The Predictions of Simeon (Luke 2:33-35)

Luke in this section describes various incidents that followed the birth of Jesus. First, he mentions the circumcision of Jesus which happened eight days after his birth, probably in Bethlehem. Then he describes two incidents in the temple just over a month later involving Mary and Joseph and the infant Saviour when two individuals called Simeon and Anna responded to their being there.

Why were they there?

Mary and Joseph had come to the temple that day with a double purpose in view. The religious rituals in place at that time in Israel required that she as a mother had to offer a sacrifice for her purification (a reminder that sin affected even the happiest of blessings, giving birth to a son) forty days after the birth of her child. Usually the offerer had to give a lamb and a pigeon. Mary and Joseph were too poor to procure a lamb and offered two pigeons instead (Lev. 12:6-8), which is an indication that the visit of the wise men had not yet occurred, otherwise Mary and Joseph would have had gold with which to purchase an animal.

They were also required to offer their firstborn to the Lord and did so by offering a sacrifice in his place. The point behind this detail was that God claimed the firstborn son as his in a special way and the family purchased their son by offering a sacrifice. We may not fully appreciate why those requirements were made, but we can appreciate what they as parents would have felt. Although she was a sinner, Mary had been blessed by God with a child (of course, she knew that her child was special). Devout parents would want their child to serve the Lord (which is what we wish as well). So it was a moment of great personal significance in their family experience.

The actions of Simeon

Simeon had worshipped God for sending the Saviour that he had promised. No one knows who Simeon was. He could have been a priest, but he certainly was a prophet who received messages from God, including a personal one that he would see the Messiah. Was it customary for someone to bless the child at a circumcision and then to bless the parents? Whether it was customary or not, it is what happened here. Of course, his blessing of Jesus was an expression of gratitude.

The words of Simeon about Jesus revealed that he would bring salvation to the world, to Gentiles as well as to Jews. Maybe there was a look of puzzlement on the faces of Mary and Joseph as they listened to the words of Simeon, even although they had been given some information by the angelic visits they had known personally as well as what had happened with the shepherds. Perhaps they wondered how Jesus would bring about this great salvation described by Simeon.

Their response of wonder at the activities of Jesus is one that we should imitate. They did so having received less information than we have been given. We understand more than they did, even in an historical sense because we know the details of the life and death of Jesus, details that they did not know. And we know about his resurrection and ascension, which are also details that they did not yet know. So the question is, are we full of wonder at the person of Jesus?

As Simeon turned to bless them, having already spoken good things about Jesus, they would have been curious as to what he would say. Would he inform them of how their son would become the Saviour? This was not the first time they had been told this. After all, they had been directed by an angel to give him a name that stated their son would bring about the salvation of Yahweh.

When Simeon spoke after blessing them, he said something specific to Mary about her son and about what she would yet experience. Why did he say this to Mary and not to Joseph as well? Probably because Joseph would not be there when her soul would be pierced in this special way. She was informed that there would come a time when she would have a devastating experience which in some way would be connected to her son becoming the Saviour of the world.

The words of Simeon

The first detail that Simeon mentions is that Jesus had been appointed for a purpose. Two points can be made here. First, who appointed Jesus? The answer to that question is that he was appointed by his heavenly Father before the birth. Of course, Jesus did not object to the appointment. Nevertheless, we have here a reminder that salvation involves the heart of the Father. He sent his Son to be the Saviour of the world.

The second matter is how did Simeon know that Jesus had been appointed in this way. One possibility is that he received the information at that moment – he had come into the temple in the Spirit and perhaps he was guided in a special way to say what he did without any preparation.

Another possibility is that he was led to think about what the Old Testament had said would happen to the Messiah and summarised its message in his brief statement. It looks as if he could be referring to a prophecy made by Isaiah concerning the coming Saviour (Isa. 8:13-15). The prophecy from Isaiah is that which says that the Lord would be a stumbling stone over which people would trip and fall. Personally, I suspect that he was guided in a special way.

The appointment was that some in Israel would fall and rise. It is not clear if Simeon is referring to two different groups (those who fall and those who rise) or to one group that experiences both a fall and then a rise. If he is referring to two groups, we can see that he predicted that some would receive no benefits from Jesus (they would fall as a divine judgement) and others would receive many blessings (they would be elevated through a connection with Jesus). Many people found Jesus to be a stumbling stone – we can think of the rich young ruler, the religious leaders of Israel, or the people who once followed Jesus eagerly and then turned away from him. Others instead of stumbling over Jesus stood on him and were raised spiritually higher, and there are many examples of such in the Gospels.

That interpretation points to accurate situations that occurred, but it may not be an accurate interpretation of the statement by Simeon. There is a good case for saying that Simeon is predicting what will happen to one group. Those in it will be brought low and then raised high. This interpretation fits with the message of Jesus about repentance preceding commitment to him. Those who listened to him were urged to repent and then follow him. The number who would experience this are said to be many. It seems to me that the use of the word ‘many’ suggests the second interpretation is correct because the first interpretation covers all people in Israel, not just many. Eventually, predicts Simeon, many in Israel will experience God’s salvation. This could have been fulfilled in the early chapters of the Book of Acts in Jerusalem and area and subsequently to Jews in other places.

The second detail mentioned by Simeon is that Jesus would be a sign opposed by some. If the ones who fell in repentance and rose in blessing describes those with a positive response to Jesus, this statement describes those with a very negative response to him. This would include the authorities who refused to accept that Jesus was the Messiah as well as others who shared their opposition. The point that Simeon is making is that the coming of Jesus would result in a division among the people. He is also indicating that the opposition will show itself even although ample evidence had been shown to them – calling Jesus a sign indicates that he would point clearly to something. His miracles and his teaching together were a sign that he was the Messiah.

The third detail that Simeon mentions is that the coming of Jesus will make clear what is in the hearts of people. Eventually what they had thought about Jesus would come out. It is impossible to remain quiet about the real Jesus. People will be either for him or against him, Simeon says. What was true back then is still true today.

The experience of Mary

Simeon also addresses her individually and mentions a very difficult experience she would yet have. He says that a large sword will pierce down to the depths of her soul. What did he mean by this illustration? Obviously he is describing a painful event. There have been several suggestions as to what is meant.

One is that many people would regard her as immoral because they would know that she was pregnant before she and Joseph were married. A second is that she would be upset and distraught at the general rejection of Jesus by the community and the country. We know that Nazareth rejected Jesus and his message, and that rejection mirrored what happened elsewhere. Eventually the number of followers reached very low. A third suggestion is that Simeon is describing what happened to her when she witnessed the death of Jesus on the cross, which must have affected for a short time her ideas about the future. A fourth suggestion is that Simeon is referring to her martyrdom, although there is no evidence that she was a martyr. Obviously, each of those situations would be very distressing.

What can we make of those suggestions? The illustration of a sword suggests that she would be under attack by an enemy, and that could have been the world, or the flesh, or the devil. On the other hand, the sword would have come from God in his providence. Identification with Jesus leads to such situations. The allegation of immorality would be a very sore wound in the soul of Mary because she knew it was not true and she may have wondered if it affected how people thought of Jesus. The ongoing rejection of Jesus would have been hard for her as a mother and maybe that was why she tried at times to get him to come home to Nazareth. The death of Jesus would have seemed to be the destruction of all her hopes. In addition, there would have been ongoing temptations from the devil about whether or not Jesus was the Saviour.

We can learn several things from Mary’s experience. First, she needed a Saviour as well as us because this ritual of purification was a reminder that she was a sinner and that she needed a deliverer from her sin. Second, being the recipient of great privileges, even the one of becoming the mother of the Saviour, does not allow his people to ignore the lesser requirements that God has stipulated – she was carrying the Saviour in her arms, but she still had to obey his law. Third, living a devout life from one’s youth does not mean that such will have an easy time in providence when they get older. Fourth, God may bring us into circumstances where it seems impossible that he will keep his promises, such as he did for Mary when Jesus died on the cross.

What would Mary say to us? She might say, ‘You say to me what a wonderful blessing I had in being the mother of Jesus. That was true, but it did not exempt me from the problems that all believers have with providence, with the devil, and with personal fears. What you need to do is persevere, because if you persevere you will get to the point which I have reached and see that God works all things for the benefit of those who trust in him.’

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