Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”

– Luke 2:28-32 (NIV)

After the birth of Jesus when He was about a month old, Mary and Joseph brought their new bundle of joy to the Temple to fulfill the purification rites required by the Law of Moses. It is here at the Temple that we are introduced to Simeon. Simeon’s name literally means, “God has heard.” The Holy Spirit had revealed to Simeon that he would see the promised Messiah before his death. It is important to remember that it had been 400 years since God had spoken to His people through a prophet before Jesus was born. Simeon waited and watched with great hope for God to fulfill His promise made long ago to Israel, and to him personally of a Messiah who would not only come to save Israel but in fulfillment of God’s long-standing promise to be a blessing to all nations (Genesis 12:1-3).

Led by the Holy Spirit, Simeon took the Christ-child in his arms, lifted Him up, and blessed the Lord for His faithfulness. The Messiah was here…a Saviour not only for the Jews but also for the whole world. Jesus was not only the long-awaited Messiah every Jewish person longed to see; He would be “a light for the Gentiles.” This is repeated, often, in the gospel narratives of Jesus’ birth. In Mary’s song. In Zechariahs’ praise. In the words of the angel to Joseph.

This is the central message of Christmas: Jesus was and is a Saviour for the entire world. It’s important for us to understand this truth. Sometimes we are tempted to think Jesus came only to save people that look like us, but we are told, from the promise to Abraham in Genesis through to John’s vision in Revelation that the kingdom of God is made up of people from every nation, tribe and tongue (Revelation 7:9).

We can also learn a lot from this passage from Simeon. Simeon’s faith is grounded, and secure, and so sensitive to the Holy Spirit, that he gains deep satisfaction from the small glimpse of God because he trusts that what God starts, He will see through to completion.

How about you? How open to the Spirit are you? How much time do you give to sitting in and listening to God’s presence? When you sense the Holy Spirit speaking or moving, how long are you prepared to wait patiently in the knowledge that God will do what He’s said He’ll do?

Father, let us hear your voice like Simeon did. We ask for the humility to not have to see the climax of Your work to celebrate the flickers of hope now. Help us to celebrate that you came for all people and give us the courage to reach out to others who aren’t like us and introduce them to you.

Spend some time with God reflecting on the meaning of Christmas – a light for all the nations and what this might mean. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you what He is up to. Celebrate the glimpses of tiny breakthrough of the Kingdom. Ask God what your role is as a carrier of God’s light.