“Simeon took Him up in his arms...”
As soon as Simeon realized who Jesus was, he reached for him, took him from Mary and Joseph, and held him.
Technically, he could have done everything—given his prophecy, testified, and blessed them—without carrying the infant. Technically.
But Simeon was anointed with the Holy Spirit and Jesus’ presence was a moment that he had wanted for a long time. So long a time that he could not just look at him. He had to hold him, touch him, and make the moment real.
The picture is from when my grandfather met his first great grandchild. He had almost given up hope of it ever happening. So when it did, he could not avoid holding the baby. It needed to be so real that he could not forget.
Have you ever said “pinch me” when a moment held so much wonder and happiness that you could barely believe it? Where you might even doubt it actually happening?
The weight of the infant Savior in his arms was Simeon’s ‘pinch me’ moment. It made it real.
A Sixty-Day Countdown to Christmas
Introduction to The Messiah Simeon Waited For
Day 6, Prophecies for the Gentiles
Day 9, Welcoming God's Firstborn
Day 19, Making Mary and Joseph Marvel
Day 21, Hinting at the Rest of the Story
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 35, Jesus the Stumbling Block
Day 37, The Precious Cornerstone
Day 39, The Cornerstone and the Gate
Day 42, Restoring the Booth of David
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 51, The Mountain Tree (Part 1)
