Deep-Seated Peace

Most of us have probably held a sweet, little baby before – maybe our own children, or a friend’s newborn, or a tiny niece or nephew. And we probably wondered what this little baby might grow up to be like. Will he or she love to read? Or be the fastest runner in their class? Will he or she be kind and generous with those around them? Or have a heart for helping the hurting? We might even have tiny dreams of our own for them, hoping they love our favorite sport or grow up to be known for generosity and kindness. Certainly we have all hoped that the children we hold will grow up to know the Savior of the world. But none of us have ever had the joyous experience that Simeon was blessed with at Jesus’ dedication. 

As Simeon held the weeks old baby Jesus in his arms, he wasn’t wondering who Jesus would grow up to be or what legacy Jesus would leave because Simeon already knew he was holding the Savior of the world. 

Fully Birthed Faith

The Lord has promised Simeon that he would live long enough to see the Messiah. Some might have found it hard to believe that the small, tiny child Mary and Joseph had brought to the temple that could not walk, talk, or eat on his own much less lead an army or rule a kingdom was the Deliverer sent to free the captives, open the eyes of the blind, and establish God’s kingdom on earth. But before Jesus ever turned the water into wine or calmed the waves of the sea, before He ever healed the lame or raised Lazarus from the dead, and before Jesus displayed His relationship with the Father, Simeon believed that God would fulfill His promise to bring salvation, redemption, and restoration to His people through this tiny baby. 

Simeon believed in the coming salvation because he had experienced personally the fulfillment of God’s promise to see the Messiah. He didn’t need signs and miracles. One true word from God was enough to believe the rest. Just a glimpse of Jesus was enough for Simeon to respond with a blessing to God and a deep-seated peace in what was coming in the future.

Fully Experienced Faith

In his letter to the global church, Peter emphasized that “You have not seen Him, but you love him. You do not see him now but you believe in him, and so you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, because you are attaining the goal of your faith – the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:8-9). On this side of the cross, we have not seen Jesus, not with our own eyes, but we have personally experienced the fulfillment of God’s promise to provide a sacrifice for our sin and salvation for our souls. 

We’ve encountered Jesus, been washed by His blood, and filled with God’s Spirit. And because of this, we continue to trust God’s faithfulness to bring full redemption and an imperishable inheritance for all the nations. Jesus’ fulfillment of His word on the cross leads us to deep-seated peace for our futures too. 

Fully Founded Faith

As we are reminded this advent season of Jesus’ incarnation – His birth as a tiny, helpless baby – and as we read the story of Mary and Joseph and the shepherds, we know that His arrival was just part of the story. On this side of the cross, we are privileged to know the true stories of Jesus’ miraculous ministry – His power over sickness, demons, and death. We know of His blood spilled for sinners and the salvation and forgiveness He offers. We know of His resurrection, power, and glory. And as we think and meditate on all that God has done for us through Jesus Christ, His faithful promises kept and fulfilled, we can respond as Simeon did, knowing that according to God’s Word, we, too, have peace in the present and should rejoice for what is coming in the future. 

This Advent season I am reminded that I can take God at His Word. But to trust His Word, I need to know His Word. I need to make time to dwell on the promises of God during this season, both rejoicing at the ones He has already fulfilled and resting in the peace found when I trust that He will bring about the ones yet to come.