Moved by Joy

This scene in the temple is one of the most beautiful scenes in all of the New Testament. Here is Siemon, a man who had spent his entire life waiting to see God redeem his people. You can only imagine how every day he would wake up, go through his morning routine, and then begin the journey to the temple. This took place day after day, month after month, year after year with no sign of God. Then came Jesus.

Contemporary painter Ron DiCianni captures this scene with amazing emotion in his work, “Simeon’s Moment.” He depicts Simeon holding baby Jesus with tears of joy flooding his eyes, eyes that had finally seen the salvation of God in the form a little child. It is such a beautiful image, and I think that DiCianni provides a faithful reflection of what happened.

Simeon is moved beyond imagination as he begins to pour forth praise to God, recognizing Jesus as the salvation of the world, the light of revelation for the Gentiles, and the glory for Israel. He knows that his entire life had led up to this moment, and he was not disappointed in the least. His hope for what was to come had arrived, and his faith had become sight.

Perhaps the one word that best describes the scene is joy...unfiltered, unabated, and unfettered joy.

For those who confess Christ as Lord, we too have beheld the Lord, the Savior of the world. Oh, that we would express that same level of joy in our lives every day.

Prayer

Father, I confess that far too often I take for granted the presence of Your Son in my life. Help me to rediscover the joy when I first met Jesus. Help me to remember that moment when I knew my sins had been washed away and my life had been made new. Help me to remember that Your Son is a source of my joy.

Thank You for providing Jesus to be my salvation and the salvation of the world. Please help me to demonstrate joy in my thoughts, in my words, and my actions, and please help others recognize joy in my life so that I may point them to the giver of joy, Jesus.

Amen.