Simeon’s Prophesy of Jesus’ Incarnation (Luke 2:29-32)

After Jesus’ birth, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to perform the required sacrifices for a firstborn son. It was there they met an elderly man named Simeon. Simeon is described as devout, righteous, filled with the Holy Spirit, and eagerly waiting for Jesus’ birth. 

So, when he saw Jesus, he blessed Him and proclaimed a prophetic statement of 3 reasons for Jesus’ coming to earth. We find this prophecy recorded in Luke 2:29-32: 

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

First, Jesus came to be our salvation that would be displayed in the presence of all people. Isaiah prophesied that one day God’s salvation would reach the end of the earth (Isaiah 49:6). Jesus is the only means of salvation that God provides and the only way that we can be reconciled to God. Jesus was born so that he could publicly display the means of God’s salvation through His death on the cross and His resurrection. 

Jesus even stated it in John 3:14-15, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.” Jesus repeatedly said that he had come to earth to give his life as a sacrifice for people’s sins so that they could be reconciled to God. So, this Gospel is the means of salvation for not just Jews but for everyone who believes in Him (Romans 1:16).

Next, Simeon prophesies that Jesus came to be a light to show us our sin and darkness. This was also prophesied by Isaiah, that one day, people living in darkness would see a great light (Isaiah 9:2). Jesus preached that he came as the Light of the World to show us the darkness and depth of our sin and our need for a Savior. He came to reveal the truth about who God is, His glory, how He views sin, and why we need salvation from Him. Jesus’ blood allows us to no longer walk in sin and darkness, but instead to walk in the light, have fellowship with God and each other, and to truly love God and our fellow brothers and sisters.

Finally, Jesus came to reveal the full extent of God’s glory to His people. Israel had previously seen glimpses of God’s glory in the form of fire at Mount Sinai and at the dedication of Solomon’s temple. Moses talked with God but was not able to see his face. However, Jesus’ birth would be the first time that man would be able to see and talk face to face with God the Son in the flesh. Jesus had eternal glory with God the Father before creation, and He came to earth to personally show us the full glory of God. In John 1:14, John says, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” 

God’s glory would be further displayed in the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, and it is God’s glory that also resurrects our dead hearts that hated God and causes us to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4). Ultimately, we glorify God when as His saved people we praise, worship, and confess Jesus as Lord.

This Christmas, let us reflect on why Jesus came to earth and how Jesus was the ultimate display of God’s love, His glory, and His mercy to a world of sinners. 

2,000 years ago, Simeon knew that he could rest in peace because he had experienced the peace and salvation that only God could provide, and we too can experience this salvation through the gift that God gave us by sending Jesus to earth.