The passage begins with the dedication of the first-born (in this case Jesus). The Passover in Exodus 12 was the foundational act of God in the Old Testament, when He rescued (redeemed) HIs people from slavery in Egypt. God rescued HIs people and at the same time brought judgement on His enemies.
God’s people escaped judgement through the death of a lamb in the place of each first born son. From then on, every first born had to be redeemed by a sacrifice in the temple. This was designed to remind God’s people that they were a rescued people, belonging to God who redeems.
The passover sacrifice here is a type of the LAMB OF GOD (Jesus) who came to die for His people, and to redeem a people for His own. It is noteworthy that Dr. Luke started off this chapter by directing our focus on the baby Jesus who was in fact the Messiah Israel was looking for who had arrived, and was to be the true Lamb of God whose sacrifice would save His people.

The ‘consolation’ or comfort that the nation of Israel was looking for, and prophesied in the Old Testament, would come through an afflicted,sin-bearing servant described in Isaiah 53 – this is Jesus Christ, the God-Man. He would also be the light to the Gentiles, a mission beyond the borders of Israel, reaching to the nations of the world (Isaiah 42:6). The ministry of this servant would be that God’s salvation may reach to the end of the earth (Isaiah 49:6) and that all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God (Isaiash 52:10).

Simeon, righteous and devoted, was waiting for the Christ and the consolation of God’s people. Simeon takes the child in his arms and, like Zechariah before him, is filled with the Holy Spirit as he blesses God and provides the interpretation of these events. Throughout these verses, the emphasis is on God’s promised salvation and Saviour. It is interesting to note that Zechariah, in his prophecies, was concentrating on God’s Messiah arriving to save the nation of Israel; Simeon went beyond ‘israel’ – the scope of God’s salvation would extend beyond Israel to the rest of the world. In that sense Simeon represents the link between the OT and NT – a link which exists not in the external religious practices of Israelite or Chrisian, but a link which exists as simple faith in God and in His Christ. Just like Simeon recognised the baby Jesus as God’s salvation, the eyes of faith do see God’s salvation, whether in the OT or NT contexts (whereas the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law do not even recognise the adult Jesus despite His miracles and manifestations of spiritual power).
Simeon and Anna are introduced and both draw attention to the rescue that Jesus will accomplish (vv 25-28 and 36-38).
In verses 33-35l, Simeon’s words to Mary and Joseph indicate that Jesus will cause some to rise and others to fall – He will judge even as He saves. The prophecy by Simeon anticipates the divisive nature of Jesus’ mission which will be hated by so many and which will take Him ultimately to the cross.

The role of the Holy Spirit is also emphasised: He was the One who revealed to Simeon that he would see Jesus before he died; He was the One who led Simeon to the temple at the right time to behold the baby Jesus; He was also the One working in Anna’s life to cause her to dedicated her life to God and to arrange for her also to behold the Messiah. It is by the Holy Spirit that Simeon prophesied and interpreted the events; similarly, Elizabeth and Zechariah also prophesied when they were filled with the Spirit.
We need to remember that the role of the Spirit is always to shine the ‘spotlight’ on Jesus and not on Himself – and this he did at every stage to highlight the Messiah and the Salvation He is about to accomplish.
Mary, Joseph, Simeon, and Anna were godly and outstanding individuals picked by God to highlight and facilitate the Salvation process and the good news that arrived in the Person of Jesus Christ. When Simeon raised the baby Jesus and declared Him as GOD’S SALVATION, this is the focus of Dr. Luke’s communication in this passage. Even the Holy Spirit was instrumental in ensuring that the focus should be on the arrival of God’s wondrous salvation in Jesus Christ.

(B)

Luke – doctor, Gentile and historian – well qualified to write his two-volume work on the origins of Christianity, which occupies more than a quarter of the New Testament, and which we can approach with confidence in its reliability (recall also that Luke interviewed the witnesses and leaders of the church to ensure clarity in the content, credibility of what he penned). Also, in Acts, Luke emphasised the communication of the gospel based on the reliability and credibility of the Gospel.

As we study Luke from the later part of chapter 2 onwards, it is helpful for us to recapitulate on what the central message of Luke is:-
Luke’s message is encapsulated in the Nunc Dimittis or Song of Simeon, who claimed:
“My eyes have seen your salvation… a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel” (2:30-32). The reference to salvation for the Gentiles is repeated in Luke 3:6: ‘all mankind will see God’s salvation’ (this statement only in Luke and not recorded in the other 3 Gospels Luke’s message is good news of salvation; “Salvation” is a key in Luke’s Gospel. Negatively, it is the removal of guilt (bringing forgiveness). Positively, it is the bestowal of the Holy Spirit (conveying new birth). Both feature prominently in Luke’s two volumes.

Only Luke tells how Jesus gave forgiveness to the woman who had anointed his feet with ointment and wet them with her tears (7:48). Only Luke tells the incomparable parable of the prodigal son, who repented and returned home, and was welcomed with hugs, kisses, and a celebration party (15:11-32), Only Luke records the great commission in the terms that ‘repentance and forgiveness of sins’ would be proclaimed to all nations (24:47), And only Luke describes how Pau in Pisidian Antioch proclaimed ‘through Jesus the forgiveness of sins’ (Acts 13:38).

The complementary aspect of salvation is the bestowal of the Holy Spirit to bring new birth and new life. Of all the evangelists Luke shows the greatest interest in the work of the Spirit. He portrays Jesus as having been anointed by the Spirit and as exercising his ministry in the power of the Spirit (3:22, 4:14, 18). And it is only Luke who describes the coming of the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, and the subsequent development of the Christian mission (Acts 2:1-12, 13:2, etc.).

So the two components highlighted by Luke:
Forgiveness – it eradicates our past; the Holy Spirit transforms our future. The message of Peter on the Day of Pentecost: those who repent, believe and are baptised, are promised forgiveness of their sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38). Moreover this great salvation brings great joy. Luke begins his Gospel with the announcement of ‘good news of great joy’ (2:10) and ends it with the statement that the apostles ‘returned to Jerusalem with great joy’ (24:52). Indeed, throughout both of Luke’s volumes, joy accompanies the gift of salvation, since there is great joy in heaven over even one sinner who repents (15:7,10 cf, Acts 8:8,39).

We have noted that Luke’s message is good news of salvation….but it is good news of salvation through Christ (for completion). We saw in the previous study on Luke 2:22-40 the story of Simeon; this truth is clear as Simeon took the baby Jesus in his arms and spoke of what he had seen. What he actually saw was a baby; what he said he had seen was God’s salvation (2:28,30), for that is what Jesus was. So Luke tells in his own elegant way the matchless story of Jesus Christ from the Christmas story to the crucifixion, to the resurrection, and to the Ascension ( with supreme authority at the Father’s right hand). Jesus then sent the Holy Spirit and still bestows salvation today!!!