And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him [the child Jesus around AD 0)] up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord … and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord…. Now 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. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And 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, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, “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.”
And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Look and see, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” Luke 1: 46-56 |
"The time has come,” the walrus said, “to talk of many things: of shoes and ships - and sealing wax - of cabbages and kings.” (Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland)
Six impossible things were told to Mary by the angel sent from God AD 0 (see Info 10 December 2015). Mary, unlike Alice in Wonderland, believed them all. A few months later, with the child in her womb, Mary, this time like Alice, said what she meant (see Info 21 December 2015) by saying six impossible things of which she was certain.
Alice’s walrus in wonderland was also quite certain about one necessity. “The time has come to talk of many things....” Simeon (see bold above) knew that his time had come. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ, the Lord’s Messiah. The time for him to talk had also come. He prayed: “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.” |
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‘He that made man was made man.’ (C H Spurgeon, preacher and writer, 1834-1892)
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"The time has come to talk of many things: of cabbages and kings.” Of Cabbages? Instead, Simeon could happily talk of his own departure from this world. A taboo subject. Having seen the Lord’s Messiah – the child Jesus – he asked the Lord to allow him to be dismissed from this world. He was ready.
Of Kings? Simeon saw, in Jesus, the king-man who would save all human beings from all their wars. Here was the king who was the Lord’s salvation for all suffering humans – for all peoples. He would enable Gentiles (non-Jews) truly to see. This child, this descendant of King David (who ruled in Jerusalem between BC1010 and 970) would bring glory to God’s people Israel.
What kind of kingly “glory”? That kind of kingly glory which dies on a criminal’s cross in order to forgive and save all his enemies...? That gives all to others?
"The time has come,” the walrus said, “to talk of many things: of shoes and ships - and sealing wax - of cabbages and kings.”
“Of shoes and ships and sealing wax?” Not for Simeon. He didn’t want to talk about the things that relate to comfort, possessions, trade, economics or law.... Instead the time had come for him to talk about eternal destiny, “Look and see, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel…” Oh,yes. Some – many – would fall. And some would rise up and bless the name of Jesus, Saviour.
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‘The Son of God came to seek us where we are in order that he might bring us to be with him where he is.’ (J I Packer, Christian theologian)
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This “fall and rising of many in Israel”, Simeon said, would be mirrored across the globe, for all people not only Jews, and for many generations to come. “This child is appointed… for a sign that is opposed…. so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” Yes, this Jesus will be opposed because he is such a sign that opposition to him will arise in the hearts of many. Why opposed? Because of his supreme, transcendent and abundant goodness.
That goodness will most of all be seen at the cross which this child will endure – that cross when, as Simeon told Mary around AD 2, “a sword will pierce through your own soul also”.
Yes, the time has come for all of us to talk….. |
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