I absolutely adore LeeAnn Chin food! I always get the very same thing, but I always like it, so it all works out okay for me. On Tuesday, I took my friend Rob Boyd from the MBC to lunch there. We were talking about church finances, ministry issues and Hispanic outreach. At the end of our meal, we opened our fortune cookies and laughed to discover that both our fortunes were almost surgically related to exactly what we just spent two hours discussing. I’ve had a running grudge against fortune cookies for years now. I’ve always thought it would be much more realistic to fill at least half of all fortune cookies with totally bad fortunes. Honestly; how much excitement can there possibly be in any fortune cookie if all the fortunes inside are cuddly? Don’t you think it would be much more fun and exciting to crack open a fortune and read, “You’re a loser! Watch out for the bus when you leave the restaurant! Your 401K is about to tank – dump it now! You’re about to meet a person who will utterly ruin your life if you aren’t careful!” So far, my twisted, depressing fortune cookie ideas have not caught on; people don’t typically like to think about bad cookies or difficult possibilities. Every time we eat Asian food, I make this novel fortune cookie proposition, but nobody ever likes my idea.
I wonder what my old friend Simeon would think. Simeon didn’t seem to have any problem sharing difficult blessings with people…open your Bibles to Luke 2:25-35. Mary and Joseph presented the baby Jesus in the temple in accordance with the Law, when they ran into a strange man named Simeon. As we attempt to glean from the greatness of a few Bible characters this month, we aren’t trying to reduce their entire lives down to a few trite and simple sermon points. That wouldn’t be fair to them or to us. No; we are simply listening to how the Spirit might possibly nudge us each week as we consider some very unique stories. So listen closely for the voice of the Spirit as I read this familiar story of strange Simeon…I’ll read today from the New Living Translation. I like the way it translates the passage.
At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying, “Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!” Jesus’ parents were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, but he will be a joy to many others. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.”
I see three profoundly spiritual challenges tucked into this moment of Simeon’s life.
Simeon Was There
The first striking, Simeon challenge is found in the three simple words at the beginning of verse 28. This stunning, strange and wildly thought-provoking spiritual moment happened because, first and foremost, Simeon was there. He was there at the Temple to meet the Holy Family as they arrived that day.
He was there. Those three little words may not seem profoundly significant, but please consider what brought Simeon there that day. Simeon was there because he was a righteous and devout man, verse 25 says. He was there because he was eagerly waiting for His Messiah to come. He was looking for Jesus! He was there because the Holy Spirit was upon him; so profoundly that somehow Simeon knew God would grant him the privilege of seeing the Messiah before he died, says verse 26. He was there because verse 27 says the Holy Spirit led him there; he wasn’t simply filled by the Spirit, he was led by the Spirit. There is a mountain of reflection and spiritual challenge behind these three pregnant words – Simeon was there.
Where are you today? Where is your righteousness and devotion taking you? What great spiritual secrets is God able to give you the inside scoop on because of the fullness of the Holy Spirit inside you? What Messiah are you truly waiting for? What salvation are you hoping to receive? Where is the Spirit leading you today? Are you standing on the steps of the Temple or are you standing somewhere else entirely? Simeon was there – where are you?
Folks, I’m sure we’ve all heard many versions of the same old expression: all decisions are made by those who show up. History is made by those who show up. The whole world is run by those who show up. This isn’t exaggeration. Where we find ourselves standing, where we show up in this world, determines much about what we do in the world. And where we’re standing isn’t an accident. We will not ever stand in the Temple as Simeon did by accident.
So where are you standing today? What temple steps are you planning to enjoy? All the rest of Simeon’s story, all the rest of our story, flows from these first thoughts…
Simeon Was Satisfied
The second striking, Simeon challenge is found in the happy words of verse 29: “Lord, let your servant die in peace, as you have promised, because I have now seen your salvation.” Oh dear Father, I am satisfied enough at this moment to die and be content. I am satisfied!
This section of the passage actually came to be known in church history as the third great hymn of the birth narrative of Christ. It used to be called the Nunc dimittis (“now dismiss”), from the first words of the Latin translation. It is the singing satisfaction of Simeon – now dismiss your servant in peace, dear Lord, because I am satisfied.
How satisfied are we? While we “still haven’t found what we’re looking for” as U2 sang years ago, in many ways we have all found exactly what we’re looking for. We have not yet fully experienced Jesus, but we certainly know him as well or better than Simeon here did.
So how satisfied are we today? Are we truly able to join in these “nunc dimittis” songs of Simeon or are we so twisted and damaged by the obsessions, desires and definitions this world gives us of this life we will never be satisfied? Is Jesus honestly enough for us? Have we truly learned, as the Apostle Paul said so beautifully in his letter to the Philippians, the secret of being content in any and all situations? Do we truly believe we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength? How would…no, how will our experience of God be different if and when God inevitably changes our circumstances? If the world economy sinks even deeper into the tank, will you still be satisfied in Jesus? If your toys break, your relationships are strained, your boss get crabby, if you, as so many of our dear friends here at Elim have in recent months lose that person who makes you happy and satisfies you – if all those favorite, sweet sources of happiness and satisfaction in your life disappear in one way or another, will you still be satisfied to find yourself holding nothing but Jesus in your arms?
My goodness, how this Simeon moment utterly exposes me! I have come to profoundly believe my irresistible satisfaction in Christ is supposed to be possibly the most infectious thing about me and yet, I am so very frequently a crabby, dissatisfied wretch. “Nunc dimittis” to all that junk! I have already found exactly what I’m looking for! This Jesus I hold in my arms, this Jesus who holds me in His arms must be enough for me just as He was for Simeon!
You may have heard the wonderful story Erwin Lutzer told years ago in old Preaching Today sermon. It seems a man walked into a mental institution one day and was taken on a tour. On the tour, he saw a man was beating his head against the padded walls of his room. The man kept saying, “Linda, how could you do it? Linda, how could you do it?” The guide explained that the man was in love with a woman named Linda, and when Linda jilted him, he drifted off into the ozone. He just couldn't handle it. But then they went on to the next cell, and there was an equally upset man inside muttering to himself, “Linda, Linda, how could this happen? Linda, Linda.” The visitor said, “Well now, who's this guy?” The guide responded, “That’s the man who married Linda.”
Folks, if we’re looking anywhere at all for our satisfaction in life other than Jesus, we’re just crazy. Sooner or later, one way or another, we’re inevitably going to find ourselves trapped and in pain with a broken and absolutely dissatisfied heart. So be satisfied in Jesus.
Simeon Was Prophesying
And that leads us to the blessed third and final Simeon challenge in this passage. Here’s where the fortune cookies really come slamming back into the story. Simeon was there that day; his godly life led him to exactly the right place and the right time. Simeon was satisfied that day because he found his Jesus that day. And at the end of everything, Simeon ended up prophesying that day. It was Simeon ready to speak truth to the Temple and to world that day.
But do you notice the precise nature of the prophecy this great man of God shared with the world that day? This isn’t cuddly, meandering, politically correct fortune cookie advice; a friendly little bit of sugar to chase down the egg rolls. This is bombastic, unexpected prophecy! This is disturbing and divisive talk! This is painful, pointed and powerful truth! I wonder how many times we have read this familiar story and failed to notice what Simeon actually says.
Simeon boldly declares that this baby Jesus will be salvation “for all people, a light to reveal God to the nations.” This baby is a sign from God. This baby will be a glory to Israel and bring joy to many people. Wow! This stuff is stunning. This baby hasn’t even preached a sermon, done a miracle, healed the sick or fed the hungry yet. What are you saying, Simeon?
Yet Simeon also turns to Mary and Joseph and “blesses” them by telling them that this baby will cause many to fall in Israel. What? Wait a minute, Simeon! What sort of good news is that? Who wants that sort of news in their cookie after lunch? But Simeon goes on to say “many will oppose him.” He says this child will expose the deepest thoughts in our hearts. He says this child will cause a sword to pierce your very soul.
Simeon prophesied. Simeon spoke truth into the world. Simeon sugarcoated nothing.
Folks, this world does not need another cuddly preacher or sugary fortune cookie. This stunning gospel prophecy is categorically not “one size fits all.” What was it Jesus said back there in Matthew 10:34? “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” This baby will be the downfall of many! This baby will expose us all for exactly what we are! This baby is the ultimate line in the sand! Please believe me when I say adamantly that this world does not need for us to tell its itching ears whatever they wish to hear. All roads categorically do not lead home. This world does not need some silly, high priced Balaam to walk into its halls of power and speak whatever lies he is paid to speak. This world doesn’t need yet another trivial, aspirin solution for its cancerous condition.
This world needs Simeon, standing ready in the temple, satisfied in Jesus, speaking boy God’s joyous and also sometimes very painful truth to a dissatisfied, scared and dying world.
This baby Jesus came into the world to bring us joy, life and satisfaction. But it is only by standing ready in the temple and seeking our satisfaction in Jesus that we will ever be able to share the truth of these things with the world.
If you came here this morning broken, hopeless and dissatisfied with the world and your place in this world, I prophesy to you this morning that this baby can bring you what you need most. Listen to what Simeon is saying to you! Regardless of how we came here this morning, I beg you to listen to what Simeon is saying to us. There is only one way home. There is only one source of satisfaction. There is only one truth worth prophesying and embracing.
May the LORD raise up Simeons in this place! May we find ourselves with a positively Simeon sort of “nunc dimittis” satisfaction in Jesus! And may we give up on all the shallow, fortune cookie junk and speak only the wonderfully raw truth of God to the world around us!
Amen.
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