Q: Who needs consolation?
A: Those who have lost hope.

Simeon was a man looking for consolation. Not for himself, but for Israel. He lived among people who had had everything. They had kings, a temple, armies, God. They were not just a people, they were God’s people.

Now? Puppet kings. A temple built by a puppet king trying to curry their favor, to impress them with his spirituality. An occupying army. And God? They weren’t quite sure what He was doing. He hadn’t said anything for four centuries.

They had nothing but dusty memories and impossible dreams. Oh, they had had a chance, a hundred years before this. But Rome stopped that.

They needed consolation.

And that’s what Simeon was wanting for his people. He was righteous—a good man.  He was devout—a consistent man. The Holy Spirit was upon him—a Godly man. And the Spirit had given him a message—a hopeful man.

Some people want gifts for themselves. We understand that. Some people want gifts for others. We honor that.

And then Jesus shows up at the temple. Still an infant, He was carried into the temple by his parents. And at just that time, Simeon showed up as well.

And then he was ready to die. Because he had seen the future. And there was Hope.

(From Luke 2:25-35)