Nunc Dimittis([You] now dismiss)

Luke 2:25-35

1. The Praise of God’s Faithfulness
29  “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; Luke 2:29 (ESV)

Now may release (or depart): expresses a servant’s release from a task.

2. The Salvation of God’s People
30  for my eyes have seen your salvation 31  that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32  a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” 33  And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. Luke 2:30-33 (ESV)

A strong tie exists between salvation and the one who personifiesit. 

Light and glory should be seen in parallelas descriptive of the salvation found in 2:30. (Isaiah 60:1-3)

Jesus as light brings salvation to all humanity, illuminatingthem into God’s way.

Through Jesus as the light, attention of all people is drawnto Israel (Is 49:6).

6  he says: “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” Isaiah 49:6 (ESV);Ephesians 2:14; Isaiah 42:6;

Isaiah 52:10.

1  Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORDhas risen upon you. 2  For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but theLORDwill arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. 3  And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Isaiah 60:1-3 (ESV)

3. The Division that God Brings

34  And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 
35  (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”Luke 2:34-35 (ESV)

51  Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.Luke 12:51 (ESV)

Jesus exposeswhat is really in our hearts. 

15 And many shall stumble on it. They shall fall and be broken; they shall be snared and taken.” Isaiah 8:14-15 (ESV)

16  therefore thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion,a stone, a tested stone,a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation:‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’Isaiah 28:16 (ESV)

Isaiah 8 and 28 connect the Messiah with the personificationof God’s deliverance and the agentof His justice. 1 Peter 2:7-8.

Sign to be opposed: means to speak against,reject, to deny, or to contradict. Matthew 12:48-50