By Daniel Darling

Luke 2:21-38 (see complete scripture below)

This time of year most of us have a wish list, things we to see unwrapped on that magical night.

But who has a Bucket List? Who brings up the things they want to do before they die—on Christmas? Sounds kind of morbid, doesn’t it?

Not if you’re Simeon. His Christmas story unfolds as Luke tells the original Christmas story, the story of God coming to earth as a man, God becoming human in the flesh as a baby.

Simeon had no business being a part of the grandest story in the history of the world. He was just a common forgettable man. Not much is told about who he is or where he comes from.

All we know about Simeon is that he was a faithful man of God. Unlike most of his contemporaries, Simeon was just foolish enough to actually believe the promises of God to His people, delivered down through the centuries by the prophets.

They told of a coming Messiah. The Messiah wouldn’t come in grand fashion. He wouldn’t grow up in Herod’s house. The ruling religious leaders would miss him. His own people would miss him.

Simeon knew and read those promises. He also knew that this Messiah, this baby born, would not come to overthrow the Romans and give Israel the ruler they desperately wanted. No, this Messiah would come to die, actually. He’d come to forgive sins, to defeat death, and to provide a way for anyone who believes to have peace with God.

Nothing was really special about Simeon except that he believed God. And guess what? God looks for people like Simeon. So the Holy Spirit came upon Simeon and promised to inform this faithful man when the Messiah was to come.

Day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year, Simeon waited for the baby. He never gave up hope. He believed Messiah would come.

And one day, in the arms of a poor peasant mother was the Messiah, God Incarnate, Immanuel, God with us. At last Simeon saw the Messiah.

Now, Simeon could die. He had seen Christ. He’d achieved his Bucket List.

What are you waiting for this Christmas? I’d submit to you that Christ is what you’re waiting for. If you haven’t met the Messiah, meet him this season.

Luke 2:21-38(NIV)

21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”[a]), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”[b]

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[c] 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.”

33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

36 There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four.[d] She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.