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My Eyes Have Seen Your Salvation

Dr. Tom Hawkes

Luke 2:29-30 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation.”

 

Simeon declares upon seeing the infant Jesus that he has seen God’s salvation. What a full and potent description. A little, forty-day-old baby boy: Salvation! God’s salvation. We might want an economic salvation, or a political salvation, or a physical salvation, as certainly many in Israel wanted that day.

But God brings a spiritual salvation. We are saved from sin and its bad effects. We are saved from God’s wrath upon our many sins and failings. Not only saved from his wrath but changed in status such that we are now in his favor. And not just barely in his favor but beloved sons and daughters. Christ saves us in our relationship with God.

We are saved from a bad internal state as well. Lost, we were blind, filled with pride, angry at others, while worry and anxiety were our daily bread. Having peace with God we have peace inside. Instead of blindness we now see the truth. Truth about the world, about heaven and hell, about ourselves, about Christ. Christ saves us in our relationship with ourselves.

We are saved from having only poor relationships. Relationships where we only use each other. Now instead, we really and truly can love others! We may now have relationships, not perfect, but where we actually care for each other. Christ saves us in our relationship with others.

We are saved from a bad life, pointless and selfish. Instead, we find a life of purpose: to live for him, to serve his glory. Living with purpose is the way we are designed to live. Vocation at its root, means calling. We live a life of calling from God. Christ saves us in relationship to our world.

But look more closely at this Christ and we see an even greater salvation.

There is a kind of political salvation, too. Not the one we may have hoped for, perhaps, that our nation, our party wins. Instead, we are part of a new nation, “a chosen race, a holy nation, a royal priesthood, a people belonging to God (1 Peter 2:9). And this nation—not ours, but God’s—does triumph over all its enemies. Christ saves us for his nation.

There is a kind of economic salvation, too. In this life we trust God to provide enough for us, for he knows what we need (Matthew 6:32). But we do have wealth beyond all comprehension waiting for us. It is real wealth too, not Monopoly money. More real than dollars. For our heavenly wealth is not subject to inflation, or market crashes, or thieves! Our wealth will endure forever and buy for us luxuries and beauty and peace beyond anything we could ever hope or imagine. Christ saves us economically.

There is also a kind of physical salvation. Not in the sense that we might wish for presently: that our bodies would now be ageless and well. Rather, with the entrance of God into human flesh he signaled his plan to redeem even our flesh. These failing bodies will also one day be renewed. The gray hair and wrinkles, gone. The weak muscles and joints, gone. The disease and disability, gone. Instead, we will be like our younger selves only far better, far more handsome and beautiful, far more strong and sound. Christ saves us physically.

There is also in the here and now a far better salvation that we might suppose. For in addition to all these other blessings comes this: Our King reigns in the earth. Christ reigns, ruling in his providence by overruling evil for the good of his people. Nothing can finally hurt us here. Not really and fully hurt us. For Christ will work the evil that comes at us—yes, even that—for our good (Romans 8:28).

This is what Simeon meant when he said that his eyes had seen salvation. For we are in Christ finally saved from all evil and suffering, saved for all good and joy! As John Calvin comments: “For in Christ are hid all the parts of salvation and of a happy life.” Forever and ever.

Knowing Christ is our Savior, our King is to know peace. This is why Simeon could die in peace. He knew, seeing Jesus, that everything would be all right. More than all right. Everything would be very good.

Lord, convince me that your salvation is complete, that I do not need to add anything to your salvation! Let me depart in peace, or, let me remain in peace, as you please. I am a servant of the Lord. Nunc dimittis. Now dismiss me. In peace.