Nunc Dimittis - 'let your servant go in peace'

Nunc Dimittis, in the New Testament is "a brief hymn of praise sung by the aged Simeon, who had been promised by the Holy Spirit that he would not die until he had seen the Messiah."

"Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

'Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you may now dismiss your servant in peace.'"

(Luke 2v25-29)

Waiting

How are you at waiting? Do you hop from foot to foot as you wait in line, muttering about the time, ever alert for queue jumpers?

We know very little about Simeon. But what we do know is that he was “righteous and devout” (v25). What does a righteous and devout believer do all day? Luke says Simeon “was waiting” (v25).

Luke uses a similar expression to describe another “righteous” man (23v50, ESV)—Joseph of Arimathea, the man who buried Jesus. Luke introduces Joseph by saying he “was waiting for the kingdom of God” (v51). So Luke begins and ends his Gospel with two righteous, waiting men; Jesus is lovingly welcomed into this world by waiting Simeon, and He’s lovingly buried by waiting Joseph.

Simeon is waiting for “the consolation of Israel.” The Holy Spirit had told Simeon “he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah” (2v26). So he waits for Israel’s promised comfort through the coming of the Messiah (Isaiah 40v1). God’s people were in exile because of God’s judgment on their sin. But a day would come when the penalty of Israel’s sin would be paid and God Himself would tend “his flock like a shepherd” (v2,11). That’s the day of comfort or consolation for which Simeon waits (52v9).

Then one morning, perhaps as Simeon was praying, the Holy Spirit moved him to go to the temple (Luke 2v27). Imagine how Simeon felt as he made his way through the streets of Jerusalem. Was this the day? Was his long wait about to end?

Simeon’s story is shaped like an X with its different moments paralleling one another around a central point in an arrangement known as a “chiasm” (after the Greek letter ꭓ or “chi”):

Setting it out like this shows how the anticipation builds until the central moment, and this is then followed by a release of tension as Simeon’s hopes are realised and he holds Jesus in his arms (v27-28).

Jesus is still only a few weeks old. This is not an army poised to overthrow the Romans. This is not a host of angels ready to take on evil. This is not an intellectual movement bringing enlightenment. God’s solution to all the problems of the world is a baby.

But what a baby! The Comfort of God is nestled in Simeon's arms! God Himself has come to shepherd His people—all the power of deity is squeezed into a fragile human body. This is Simeon’s Saviour-King and his redeeming Lord. Imagine how he felt as he looked into the face of “the child Jesus.”

Simeon’s wait is over because Jesus the Messiah has come. Simeon describes himself as God’s “servant” (v 29). Picture a servant who’s been commanded to carry an important delivery to its destination or protect an important person on a journey. All the time they feel the weight of their responsibility. So when that responsibility is finally discharged, there’s a sense of relief. As Simeon holds Jesus in his arms, the burden of waiting is over, and he’s finally released from the responsibility he has borne. “Let your servant go in peace” is his way of saying: Relieve me of my duties because my task is complete. The Messiah has come, and Simeon is consoled.

But Jesus is also coming again. The word “advent” means “coming,” and in the advent season we not only look to Christ’s coming at Christmas, but we also and primarily look forward to His coming in glory. We, too, are waiting for our consolation. Paul describes the Thessalonian Christians as “model” believers, like “righteous” Simeon. And what do model believers do all day? They wait, like Simeon. Paul says they have turned from idols to serve God “and to wait for his Son from heaven” (1 Thessalonians 1v7-10; see also Romans 8v23-25).

The wait for Jesus is over, and the wait for Jesus continues. Jesus has both come and is coming. He has come and redeemed us from sin, and He’s coming again to make all things new. And those who are “righteous and devout” wait for His coming. The Bible ends with Jesus saying: "Yes, I am coming soon." To which we respond: “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22v20).

Reflection

I am waiting for the dawning
Of that bright and blessed day,
When the darksome night of sorrow
Shall have vanished far away;
When for ever with the Saviour,
Far beyond this vale of tears,
I shall swell the hymn of worship
Through the everlasting years.

I am waiting for the coming
Of the Lord, who died for me.
Oh, his words have thrilled my spirit,
“I will come again for thee.”
I can almost hear his footfall
On the threshold of the door,
And my heart, my heart is longing
To be his for evermore.

S. Trevor Francis
(1834–1925)

This article is a [lightly edited] extract from With Heart and Soul and Voice by Tim Chester. Read more advent reflections in the book here. Used with the permission of The Good Book Company ©2025.