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December 14, 2005
Midweek Advent 3
Luke 2:21-35
Pastor Ben Berger

Sing Simeon's Song of the Savior

Do you think the Father, Son and Holy Spirit enjoy listening to music in heaven? Do you think there's a heavenly radio station or maybe some of the angels have assembled an orchestra? What about a marching band? Because music is a gift from God, I think he also enjoys hearing his people worship him in song. During our midweek worship this Advent season, we have meditated upon Songs of the Savior. Mary magnified the Lord for remembering his promise of a Savior. Zechariah blessed God for keeping his promise of a Son. Tonight Simeon finds peace when he holds the Christ-child in his arms. God certainly loves to listen to all of these songs that he has recorded for us in his word. I'm sure he even wants to hear us sing these songs. Tonight, as we learn the importance of Simeon's song, God also invites us to Sing Simeon's Song of the Savior. We can do that two ways: 1) See the Savior's Salvation and 2) Share the Savior's Light.

See the Savior's salvation as release for a slave. The familiar title of Simeon's song, Nunc Dimittis, comes from the first two words of the Latin translation, which mean "now you dismiss." We could also say, "now you release your slave, master."

Simeon considered himself a slave. That's not how Luke described him in our Gospel reading. Luke said, now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. In God's eyes Simeon was righteous; God declared him 'not guilty' of sin through faith. In the eyes of others Simeon was devout; he lived his faith in his daily life. But in Simeon's own eyes, he was a slave. Simeon was conscious of his sins and troubled by them. He knew that he needed a Savior from his sin. Simeon also knew that God promised to send a Messiah-Savior and he trusted God's promise. In fact, his heart was restless for the coming of the Savior. Like a child waiting for Santa Claus, Simeon wanted nothing more than to see the coming of his salvation.

Do we consider ourselves slaves as Simeon did? Should we? We probably don't consider ourselves as slaves. We probably consider ourselves righteous and devout Christians. We say that we're strong believers and we prove it by our church attendance, generous offerings and many volunteer offerings. While those descriptions may (or may not) be true, we want to think of ourselves first as slaves. We want to be completely conscious of our sins and troubled by them. We want to have a restlessness in our hearts, not resting until we know and believe God's promise of a Savior from our sins. We want to be more excited for Jesus' birth than for Santa Claus or a college acceptance letter or that diamond ring or a new job offer or anything else. Then, as slaves, we want to be expecting believers.

While a slave Simeon found peace in God's word as an expecting believer. Luke said that [Simeon] was waiting for the consolation of Israel (25). Simeon knew God's promise and fully expected him to keep it. In addition, Luke said, it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ (26). Based on that special revelation, Simeon not only expected Lord to keep his promise, he expected him to keep it in his lifetime. God's word gave Simeon some peace and rest in his heart while he was waiting for the Savior. I imagine he got a little more anxious knowing that the Savior was coming soon, but I also imagine that he became more confident. His confidence and trust in God's word brought him peace.

We too find peace for our hearts right now in God's word. Like Simeon, we have received a special revelation. We have even more of God's word than Simeon did. We have the advantage of looking back to see how God kept his promises. God's faithfulness in keeping those promises gives us confidence that he will also keep his word to us. Our hearts and souls find peace knowing that God has already forgiven our sins. We find peace knowing that he will also return to take us to heaven. While we wait expectantly, we also trust that God will provide for us, protect us and preserve us in our faith. God's word gives us peace.

As a slave and as an expecting believer, Simeon finally found release when he saw the Savior's salvation. One day the Holy Spirit moved Simeon to go to the temple. When he arrived, he saw with his own eyes the baby Jesus. Simeon walked over to Mary and Joseph, held out his hands, and took Jesus into his arms. Simeon had always believed God's promise of a Savior, but NOW he saw it with his own eyes. Finally, the slave was set free and the expecting believer found peace for his restless heart. And so he sang, Now you release your slave, master according to your word in peace; for my eyes have seen your salvation (29-30 Berger).

We too have seen the Savior's salvation. With faith in our hearts we celebrate the birth of God's promised Messiah. We hold him in our arms and look at him with loving eyes. His birth means the forgiveness of our sins and our hearts find rest. We also see Jesus' salvation every time we celebrate the sacrament of Holy Communion. We smell, taste and touch the very body and blood Jesus shed for the forgiveness of our sins. And we will see Jesus face to face upon our death. Soon he will come again and hold us in his arms. Then we will finally be released from our slavery to sin and find peace for our restless hearts. Every time we see the Savior's salvation - whether celebrating Christmas, receiving the sacrament or preparing for death - we sing Simeon's song of the Savior.

We also sing Simeon's song of the Savior whenever we share the Savior's light.

Simeon sang that the salvation he saw with his eyes, God had prepared before the face of all peoples. God had given the promise of a Savior to his chosen people, Israel or the Jews. As a Jew Simeon learned about God's promise from childhood. Though God gave his promise to the Jews and sent the Savior through the Jews, salvation was not a secret just for the Jews. Simeon proclaimed that God prepared salvation for all people and in front of all people. God didn't hide Jesus or try to keep him a secret. Just the opposite - God wanted everyone to know about Jesus as the Savior. And in today's world, who hasn't heard the name Jesus?

Sometimes we act like Jesus is a secret just for us. We come to church to hear about Jesus and talk about him. But, we don't talk about him at home or at work or school. We don't bother asking anyone else to come learn about him. We keep Jesus to ourselves. Jesus is not just for us. He's not just for Jews and he's not just for Mount Olive. God has prepared his salvation before the face of ALL peoples. Jesus is for everyone.

Simeon describes the Savior's salvation as a light for the revelation of the Gentiles. We are Gentiles; everyone who is not a Jew is a Gentile. Gentiles live in darkness and need light. Certainly all people, Jews and Gentiles, are born in the darkness of sin. We inherit a sinful condition from our parents that condemns us to hell. Only God's promised Savior can release us. God gave his word to the Jews; they had his promise. Someone else needed to tell the Gentiles. Without God's word Gentiles continue to live in the darkness of sin without a Savior.

Jesus is the light and his word is the revelation. In the Old Testament God repeatedly gives his promise to send a Savior; he also shows us how he controlled history to prepare the world for Jesus. In the New Testament God shows us exactly how he kept his promise by sending his own Son, Jesus, to be the promised Savior. He also sent others to spread the news and the Holy Spirit to create faith. Through the revelation of God's word and the power of his Holy Spirit, you now believe in Jesus as your Savior, as your Light. He has removed the darkness of your sins and lit for you the way to eternal salvation and life in heaven.

Now it's your privilege and responsibility to share Jesus' light. Simeon sang that the Savior's salvation brought glory to his people Israel. It was certainly a blessing for the Jews that Jesus was born from their nation. At the same time, when Gentiles believe and become part of God's people, that salvation brings glory to God. God wants all people to see the salvation and light of the Savior - European, African, Asian, Hispanic, old, young, tall, short, family, friends, strangers, EVERYONE. When we tell others about God's promise to forgive their sin and point to Jesus as the fulfillment of that promise - when we share the Savior's light, we give glory to God.

Simeon sang a song of the Savior when he held baby Jesus in his arms. He found release as a slave, peace for his heart as an expecting believer, and salvation and light for all peoples. Every Christmas, every Sunday, every day we see God's salvation in our lives and have the opportunity to share his light. This Christmas and always, sing Simeon's song of the Savior as often as you can.