Who doesn’t love winning the championship? Who doesn’t tie their cleats in April dreaming of holding the trophy in October? At the end of the season, when only one team celebrates, there’s a peculiarity that emerges. The new players are excited, jumping up and down, showering each other with champagne. They’ve completed quite the feat. But the veterans, especially the ones that have waited their whole careers for that moment, they lift the trophy like a giant weight off their shoulder. The way they cry over it, the way they kiss it, the way they cherish it – their long suffering produces an unmatched appreciation. They haven’t just played the season for that moment. They’ve played their entire careers for that moment.
This year for Advent, we are focusing on the “baseball players” in the story of Jesus’ birth. We’ve looked at Zechariah the Captain, and John the Baptist he Leadoff Batter. This week we’re focussing on Simeon – the Franchise Veteran.
In Luke 2, we’re told that Simeon was a righteous and devout man who had the Holy Spirit on him. This old man was living for one promise – the Lord told him that he would not die until he had seen the Messiah. Eight days after Jesus’ birth, the Lord led him to the Temple. As he waited there, Joseph and Mary entered, carrying their newborn to the priest to be circumcised and dedicated. Simeon didn’t hesitate. Like a seasoned player waiting to get his hands on a trophy, Simeon grabbed Jesus and began singing praises.
We can imagine the fear and awkwardness that Joseph and Mary must have felt. Knowing that they were charged with caring for the Messiah, they must have lived with a heightened sense of awareness. This trip to the Temple was most likely their first public appearance, and right away a crazy old man snatched Jesus right from their arms.
As they soon found out, this man was more than a stranger. He was a prophet. They didn’t fully understand the weight of the baby in their arms, but Simeon knew. He was finally holding the Messiah.
Joseph and Mary were thrown very quickly into the story of Advent. The angelic visitations, the virgin birth, the challenges that came with parenting the Messiah, the things people said about their baby – it probably seemed like a giant whirlwind to them. How many times they must have asked each other, “What just happened?”
But Simeon, he was a man waiting for this very moment. Like the veteran who is handed the trophy and the microphone, years of longing and hoping poured forth from his heart like pure gold. Lou Gherig’s words, “I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth,” were enshrined into baseball’s legacy. Simeon’s words would be enshrined into the Gospel forever.
“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel. This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
Simeon teaches us the beauty of waiting on the Lord. Often times we pass off the Lord’s promises because we haven’t invested our heart into it. Jesus aptly said, “Where your heart is, there your treasure is also.” As Simeon demonstrates, when our hearts are fixated on God and His promises, we will wait, hope, and trust in Him. And when the Lord decides to faithfully fulfill those promises, they will seem all the sweeter to us. “Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus” is the hymn of veterans who appreciate the glory that comes through long suffering, waiting, and hoping.