time?

2. Real hope is a product of steadfast faith in God’s promises. What are some things you are hoping for right now? How often do you talk to God about these desires? (John 16:24) Do they make you anxious or bring peace? (Philippians 4:6-7)

3. How would you live differently if you knew that this were the day that you would meet Jesus?