25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you may now dismiss[D] your servant in peace.
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.”
“When My Waiting Meets Christ”
Text: Luke 2:25–32
Author: Rev. Yaqub Kashif
Grace and peace to you in the name of our lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
This message reflects on the quiet, deeply moving encounter between an elderly believer named Simeon and the infant Jesus in the temple. Unlike many dramatic or public scenes in Scripture, this story unfolds in silence, with no crowds, no celebration, no attention.
It is simply an old man at the end of his life meeting the Savior he had been promised long ago. In that moment, a lifetime of faith, longing, and expectation finds fulfillment. Luke describes Simeon not by title or status but by character. He is “righteous and devout,” a man who lives faithfully before God and walks reverently in His presence.
Luke says he is “waiting for the consolation of Israel,” and the original Greek word for “waiting,” prosdexomenos, means more than passive endurance. It describes someone who waits with open arms, in hope and eager expectation, refusing to give up on God’s promise even when years pass, and silence feels long. Simeon’s faith does not grow cold in waiting. His hope does not fade with age. He keeps believing that God will do what He has said, even when he does not know when or how it will come to pass.
Israel has lived through centuries of spiritual silence. No prophet speaks. No revival comes. Many people give up hope or settle into a religious routine. But Simeon remains attentive to God. The Holy Spirit rests upon him, guides his life, and sustains his hope. Luke repeatedly emphasizes that Simeon lives under the Spirit’s direction.
The Spirit reveals the promise to him, comforts him in his waiting, and leads him to the temple at the very moment Jesus is brought there. Long before Pentecost, Simeon shows us what it means to live in deep companionship with the Holy Spirit, not driven by emotional moments but by a steady, faithful relationship with God.
Simeon is waiting for what Luke calls “the consolation of Israel.” The word paraklēsis means comfort, encouragement, and God drawing near to His people. Israel is not merely waiting for social change, political liberation, or cultural renewal. The true longing of God’s people is for the Messiah Himself, for God’s comfort to enter human history.
Jesus comes as the embodied comfort of God. Before the Spirit comes in power at Pentecost, the Comforter arrives in humility as a Child. When Simeon takes the infant Jesus into his arms, something holy happens. An old man, whose body is worn by age, but whose faith is preserved by promise, finally holds the fulfillment he has carried in his heart for a lifetime. His trembling hands steady, not because his body is strong but because his hope is complete.
He does not merely see salvation; he holds it. He presses the faithfulness of God against his chest. Years of longing, waiting, questions, and tears are gathered into one sacred moment of joy and completion. Then Simeon prays words that echo across Christian faith and worship: “Now, Lord, release Your servant in peace.” The Greek word apolyeis means to dismiss gently, to set free, to release a servant who has completed his task.
Simeon does not speak as a man who feels unfinished or disappointed. He says as one who has reached the fullness of his journey. He is not eager to escape life; instead, he is at peace because his eyes have seen Christ. For Simeon, death is not loss. It is release, a peaceful dismissal into the presence of God. Simeon also declares that Jesus is “a light for revelation to the Gentiles.” The word phōs means light and reveals truth, exposes darkness, and makes God known.
Simeon understands that this Child is not only the hope of Israel but the Savior of the nations, for every people, every language, and every story. Even in that quiet moment, the global mission of Christ is already unfolding. The Light held in Simeon’s arms will one day shine to the ends of the earth. Simeon’s life teaches us that God does not forget those who wait in faith. Some promises are fulfilled quickly, while others unfold over many years of trust, prayer, and perseverance. There are seasons when God appears silent, yet He is still working quietly in the depths of our lives. Waiting in faith is not wasted time; it is sacred time. Simeon shows us that promises fulfilled in God’s timing carry a more profound beauty than anything we might force or rush. For many believers today, waiting remains part of our spiritual journey. Some wait for healing, restoration, reconciliation, or the return of a loved one to faith.
Others carry prayers passed down from parents or grandparents, prayers that have shaped families, generations, and spiritual identity. Like Simeon, we may not always understand God’s timing, but we are called to trust that God remembers every tear, every prayer, every longing, and every act of faithful obedience. In the end, Simeon did not die empty or discouraged. He died completely. He died in peace because he had encountered Christ.
His story reminds us that the most profound peace in life does not come from success, achievement, or fulfilled personal dreams; it comes from knowing Jesus, seeing His faithfulness, and resting in His salvation. One day, as Simeon did, every believer will see Christ face to face. Faith will become sight. Hope will become fulfillment. What we have waited for in trust will be fulfilled in His presence. Until that day, we continue to walk in faith, guided by the Spirit, holding onto God’s promises, and finding peace in the One who is our salvation.
Amen.
