The Messiah Simeon Waited For

Day 6, Prophecies for the Gentiles

Simeon’s testimony was something the priests of Israel didn’t want to hear. The nationalistic idea, during the Roman occupation, was that the Messiah and Jerusalem were for the Jews. The hope was that the Messiah would take his place as king, overthrow Rome and set up the wondrous worldwide reign with the Jews acting as his royalty pretty much. Then all the Gentiles would be subservient to them.

                But as we know, and Simeon knew, that wasn’t God’s plan.

                If the scribes and Pharisees had read Isaiah closely, they would have seen the references to nations coming to God and seeking him. In the second chapter, it says “All the nations will stream to it [the Lord’s house], and many peoples will come and say, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us about His ways so that we may walk in His paths.”

                Also in Isaiah 9:2 it says: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light…” Simeon recognized the Christ Child as this light. Or 17:7, “On that day people will look to their Maker and will turn their eyes to the Holy One of Israel.” There are others, too.

                The message of Isaiah is echoed by Simeon in the temple on the day of Jesus’ formal naming and dedication. The Messiah came not just for the Jews, but for all mankind. He came not to rule in Jerusalem on earth, but in the hearts of people around the world.

A Sixty-Day Countdown to Christmas


More Days

Introduction to The Messiah Simeon Waited For

Holding Jesus

Day 3, A Sketch of Simeon

Simeon Was a Godly Man

Day 5, Simeon's Testimony

Day 6, Prophecies for the Gentiles

Day 7, Blessing to Nations

Day 8, A Holy People

Day 9, Welcoming God's Firstborn

Day 10, The Name of Simeon

Day 11, Staying Alive

Day 12, Following the Spirit

Day 13, Taking Up Jesus

Day 14, God's Slave

Day 15, True Peace

Day 16, Seeing Reality

Day 17, The Intent of the Law

Day 18, For All Peoples

Day 19, Making Mary and Joseph Marvel

Day 20, A Blessing

Day 21, Hinting at the Rest of the Story

Day 22, Mary Will Grieve

Day 23, Making Simeon into Simeon

Day 24, Prophet to the Prophets

Day 25, A Priest Like Melchizedek

Day 26, Destined for Sacrifice

Day 27, Jesus and the Passover Lamb, part 1

Day 28, Jesus and the Passover Lamb, part 2

Day 29, Jesus and the Passover Lamb, Part 3

Day 30, Jesus as the Lamb (con.)

Day 31, Simeon as a Man of Gratitude

Day 32, Sacrificing Lambs in the Old Testament

Day 33, The Silent Lamb

Day 34, The Messiah as Light

Day 35, Jesus the Stumbling Block

Day 36, Jesus as the Rock

Day 37, The Precious Cornerstone

Day 38, The Stone in Zion

Day 39, The Cornerstone and the Gate

Day 40, The Stone of Judgment

Day 41, Into Zion First

Day 42, Restoring the Booth of David

Day 43, Forgotten Stones

Day 44, Blessed to Receive

Day 45, Crown Him with Many Crowns

Day 46, Identifying the Son of God

Day 47, The Best Storyteller Ever

Day 48, In Bethlehem, the City of David

Day 49, Born a King

Day 50, The Living Jesus

Day 51, The Mountain Tree (Part 1)

Day 52, The Mountain Tree (Part 2)

Day 53, The Root of Jesse

Day 54, David's Branch

Day 55, The Cursed Tree

Day 56, Time Fulfilled

Day 58 through 60

Day 57, Born David's King