Title: The Mystery of Devoutness
1 Tim 3:16 says that great is the mystery of godliness. What is the mystery of godliness that 1 Tim 3:16 is talking about? It explains in the second half. He (Jesus) was revealed in the flesh, was vindicated in the Spirit, beheld by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, and taken up in glory. To rephrase, the reason how Jesus came, lived, died, resurrected, and ascended to heaven was because of His godliness.
When Jesus was born, there were not many who recognized Him as the Messiah. Today’s main scripture (Luk 2:25-38) tells us that one of the people who recognized Jesus and welcomed was Simeon.
Guess what would be the main characteristic of Simeon that God pointed out? (Luk 2:25-26). Luk 2:25 says that he was righteous and devout.
Greek word for ‘godliness’ is ‘Usebeia’ which means ‘reverence, respect, piety towards God.’ Greek word for ‘devout’ is ‘Ulabes’ which means ‘taking hold well, being cautious, reverencing God, religious.’
As we can see, these two words are not the same. However, it shares similar meaning which is to revere God. Thus, we can understand that Simeon was chosen and given that great blessing that he won’t die before meeting with the first coming Jesus because of his devoutness (godliness). If we become and remain as the people of godliness and devoutness, God may bless us to see the second coming Lord without seeing death. So, let’s look at Simeon today and learn who he was.
- A man of Righteousness (Luk 2:25)
What kind of characteristic is righteousness? In English, righteous means being right. Therefore, righteousness means being right with God, observing divine laws. However, it also has a meaning of justice. Greek word for ‘righteous’ is ‘Dikaios’, it is translated as righteous 46 times and as just 33 times in the Bible. This word expresses the moral cleanness of Simeon.
The founding pastor explained to us that being righteous means having no party and having no sides. For a righteous person, there is no separation as the people I like and the people I don’t like.
- A man of Devoutness (Luk 2:25)
What kind of characteristic is devoutness? This represents the spiritual cleanness in the relationship with God. He was the man who likes and loves to worship God, listen to His Word, and pray to God.
God isn’t a fool. How happy God must be that He allowed the Holy Spirit to be upon Simeon. It means that God guided him and protected him. What God is looking for from us is devoutness, doing it with willingness, loving God with willingness, obeying His Word with willingness. Worshipping God with a willing and glad heart.
- A man of Hope (Luk 2:28-30)
Simeon lived a devout and righteous life, and a prayerful life. Thus, God promised him that he won’t see death before he sees the Messiah. One day, finally he met the Messiah. But the Messiah was a 8 days’ old baby. What could this baby do? Nothing. He couldn’t speak, walk, crawl nor control His head. A baby only cries or sucks His mom’s breasts, that was all baby Jesus could do.
Let’s look at the confession of Simeon after seeing baby Jesus. He said, “let thy bond-servant depart in peace, for my eyes have seen thy salvation.” What Simeon saw was perhaps only a seed or a little sprout. He hasn’t seen everything yet. He hasn’t seen the fulfillment yet. However, he confessed that he has seen everything (Thy salvation).
Isn’t that great faith? Isn’t this the faith that Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph had? He saw baby Jesus, yet still was able to find and believe the completion of the History of Redemption (Heb 11:1). What do you see now? It could be a weak Jesus, a fragile Jesus. We may see His church being too young, too fragile, and too far from being completed.
However, can you confess now that you saw the consummation God’s redemptive history?
The founding pastor explained that because he saw the end, God’s salvation that comes from baby Jesus, he stopped worrying about getting old. He entrusted all issues to God. Whether God allows him to see the end with his own eyes or not, he was ok because he already accepted the end by faith.
Having faith is equal to being devout (Luk 18:8). So, when Jesus said that when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth. It means when He comes again, He will find people of devoutness. Let’s become the people and the church of devoutness.
4. A man looking for Consolation of Israel
(Luk 2:34)
Simeon prophesied that Jesus would become the fall and rise of many people. This is the prophesy with two options: you either fall because of Jesus or rise because of Jesus.
We understand that Jesus will help people to rise from their difficulties, sickness. But will Jesus really bring us down to the hell and destruction?
The truth is when we don’t believe in Jesus, we choose the way going down to the hell and destruction ourselves. Therefore, Jesus becomes the reason why going up but at the same time, going down.
Simeon was a person who was only looking for the consolation of Israel, the Messiah (Luk 2:25). He didn’t look right or left. He only looked for Jesus, thus he received the rise.
Dear my brothers and sisters, are we only looking for Jesus or looking for Jesus among many others? Let’s only look for Jesus. He is the Alpha and the Omega.
The Lord's Covenant Church Malaysia 