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Simeon, the Bible’s Death-Positive Icon
Death does not have to be scary, especially with the right set of circumstances.
Christianity as we know it could not exist without physical death as we know it. After all, in order to be raised from the dead, one needs to die. Despite this stipulation, Christians have cast death in a negative light and continue to do so today. Death is wrongfully maligned as a solely evil and destructive force when, in the Bible, it has a wealth of positive meanings as well. One of those is illustrated by Simeon, the devoted man at the temple.
Simeon (not to be confused with the tribe of Israel Simeon) welcomed death with open arms like he welcomed the newborn Jesus. He had waited for many years to see the savior of Israel, most likely decades, in a desert climate with no modern technology or medicine. As one can imagine, Simeon wasn’t exactly young. The promise that Simeon would not die until He saw the Messiah implies that some degree of divine intervention kept Simeon alive until the day he could finally leave the world in peace.
29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
according to your word;
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…
