Luke 2:22–40 (ESV)

    ²²When the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, [Mary and Joseph] brought [Jesus] up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord ²³(as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) ²⁴and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” ²⁵Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. ²⁶And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. ²⁷And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, ²⁸he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

²⁹“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
            according to your word;
³⁰for my eyes have seen your salvation
            ³¹that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
³²a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
            and for glory to your people Israel.”

This event from the Gospel of Saint Luke took place forty days after the birth of Christ Jesus which we know as Christmas Day.  We can only find the true meaning of Christmas in the Infant that was once nestled in the manger bed and is now held in the arms of the “righteous and devote” Simeon.  Without the Christ Child, there would be no Christmas.  

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Christ came into the world to keep God’s Law perfectly, which is something humanity is unable to do. Yet, we sinners want freedom from the distress Satan creates and to walk into the future calmly, fearlessly, and peacefully.  That peace can only be found with God.  In the Lord’s Christ, Mary’s Baby, Simeon found peace.  Christ was his peace and his consolation during the days his Redeemer and Lord permitted him to serve.  God’s Holy Spirit assured him that in Christ his sins were forgiven.  With that peace of God which surpasses human understanding, Simeon could calmly and peacefully face death.

Like every son and daughter of man, Simeon knew that in death he would be summoned before the Lord and Maker. For Simeon and all believers, there is nothing frightening or appalling about it.  Our departure from this present evil age holds no sting or bitterness, it is not a fearsome end or a dreadful recompense.  Our last call away from this life is a departing in peace, it is leaving this poorer earth to go into the better heaven.  To put it another way, it is not the end, but the real beginning in the sweetest peace because we go on to God’s perfect heaven.  Simeon’s words are only a preview of what St. Paul would later write to the Philippians: “My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better” (Phil. 1:23). 

But even now forty days later, we should remember the real message of Christmas: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (Jn. 3:16 KJV). Christmas means there is perfect forgiveness for every sinner. This is salvation full and free, this is God’s salvation, His perfect Christmas gift. Sure, the decorations and carols bring joy to our hearts, but it is only because in this Christ Child brought to the temple to fulfill the Law of God, we have a perfect Savior.  Because Jesus fulfilled the Law perfectly for you, when the final hour for all believers approaches, you will able to exclaim with Simeon, “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your Word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation.”

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