The Confidence of Salvation!
Lord, you now dismiss your servant in peace, according to your word, 30 because my eyes have seen your salvation. Luke 2:29-30
Matthew and Luke were led by the Holy Spirit to include stories that relate facts about Jesus’ birth. When you consider the stories, you realize that there were people who were also anticipating his birth. The wise men studied the skies and saw the sign. The shepherds didn’t ask the angels who they were talking and singing about. Luke also records a story about a man named Simeon. The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. Prepared by that Word of God, Simeon was waiting for that promise to be fulfilled. The day that Jesus was presented in the temple was the day that the Holy Spirit fulfilled his promise to him.
We don’t know how long the period was between the promise and fulfillment. But we know the fulfillment. Simeon saw the Lord’s Christ. He also took Jesus in his arms. We hear the joy in his heart as he sang, “Lord, you now dismiss your servant in peace, according to your word, 30 because my eyes have seen your salvation.”
Simeon was now ready to face one of our greatest foes, death. That was the result of the devil’s successful attack on God’s creation. The first promise of the Seed of the woman indicated the Lord’s planned defeat of the devil. The Warrior who would secure the victory was now held by Simeon in his arms. Jesus still had to secure the victory, but Simeon knew that the Lord always keeps his Word.
How can we know that we are saved? God the Holy Spirit has guaranteed it in his Word. By faith, that salvation that Jesus has secured becomes ours.
Lord Jesus, thank you for your victory. Continue to fill our hearts with your peace. Amen.