The Holy Spirit promises his prophets as he wishes. In Jerusalem, there was an aged man called Simeon who regularly attended the service of the synagogue, and was justified through his faith in daily offerings. He walked humbly in the ways of the Lord, and because of his many prayers the Lord gave him insight so that he might penetrate deeply into the Old Testament to realize beforehand the essence of Christ, and to look forward to the Coming One, for all those who penetrate deeply into Christ, the Savior yearn for his coming.
The holy aged man had a special revelation from God that he would not die before he had seen Christ. The divine Spirit led him into the temple when Joseph and Mary came in with the child to present him to the Lord. Neither their clothes were luxurious, nor the child appeared as a hero. Yet, when Simeon came near to the holy family, the Holy Spirit shook him and enlightened his eyes until he saw, among the crowded people, the Unique One who was, simultaneously, a god and man. The aged man came, in faith and in cheer at the power of God, to Jesus’ parents, took the child up out of the arms of his astonished mother, bowed down with submission to him, and praised God in words including the innermost depths of the New Testament. Figuratively, all the fathers of faith bowed down in the person of old Simeon worshipping to the divine child and giving much praise to God. This is a symbolic indication that all the New Testament is subject to the Founder of the New Testament.
The word "now", to all those who were waiting, meant the arrival of God, and the end of their expectation. God has communicated with men. This is the aged man’s statement that he had achieved his end, and that he was prepared to die joyfully, for he feasted his eyes on the Savior. He did not call him a Savior, but immediately saw complete salvation flowing in him. He saw all the powers and blesses pouring out of him, and confessed the peace of God on all the creation. Simeon did not only seek his own peace, but yearned for the salvation of the whole world. He was a true pious who contained, in the love of God, all those who were going astray.
This aged Simeon was, according to the confirmations of the New Testament, the first Jew who, through his deep penetration into the Old Testament, realized, more than all other scribes and Pharisees, that Christ was not only Savior of his own people, but also the Savior of all the nations (Isaiah 52:10). The Jewish commentators passed over this verse and did not clarify its meaning. They also neglected the truth that Jesus would open the eyes and the hearts of all the nations to cure them with his salvation. However, the Holy Spirit revealed in the word of God’s spiritual two-edged sword that Christ is the Savior of the world, as our comfort to, truth, and eternal power.
Yet, the blessing Spirit did not refuse the people of the Old Testament, but testified to them that they had not value except in Christ, for all men are sinners, but the Savior could bring back the glory of God in those who went astray, for the Son is the incarnate glory of God. The Jews without Christ are void of God’s glory and blessings, and are falling in condemnation and wrath.
Jesus’ parents did not understand those strong words, and were amazed. However, Mary got used to keep the prophecies of the Holy Spirit, and was prepared to accept bitterness in the interest of the Savior’s coming. The prophet Simeon blessed Jesus’ parents so that they might realize and bear the revelations of the Holy Spirit. He went on saying in discernment:
"Do not think that God’s Christ comes with soft, merry, and cheerful love; for his coming means spiritual war, radical separation, and wrestling between heaven and hell. Christ is like a rock in the wide river of nations, which divides them into two parties: First, those who refuse the Son of God and fall into destruction and hell. Second, those who see the Redeemer, become saved by him, and rise from the dead spiritually now and physically thereafter. This principle was realized at the time of Christ in his people and is still being realized in all the nations. Nobody can ignore Christ. You can either refuse him and fall into hell, or love him and become a member of his spiritual body and then go to heaven. What is your attitude toward Christ? Do you submit to him, or do you disobey his love?
Mary had to bear the waves of hatred poured out on her Son. She did not die with a sword that pierced her body, but the sufferings of her Son on the cross broke her last hope and her self-reliance. She asked herself if the prophecies of the angels, the words of Elizabeth, the statement of the shepherds, and Simeon’s discernment were wrong! She also wondered what the divinity of her Son meant. But he who was raised from the dead revealed to her that he had to suffer as a ransom for us, and that all believers were crucified with him in order that they should not be proud of their own dignity, but live out of the flow of the Savior’s salvation. Mary’s spiritual death was made in the cross, and her renewal in the resurrection of the Victor. She believed in the truth. Yet, the cross does not mean uncovering fearful thoughts only in Mary, but also in us all. Judas, Peter, Caiaphas, Pilate, and all the people became unveiled during Jesus’ trial. In front of his holiness our hearts are made manifest, and we can only confess that the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?