Thoughts on the Divine Service
29. The Nunc Dimittis
Dear friends,
In Luke 2, a man named Simeon stands in the temple courts. We don’t know much about him: we assume that he’s older, but we’re not sure. We also know that he’s been told by the Holy Spirit that he will see the Christ before he dies, and that today is the day.
As the Old Testament closes with the book of Malachi, that prophet declares that the Messiah will come suddenly to His temple (Mal. 3:1). How will this look? Will He ride into the courts in a chariot before a column of soldiers, place a throne in the temple and begin a glorious reign? Will the Lord descend from heaven in human form, shining like lightning with divine glory? Will all who are gathered fall on their faces and dare not risk a look at His majesty?
It’s none of the above. In the hustle and bustle of all that goes on at the temple, Simeon approaches a couple with a baby, come to the temple for the rite of purification for the mother and the dedication of the firstborn son. He takes the Infant from His mother and prays a prayer you know well:
“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” (Luke 2:29-32)
Scripture doesn’t tell us, but I often wonder where Simeon looks as he prays. The painting I remember from Sunday school has him looking happily to the heavens as he holds the child, but it could also be that he looks toward the temple, God’s home on earth with His people. My guess, though, is that he looks at the Baby, praying to the Infant who has yet to learn His ABCs.
If passersby hear Simeon calling a baby, “Lord,” they might consider him daft; but Simeon knows better. Trusting God’s promises and informed by the Holy Spirit, he knows that he holds the incarnate Lord in His hands. The Messiah has come suddenly to His temple, not as a mighty warrior king demanding worship, but as a humble child beginning a life of service that will lead to a cross, a grave, an emptied tomb and finally the right hand of God.
How blessed is Simeon! Would it not be a wonder to hold the Lord, your Savior (through whom all things were made!), God in flesh and blood, in your hands?
One of the great joys of the Lord’s Supper is that you do. You receive Christ’s body and blood. In fact, you don’t just hold Him in your hands, but you take Him into yourself at His bidding, so that He might give you His gifts of forgiveness, life and salvation. The bread and the wine don’t look like Jesus, you say? Neither did the Infant look like God. We trust that Jesus is present in the Sacrament—body, blood, life, salvation and all—because He promises it is true.
That’s why we sing Simeon’s song, the Nunc Dimittis, just after Holy Communion. The Lord has given you the same honor that He gave to Simeon, and more. You receive His body and blood for the forgiveness of your sins; and so, according to His Word, you can depart in peace. What joy!