Luke 2:21-24 (ESV)
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. 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.”


1. The Character of Simeon. Luke 2:25a


Luke 2:25 (ESV)
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.


2. The Expectation of Simeon. Luke 2:25b


Isaiah 40:1-2 (NIV)
1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.


3. The Anointing of Simeon. Luke 2:25c-27


Luke 2:26-27 (ESV)
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,


4. The Song of Simeon. Luke 2:28-33


Luke 2:28-33 (ESV)
28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, 29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant 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.


1. A song of personal peace and salvation. Luke 2:28-30


Luke 2:14 (Amplified Bible, Classic Edition)
14 “Glory to God in the highest [heaven], And on earth peace among men with whom He is well-pleased [men of goodwill, of His favor].”


2. A song offering peace and salvation to all in the world. Luke 2:32


Isaiah 42:6-7; 49:6; and 52:10 (ESV)
6 “I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you;I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, 7 to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.

6 he says: “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

10 The Lord has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.


Ephesians 2:14-16 (ESV)
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.


John 3:16 (ESV)
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.


5. The Prophecy of Simeon. Luke 2:34-35


Luke 2:34-35 (ESV)
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.”


3. People will divide over and have their eternal destiny determined by what they do with Jesus Christ. Luke 2:34


1 Corinthians 1:23-24 (ESV)
23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.


4. People will oppose Jesus Christ. Luke 2:34


John 8:24; 10:30-33; and 14:6 (ESV)
24 I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.”

30 I and the Father are one.” 31 The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?” 33 The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.”

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.


5. Mary will be in anguish to see her Son tortured and die a cruel death. Luke 2:35


6. What is your response to Jesus? Luke 2:33


7. Can you say with Simeon, “Now I can die in peace”?