Simeon and Anna Bless the Newborn Baby Jesus
Door New Christian Bible Study Staff, Ray and Star Silverman
Jewish law required parents of firstborn sons to present them before the Lord at the temple in Jerusalem, after the required 33 day period of the mother's purification. Mary and Joseph duly took their new baby Jesus to Jerusalem, to the temple, for this ceremony.
Imagine how they must have been feeling as they made this 5 or 6 mile trek. They knew that they were involved in an amazing miracle, the birth of the long-awaited Messiah. They'd been visited by angels, with messages from God. Mary, a virgin, had borne a child. Mary's cousin, Elizabeth, had just had a miracle baby, too, in her old age. Her husband, Zacharias, had been visited by an angel, too, and had doubted the angel's message, and been struck dumb. On the night of Jesus's birth, shepherds had come to worship the new baby, having been told of his birth by a host of angels.
Mary and Joseph must have been feeling somewhat overwhelmed, but... they were obeying the law. Jesus had been circumcised after 8 days. Now, it was time to go to Jerusalem, so they went. Maybe, given all the miracles they'd experienced, they were expecting it to be an unusual visit. It was. The story is told very clearly in Luke 2:22-39.
At the temple, they met Simeon, and then Anna, both elderly, both good, and both drawn to the temple, ready and waiting for the Messiah. When Mary, Joseph, and Jesus arrive, they are moved by the insight that here, before their eyes, was the prophesied baby. Together they represent the essential spiritual affections—the affection for truth (Simeon) and the affection for goodness (Anna), which are necessary for “the performance of all things according to the law of the Lord” (Luke 2:39). Whenever these two qualities combine in us, we know we are in the presence of God, that the Holy Spirit is upon us, and that our eyes have seen His salvation.
The central theme of Luke's gospel is the development of the understanding. As we read the description of Simeon’s experience, we note how often the story focuses on his “sight” and on what he “sees.” We read that “it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ” (Luke 2:26). And when Simeon comes into the temple, he takes the Child up in his arms and says, “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to your Word. For my eyes have seen Your salvation” (Luke 2:29-30).
Just as Zacharias had prophesied about “a light” that would shine in the darkness, (Luke 2:79), just as the shepherds beheld a great light — the “glory of the Lord” — shining upon them, the true Source of that light is now shining upon Simeon as he gazes upon the face of the Child. Deeply inspired, Simeon continues his prophecy: “My eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared for all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel” (Luke 2:30-32).
Turning to Mary, Simeon says, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be spoken against (yes, a sword shall pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed” (Luke 2:35).
Simeon’s words are full of prophecy. There is a power that enables each of us to live according to the truth we know. And those who receive this power shall “rise,” while those who reject it shall “fall.” It is exactly as Simeon says: “Behold this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel.”
Because none of us is perfect, we will all undergo times of doubt and times of trial. There will be times when we feel the “piercing of the sword.” Even Mary would not be exempt. She would witness the horror of her own Son’s crucifixion, and feel a mother’s pain and anguish. Indeed, as Simeon had told her, “a sword shall pierce through your own soul also.”
It’s part of the journey. While our suffering might not be as great as Mary’s when she stood near the cross, nor as grievous as Jesus’ as He was crucified, there will be times when we too will experience sorrow, loss, and grief—times that may be so painful that it will feel as though a sword has pierced through our own soul. But these times are not to be avoided or feared. They can instead be opportunities to renew our faith, confirm our belief in God, and resolve to go forward. These are the times when our most cherished values will be challenged, and our deepest thoughts will be made manifest. These times and these trials are allowed to come into our lives so that our true nature may be exposed and “the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
But no matter how desperate our situation, or how grievous our trials, there is still a quiet place in our hearts that waits patiently for God. This faith is represented by Anna the prophetess, who, like Simeon, is led to the temple at that very moment. After a seven-year marriage, she remained as a widow for many years. Now, at the age of eighty-four, she has never departed from the temple. Instead, she has chosen to remain faithful, “serving God with fasting and prayers night and day” (Luke 2:37).
This is not a one-time experience. It is an experience which continues to grow within us, an experience which becomes stronger over time. As it is written, “And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him” (Luke 2:39).
If we can be like Simeon -- loving to see truth, and Anna, loving to be good -- we will be ready, and listening, and willing to be moved by the spirit, and we will see the Lord born in our lives.
Luke 4
1
And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
2
Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.
3
And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.
4
And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
5
And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
6
And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.
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If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.
8
And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
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And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence:
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For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee:
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And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
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And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
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And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.
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And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.
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And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.
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And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.
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And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
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The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
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To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
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And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
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And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
22
And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son?
23
And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country.
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And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.
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But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land;
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But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.
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And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.
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And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath,
29
And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong.
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But he passing through the midst of them went his way,
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And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days.
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And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.
33
And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice,
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Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God.
35
And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not.
36
And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.
37
And the fame of him went out into every place of the country round about.
38
And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon's house. And Simon's wife's mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought him for her.
39
And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them.
40
Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.
41
And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ.
42
And when it was day, he departed and went into a desert place: and the people sought him, and came unto him, and stayed him, that he should not depart from them.
43
And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.
