In the name of Christ Jesus, dear fellow redeemed people of God,

Picture this scene that happens each time we have a Communion service. You have just received the Lord's Supper, and the pastor says, "Depart in peace." Right after that you return to your seat. Then, when the service continues, you stand with the congregation and sing the Song of Simeon, "Lord, now you let your servant depart in peace..." Again, we see this phrase, "Depart in peace." Where does it come from? What does it mean to "depart in peace"? Have you ever heard someone say that the words, "Depart in peace" mean, "go back to your church pew without fighting." While it is good to return to your seat without fighting, that is not really why the pastor has been taught to say, "Depart in peace." Actually, the words "Depart in peace" come from the most familiar version of Simeon's song, the Nunc Dimittis. Let us meditate on these words today:

1. AT PEACE WITH GOD

Simeon was a believer who was waiting for the coming Savior. The Holy Spirit revealed to Simeon that he would not die before he had seen that long-promised Savior. And God kept that promise. 40 days after Jesus was born, Joseph and Mary brought Jesus to the Temple for the rite of purification. It was no coincidence that Simeon showed up at the Temple, right on time. The Holy Spirit saw to it that Simeon met his Savior. He lifted the baby Jesus up in his arms and praised God. And what Simeon said is what we sing so often in the liturgy, and what we plan to sing later in this service, "Lord, now you let your servant depart in peace according to your word. For my eyes have seen your salvation..." (CW, p. 24).

God had kept his promise. Simeon had the blessed privilege of seeing the Savior with his own eyes. And then, Simeon was ready to depart in peace, at peace with God. Simeon knew that he was holding and looking at the Savior. He knew that this was the Christ who had come to die for all people, even the Gentiles. He knew that this Savior had come to bring peace between holy God and sinful man.

Dear friends, that is exactly why Jesus came. He came to live for us a perfect life, and to die as our Substitute on the cross. He came to rise from death with our forgiveness. Believe in Jesus, and realize that you are at peace with God. That is what Scripture says in Romans chapter five: "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." We can know for certain that we are at peace with God through Christ. Jesus paid everything that was demanded of us, so that by faith in Him, we would be forever reconciled to God, and at peace with God. But that's not all! Depart in peace, also means...

2. WITH PEACE INSIDE

Simeon went from Old Testament to New Testament in a moment. He stood at the crossroads of "Before Christ" and "After Christ." He knew the Savior as one who was promised, one who was going to come. And then, he knew the Savior as Jesus, the baby who was born to save us. And knowing that the Savior came brought peace to Simeon's heart, and mind, and conscience. He said, with a thrill, "my eyes have seen my salvation!" And that made all the difference for Simeon. He was not afraid to die. He had peace inside. He had seen and held his Savior in his own arms. He had seen and held his Savior in faith. He was ready to depart, with peace inside.

While we haven't seen our Savior with our eyes, we have peace inside too. We see him with the eyes of faith. We believe in Jesus as our Savior from sin. And that give us peace inside. Each time we hear the Gospel, our hearts are comforted, our consciences are at peace, and so we have peace inside. Just think of all the ways that we receive the comforting gospel that brings peace, just in the worship service. In Holy Baptism, we are reminded of God's forgiveness. In absolution, right after we confess our sins, we hear that God forgives us because of what Jesus did on the cross. Each sermon should proclaim the gospel too. No sermon should be preached in this church without having the saving Gospel prominently and clearly proclaimed. And then, in the Lord's Supper, each communicant is individually forgiven. And all of this comforts hearts, and brings peace inside.

May your heart, your mind, your conscience be at peace, knowing that you are at peace with God! Romans 15:13 says, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." May God fill us with joy and peace, and faith and hope, so that we are:

3. EAGER TO WORSHIP

Simeon was eager to worship. The Holy Spirit moved him to sing the Nunc Dimittis, and the Church has been singing along ever since. Simeon wanted to praise his Savior. And he did worship!

Are you eager to worship? From time to time, the old Adam gets the upper hand, and that does not make us eager to worship. When people are not eager to worship, it reveals weak faith, or no faith at all. Believers are to be eager to worship. David wrote in Psalm 122: "I rejoiced with those who said to me, 'Let us go to the house of the LORD.'" Do you rejoice at the opportunity to worship your Savior? We have many opportunities to worship. Some are formal and public, such as the worship service right now. And some are informal and private, like when we serve Christ in every day life.

Our worship is not to stop as we leave church. Scripture says, "In view of God's mercies, offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, this is your spiritual worship." In view of all the great things that God has done for us, in saving us and forgiving us, believers will want to worship God every day, in all sorts of ways. Whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God! Be eager and ready to worship all through life, and then, depart in peace...

4. READY TO FACE THE FUTURE

Simeon was ready to face the future. He was not afraid. Did he die shortly after this? Many assume that, but we are not told. What is very clear, though, is that Simeon was ready to face death. He was ready to face the future knowing that God kept His promises, knowing that he had seen the long-promised Savior, knowing that this Savior was going to redeem him. Simeon was not afraid to face the future, because his faith was in the right place. He trusted the Lord. He trusted that God would carry out the perfect plan of salvation. He was ready to depart in peace and face the future.

Are you ready to face the future? There are many possibilities on the horizon that might make us afraid. Maybe you are facing financial losses. Maybe you are facing declining health. Maybe you are facing the loss of a loved one. Maybe you are facing death. Through most of life, people live in denial, thinking that if we visit the doctor and eat right and exercise, that we will live a long time. But God never promised that! If Christ returns, this life is over! Or, perhaps we will die suddenly, and without warning. Only God knows. But we need to be ready!

Are you ready to face your future? Are you ready to die? Remember what makes us ready. Though we can't do a thing to earn heaven by good works, there is a way into heaven. It is a sure and certain way, and many have traveled this way before you. Do you know the way to heaven? Believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior from sin, and you will go straight to heaven. And knowing that, and believing that, we need not fear death!

May we have the confidence of Simeon who sang without a hint of fear, "Lord, now let your servant depart in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation!" May we depart in peace, ready to face the future in faith, ready to fearlessly face whatever is ahead of us.

The next time you hear these words, I hope that you'll remember what they mean. It will help to remember Simeon. "Depart in peace!"... at peace with God, with peace inside, eager to worship, and ready to face the future. Yes, dear friends, you have been forgiven through Christ! So, then, "DEPART IN PEACE!" Amen.