Tomorrow it will be 2018. That gives many the opportunity to mark the occasion by making some resolutions—what they are going to do to live healthier or happier in the next twelve months. The mantra might be: “New Year, New You.” (I may have stolen that from somewhere.) Maybe you have some in mind.
It seems as if many of those goals have to do with the scale or the diet in some way—to weigh less and to eat right. That is fine. Those are worthwhile objectives any time.
A stumbled across an article online that listed 50 suggestions. I already mentioned #1 and #2. #24 was “learn a new language.” I doubt if they were thinking of Latin. It is not going to help you out much if you plan to travel to some exotic vacation destination in the next calendar year.
But it can be helpful because we actually sprinkle in some words in the order of services that we use. One of those is the song of Simeon. It is the Nunc Dimittis (CW pp. 24,61). In that way, we follow what the apostle Paul encouraged: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God” (Col 3:16).
Simeon spoke as he got to hold Jesus in his arms and see him with his eyes. As we continue to celebrate Christmas and get ready to change calendars, enter the new year with open eyes to see the Child in the present and in the future. We read from …
Luke 2:25-35
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Jesus, the Christchild, who delivers peace so we can depart in peace,
You have to be realistic with resolutions. You are not going to be fluent in another language by January 2nd. I am not trying to discourage you or downplay your intelligence. It takes work and it takes time. At first, when you hear people speaking in a foreign tongue, it sounds like one big word. Then slowly you pick out phrases or sentences. You know who the subject is and what is the verb. That is exciting. And finally you begin to communicate.
You have to understand that as you embark on the process. Some say it this way: “You have to have your eyes wide open. The advice from a link was to learn a “word a day.” And then use it—up to 150 times. If I do the math on that though, you will only have a vocabulary of 365 years. That hardly makes you bilingual. (I would suggest starting with “hamburger” and “pizza.” You don’t want to starve before you become an expert. But that is just me.)
We can be overachievers today and learn two words: Nunc Dimittis. It translates as “Now you dismiss.” Simeon saw Jesus clearly and spoke confidently. As we transition from the old year, …
Enter the New Year with Open Eyes
1. To see the Child in the present (25-32)
2. To see Child in the future (33-35)
1. To see the Child in the present (25-32)
When determining a new year’s resolution, you have to be honest. Where am I today? How did I get here? There were events that led up to right now. It was that way with Simeon as he beheld Jesus as a baby. Enter the new year with open eyes to see the Child in the present.
Luke draws our attention to this man—where he was and who he was. “Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon” (Lk 2:25). Instead of speculating at what we don’t know—like his age (Was he young or old?), we can appreciate what we do. He is described as …
“righteous” (Lk 2:25). Like Abraham of old, Simeon trusted in the Lord, believed in the guarantee of the Messiah to come, and God counted Simeon as being right with him (Ge 15:6).
“devout” (Lk 2:25). He lived his faith in how he thought and how he acted. He was pious and conscientious—God-fearing, devoted.
“He was waiting for the consolation of Israel” (Lk 2:25). That is code for “he was expecting the comfort that the Messiah would bring.” He was anticipating a Savior who would free him from his sin (cf. Is 40:2) because he was mindful that “the LORD is gracious and compassionate” (Ps 111:4).
Don’t miss the activity of the Holy Spirit in this account.
“The Holy Spirit was upon him [that is, upon Simeon]” (Lk 2:25). He had worked the sure and certain hope in the coming Christ (He 11:1).
“It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ” (Lk 2:26). There was the Spirit’s special assurance that he would not taste death until he saw Jesus—the One whom the Lord promised to send. It is unimportant how that happened, but that it would happen—sometime during his lifetime.
One day became that day. The time of waiting and watching was over. “Moved by the Spirit [that is the third time we hear of the Holy Spirit being in action], he went into the temple courts” (Lk 2:27). This was not because of guessing, but because of guidance. It was 40 days after the first Christmas Day. Mary and Joseph, in keeping with Old Testament law (Lk 2:27), came for Mary’s purification and Jesus’ presentation (Lv 12; Ex 13:2,13). Simeon walked up to the parents and “took him in his arms and praised God” (Lk 2:28). Mommies are pretty protective of their babies. They get a little nervous when strangers grab their children. But Mary didn’t stop Simeon as he started his hymn of thanksgiving.
“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace” (Lk 2:29). He opens with an admission. The Lord was his master; he was the servant. Not a bad thing to keep in mind for us either. The Lord is over us; we are under him. And that is a good place to be as he uses his power and position to help us and not hurt us. It was as if Simeon was now free to die because all was in order between him and God. It was the same message from the heavenly messengers to the shepherds: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests” (Lk 2:14). Jesus is the “Prince of Peace” who procured peace. We can go in peace. That doesn’t mean that Simeon died right after this encounter. Or that we will either. But we are ready—this day or this year.
Why? We have seen Jesus. Like Simeon sings: “For my eyes have seen your salvation” (Lk 2:30). Simeon with his own eyes. And we with our faith eyes. We look at a Baby and understand he is more than just an infant a little over a month plus. He is Jesus, Savior. He has come to rescue us from the impossible situation of being captive to sin and Satan. And he saves us (Mt 1:21). That is why we got excited about Christmas again last week: a Savior has been born to us; he is Christ the Lord (Lk 2:11).
And he is the Savior, not of some, but of all. “For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people” (Lk 2:30,31). You have no idea what I got for Christmas. We opened presents at home after church on Monday. God doesn’t keep the gift of Jesus for a select few (Lk 2:10). It is in the full view of all. Isaiah issued that invite from the Lord: “Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other” (Is 45:22). He extends to them righteousness and strength (Is 45:24).
God leaves no one out. Simeon is clear on that:
“a light for revelation to the Gentiles” (Lk 2:32). Those who walk in the darkness of sin, staggering in unbelief (Is 9:2; 42:6; 49:6; 60:1-5), now witness the light of salvation, strutting in faith. We live in Christ as we look at Christ. It is like ripping off wrapping paper. The gift is obvious. We know what it is. But in this case, we know who it is—Jesus.
“and for glory to your people Israel” (Lk 2:32). Jesus was a Jew. God had singled out that nation to be his covenant people and to give us a Savior from them (Jn 4:22). He is for them too.
Enter the new year with open eyes to see the Child in the present. Simeon recognized him and rejoiced over the Baby. And so do we. This is the One who has come for us according to God’s plan. We don’t want to shut our eyes to that.
2. To see Child in the future (33-35)
When deciding on a new year’s resolution, you have to figure out where you want to be. What will this mean on December 31st? There is a cliché that goes something like this: “You will be glad next year of a change this day.” Does that make me a motivational speaker? Simeon looked ahead for Mary, for Jesus, and for us. Enter the new year with open eyes to see the Child in the future.
It had not been a dull ten months or so for Mary and Joseph. Think about it: an announcement from an angel to Mary, a dream from an angel to Joseph—those had quite a bit of information from a virgin birth to faithful fiancée, and a trip to Bethlehem, a birth in a stable, a visit from some shepherds. And now this with Simeon. “The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him” (Lk 2:33). There was a sense of awe as they took this all in. They were stunned, more so than those who stay up every year to watch a crystal ball descend in Times Square at 11:00 PM our time.
But there was more. “Then Simeon blessed them” (Lk 2:34). He asked that God would continue to shower his favor on them. Next Simeon turned to Mary because there was a special note for her: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against” (Lk 2:34). Sometimes a mother leans over the crib and wonders: “What will my child be like when he is older? What will he do when he is grown up?” Simeon was making that plain as if to state: “Listen up, Mary.” There would be a dividing line between two opposite reactions.
“the falling … of many in Israel” (Lk 2:34). There would be rejection (Jn 1:11). Not all, but for the most part, there were the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the experts in the law. Those religious leaders should have been looking for him, but they laughed at him. People would trip on and over Jesus. He was not the Messiah they had expected.
Jesus is still a disappointment to some—“foolishness” (1 Co 1:18). They refuse him and tumble because of him like when we fall over a rock because it is in the way (1 Pe 2:8).
“the rising of many in Israel” (Lk 2:34). There would be acceptance. There were those like Nicodemus, or Elizabeth, the disciples, and others.
We would include ourselves in that number. It is Jesus who lifts off our sin and lifts us to our God. We go from spiritual death to life.
Add to that: “and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed” (Lk 2:34,35). What one thinks about Jesus will be brought to light—either he is a lunatic or the Lord. We confess him as Lord (1 Co 12:3).
There was another detail for Mary. “And a sword will pierce your own soul too” (Lk 2:35). No mommy likes to see her child suffer. She feels it too. It would be hard for Mary and it would hurt her as people mocked and made fun of her Son. But nothing like the excruciating pain when she stood at the cross—her innocent Son condemned to death (Jn 19:25).
This growing Baby of Mary would become the suffering Servant of the Lord (Is 53). In a month and a half, Lent is here. We will again journey to Jerusalem with Jesus as he carries his cross to Calvary—what he came to do. There he will endure the wrath of God against our sin. There he will bring out why he was born—to overcome death and to open heaven for us. Enter the new year with open eyes to see the Child in the future. He will be executed on Good Friday, but he will be raised on Easter Sunday. We don’t want to close our eyes to that.
I don’t know what the over or under is on how long a New Year’s resolution lasts. Perhaps not past the first month of the new year or the first day. I don’t make them. It is ok if you do. I have studied enough languages so that one may be out. I have even had a few years of Latin. You don’t need that because you probably are aware of the meaning of Nunc Dimittis. “Now you dismiss.” As we head from one year and head to another, enter it with open eyes to see the Child in the present. Simeon holds your Savior from sin. And enter it with open eyes to see the Child in the future. There will be a Roman cross, but an empty tomb. Merry Christmas. Happy New Year. Amen.
Grace be with you (Col 4:18). Amen.
December 31, 2017
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