ŇNunc Dimittis – SimeonŐs SongÓ
Luke 2 22-40
ŇLord, 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.Ó (Luke 2:29-32, ESV)
Here is the final ŇsongÓ in LukeŐs narrative of the birth of Jesus. (I use the term song because we have turned many of these poetic pieces into song used in our worship). Eight days after Jesus birth is when the circumcision and naming would have taken place probably in Bethlehem either at the place they were staying or in the synagogue. The 40 days later, for a male son, was the ritual of purification for the mother and since Jesus was the first born male, a ritual of dedication to the Lord. These were part of the law of the Lord that came from Moses (as we heard in our Old Testament lesson today – Exodus 13:1-3a, 11-15).
Mary and Joseph were following the law when they brought Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem, about 5-6 miles from Bethlehem. Now coming to the temple isnŐt like coming to our church. The Temple was a place filled with various activities going on all day long. In fact it is probably better associated with a town square market or our modern day malls. People didnŐt come to the Temple for an hour worship service like we do but came and probably had many activities to be a part of at any time. So, Mary and Joseph probably waited in line for a priest to sacrifice the two pigeons they brought for MaryŐs purification. While they were in the Temple they probably werenŐt seen as any different than other couples and people coming for worship and sacrifices. There was no fanfare and most people probably missed that this was the Savior of the world, this tiny, one month old baby with unassuming parents. And yet that is how God often works, in the hidden and quiet ways.
A couple of things are at work in LukeŐs account that is really profound but simply stated. The first is the very fact that GodŐs presence, in Jesus, is returning to the Temple. In the Old Testament, after the people of Israel had rebelled against God and gone after idols and false gods, the presence of God left the Temple. The prophets had spoke of GodŐs presence returning and now it is coming true in Jesus being brought for dedication. What a mystery of GodŐs ways – His presence is being carried in to the Temple, not on a royal chariot, but as a baby in the arms of simple folk. Most people are unaware that the God of the Universe has returned to His Temple.
The second thing that is striking in this text is the fulfillment of the law of witnesses. In Jewish law if two, unrelated people have corroborating evidence or witness to an act then it was considered true and binding. What do we have going on in the Temple when Mary and Joseph bring Jesus? Two witnesses in the persons of Simeon and Anna and mention in the text proclaiming Jesus to be the fulfillment of GodŐs promise of salvation. Even though most people had no idea what was going on, there were some (and I think more than just Simeon and Anna as our text alludes to) who were coming to realize that God was fulfilling His promise of a Messiah. By the power of the Holy Spirit a faithful remnant were waiting to see, and now are seeing, the LordŐs Christ (Messiah) in Jesus.
Simeon, led by the Holy Spirit, picks up Jesus from Mary and Joseph and proclaims that this is the Savior of the world (Gentiles and Jews). Luke is emphatic that it is the Holy Spirit that has led Simeon and Anna to the Christ to show that it is only by GodŐs revelation and leading that we can truly see His hand at work. To most people this was just an ordinary child with ordinary parents coming and doing what is prescribed in the Law. But when God opens our eyes we see something even greater. Luke continues this theme of God opening eyes, eyes of faith, through-out his Gospel. In fact, one of the last stories in Luke is of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus after JesusŐ death and resurrection. There their eyes are opened by Jesus to see GodŐs Word more clearly and see beyond a simple crucifixion to the salvation of the world. The eyes of faith are at work here in our text today as Simeon and Anna see beyond a one month old baby and see GodŐs presence returning to the Temple and the Salvation of the world in the Messiah. And Anna as well was able, with the eyes of faith, to proclaim to others that the Messiah had come; God was fulfilling His promises.
The words Simeon proclaimed as he held Jesus have become
an important part of our liturgy. It is used in a variety of places the first
of which is after we celebrate the LordŐs Supper. This is placed here because
in the LordŐs Supper we have truly beheld in the bread and wine the real
presence of Jesus Christ. Just as the presence of God returned to the Temple in
the baby Jesus so we too partake of the real presence of Christ in the LordŐs
Supper. So it is appropriate for us to sing Ňfor my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence
of all peoplesÓ With our
physical eyes we see just bread and wine, but with our eyes of faith we have
beheld the salvation of God in Christ Jesus.
Another place
the Song of Simeon, or the Latin title – Nunc Dimittis, is used is in the
Evening Service. Here, as we close out that day and once again give our lives
over to God we can say that Ňnow you are letting your servant depart in
peace, according to your word.Ó We can have peace as we end the day knowing that God keeps His word and
has promised to keep us safe. It is an appropriate end to the day.
And the final
place it is used brings us to another end, the end of our life. The Nunc
Dimittis is also used in the funeral service. And just as we can find peace at
the end of our day we can find peace at the end of our life. We find peace in
our Lord and Savior who has come because He loves and cares for us. That peace
extends even to our final moments on earth and beyond into eternity. We have,
with the eyes of faith, seen Jesus as not only a man but the true Son of God,
our Savior. We can have peace in our lives as we continue to behold our Savior
and we can depart in peace for GodŐs Word is true, Jesus is our Savior!
Amen.