Simeon

I often wonder about Simeon. He had been faithfully serving the Lord for years. One of the very few who had his theology right--he was looking for a suffering Savior. Did he know that day as he made his way to the temple that that would be the day he would encounter the Savior? Can you imagine the emotions? Did he know that he would encounter him as a little child--just days old? How long had he been there that day waiting--pacing back and forth his eyes on everyone who entered the temple doors? Seemed like just seconds, I imagine. And how many "Bible scholars" had smirked at his teaching. You know he shared it. I mean, he stood up in the middle of the temple, held His Savior in his old gnarled hands and shouted "For my eyes have seen Thy salvation!" And I imagine the Jewish gatherers were a little confused if not angry at the words '"A light of revelation to the Gentiles." But, of course, they were moved by "and the glory of Thy people Israel." And then to hand Jesus to His mother, to look into the face of that young girl and have to tell her--and I have no doubt that there were tears of sympathy for her in his old eyes (God has no hard-hearted followers--at least, not "righteous and devout" ones)--"He will pierce your own soul. He will reveal those who truly have a heart of love toward God." I wonder how many times Mary remembered those words and saw that old tear-stained face in her memory? I'll bet I know one day she remembered them. Simeon--God's "bond-servant." Simeon--an old man ready to go Home, knowing His Savior had come. Simeon--a man overcome with the peace that the God of promises and the God of Hope alone can give. Wouldn't you love to have a film of that moment, of the look on his face and on Mary's face and on Joseph's face? A film of the wonder on the faces of those in the temple hearing such a cry from an old saint? And Anna in her eighties who heard the testimony "running" out the door to tell everyone she met--her Bridegroom had come. And you know Simeon sang the hallel as he danced his way home. Thirty years or so later that little baby all grown up would sing those psalms as he walked with His friends from an upper room to a dark garden to a cross to become "a light of revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of Thy people Israel." As He walked willingly to become old Simeon's Savior.