Luke 2:30, 31, 32 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles , and the glory of thy people Israel.
Simeon says that now he can die in peace, for now, in this baby, he has seen the Lord’s Messiah, which is “God’s Salvation.” That’s what the name “Jesus” means, as Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple to be circumcised and named.
We also have this promise: we have seen God’s Salvation. Faith sees, believes, and receives Salvation through the hearing of Christ, whether through the preached Word, reading the Bible alone or in a group, private confession, public absolution, Baptism, or Holy Communion. In the Gospel we see the love, life, forgiveness, and salvation of God. Believing is seeing. “Blessed are those who not seen and yet have believed.”
This Salvation of God, Jesus, is a light to the Gentiles and the glory of the Jews. The whole purpose of creating a people out of the Jews was that God’s Salvation would enter human history through His Promise to Israel. Therefore, this baby is the “glory,” the purpose, of Israel. And He is a light to lighten the Gentiles. The purpose and promise is fulfilled in Jesus, for salvation came from the Jews for all people. We who believe have “seen the light.” Now we can depart; now we can live.
I love reading these each morning. So many old the words were used in Handel’s Messiah which I have sung many times but not for several years. How I miss that!
Amen! Same message we are getting with my Biblestudy on Acts on Wednesday night’s here in Moultrie Oaks. Have fun sharing the Word!