“‘Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.’” -Luke 2:29-32
A man named Simeon had a special gift that not everyone was privileged to have—the anointing of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit told Simeon that he would see the Christ before he died. No one knows how long Simeon waited to see his Savior, but it must have filled his heart with so much hope.
One day, he was prompted by the Holy Spirit to go to the temple. There, he spotted a teenage girl with a newborn in her arms. Simeon knew immediately that this baby was his Messiah.
As he took Jesus in his arms, he praised God for allowing him to see his Savior, who he called “‘a light for revelation to the Gentiles … (Luke 2:32).’”
The word “revelation” used here is the Greek word apokalupsis, which means an unveiling or uncovering. In Scripture, a veil is often a symbol for the separation between God and man caused by sin. The veil being torn in the temple upon Jesus’ death signified that the barrier between humanity and God had forever been removed.
A veil is also a symbol of spiritual ignorance. A veil shields eyes from the light. Jesus came to shine a light in the darkness (John 1:5), a darkness created by the veil of sin and ignorance.
Jews like Simeon knew that God would bring them salvation, but many nations at that time—and to this day—did not. They were shrouded in the darkness of sin, did not have access to the holy Scriptures, and were unaware of the source of salvation.
Jesus would remove “the veil that is spread over all nations (Isaiah 25:7, ESV)” and bring the knowledge of God to all peoples. No longer would they live in darkness; they would see the light. Salvation had come to the Jews and the Gentiles.
“‘It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.’” -Isaiah 49:6
