“ Simeon’s Blessing”

 “Simeon’s Blessing”

 

“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!”   Luke 3:29-32

 

 

I suppose some of you may be wondering why I am doing this Scripture at this time.  When you may think this to be strictly a part of the Christmas Story.  Let us face the FACT that Jesus was BORN for ONE REASON, and that was to PAY a DEBT mankind could NOT pay.  He did this to provide SALVATION to a LOST and DYING world and to fulfill the prophecies that predicted His MISSION.  

Simeon, a RIGHTEOUS man, was given a PROMISE, from the Holy Spirit of God.  That PROMISE was that Simeon would NOT die until he saw the LORD GOD’S MESSIAH.  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!”

However, that was NOT the end of Simeon’s BLESSING.  He then turned to the parents and BLESSED them, and he said to Mary, the Mother of Jesus,” This Child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall and many others to rise.  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.”    (Vv 34,35)

There was MORE than a BLESSING for Mary, she would MISUNDERSTAND, exactly what her Son’s MISSION truly entailed. And she would suffer the GRIEF and SORROW of the CRUCIFIXION, but she would have JOY for the RESURRECTION part of His MISSION to SAVE the WORLD from their SINS, and from the DESTINY of SPENDING an ETERNITY in HELL with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY to ESCAPE, once they are there.  

 

So, you see that SIMEON’S BLESSING has a CONNECTION with GOD’S PLAN to bring LIGHT that would REVEAL GOD and PROVIDE a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with God. JESUS CHRIST, the ONLY MESSIAH that can bring SALVATION to this LOST and DYING world.  Have you experienced the LIGHT?  In the BLESSING of SIMEON, he said that the MESSIAH would cause some to FALL because they OPPOSED HIM and His MISSION.  But He would cause some to RISE because of their BELIEF that He TRULY IS the MESSIAH.  If you have been OPPOSING Him and have NOT given YOUR HEART and LIFE to God, then you are FALLING into an ETERNITY in HELL.  God sent His Son JESUS to SAVE the SOULS of ALL who would BELIEVE in Him and have a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with FATHER GOD.  In order to do this, YOU MUST ADMIT that YOU are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST, who GAVE HIS LIFE to SAVE your WRETCHED SOUL from HELL.  You MUST BELIEVE with ALL your HEART, that JESUS DIED for YOU and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for YOU, before God.  You MUST CONFESS your SINS to HIM and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST be WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your SINFUL LIFESTYLE and TURN TO GOD with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST ACCEPT His Gift of SALVATION and RECEIVE an ETERNITY in HEAVEN with ALL its BLESSINGS. Do this NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t Be LEFT BEHIND!!!