Simeon, and Anna
God prepares hearts…….sometimes in years past…..to see and receive His blessed Son……leading them to worship and joy in their hearts to Him.
Luke 2:25-26 “And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.
And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.”
Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus had come to Jerusalem eighty days after his birth…..that they might offer Him unto the Lord through an offering by the law(Exodus 22:29)…..and give the offering of purification. (Leviticus 12:2-8)
They had come to the Temple,….and the Holy Spirit had led Simeon to be there, as well…..when he saw them….he went over and….
Luke 2:28-32 “Then took he Him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
Lord, now lettest Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy Word:
For mine eyes have seen Thine Salvation,
Which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel.”
How lovingly and tenderly does Simeon pick up His Lord…..”and blessed God”….
Simeon praised God’s goodness in letting him see His Son….for being faithful to His promise to him.
He praised God for His Salvation….wrapped up in this little baby.
He praised God for the Purpose of His Salvation….both to the Gentiles and Israel.
And in this praise Simeon prophesied of the Way of salvation….
…..before the face of all people”—Christ was raised between earth and heaven, outside the city….on a hill…..before all the people, from all over, which came to the Passover!
Simeon showed that Christ was presented as God’s Glory….to Israel…..
…..Luke 2:14 and the angels praise…..”Glory to God in the highest…”
Wise men coming and telling all in Jerusalem of the Star which announced the King’s birth (Matthew 2:1-3).
The miracles, again and again…how glorious they all were.
The prophesy of Christ coming in as King to Jerusalem…..and He did (Zechariah 9:9).
And Simeon showed that Christ would be presented to the Gentiles…..as Light….(Matthew 4:15-16, John 8:12, Acts 26:17-18)
And then he turned to Mary and Joseph….
Luke 2:34-35 “And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary His mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;
(Yea, a sword shall pass through thine own soul also;) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
God sent His Beloved Son to save all who would come to the the Light….
….many will rise to be joint-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17)…
…and many will fall…rebelling against their King…and Lord….and destroy themselves in the process. (Mark 12:1-9)
“That the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed”. It is our hearts, God wants…..will we give them?
Luke 2:36-38 “And there was one Anna, a prophetess,…..of the tribe of Asher: she was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity.
And she was a widow of about four score and four years, which departed not from the Temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.
And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of Him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.”
Anna, who was at least in her nineties, came into the part of the Temple that Mary, Joseph, Jesus, and Simeon were.
Hearing what Simeon said…..she rejoiced.
How much joy the birth of Jesus gave those “who looked for redemption”…in Israel.
She had not departed from the Temple for years, after she became a widow,….but stayed…..feeling her work to serve God was to fast and pray…..night and day.
(Night is first….probably her best time to pray…..for few would be around)
But with the knowledge that Redemption, in the Person of this baby was come….she told everyone that she knew,…..that was waiting for Him.
Even as a babe, Christ Jesus separated men and women into two groups…..those who wanted their King….and His kingdom, to come to them….
….and those to whom the news of Christ made no impact….except to interfere with their lives……they did not care that the King had come (Luke 19:14, 27)
To these two, Simeon and Anna,……Christ was the One they had been praying, and looking for…..Emmanuel….God with us….
……and here He was a baby, in His mother’s arms.
How amazing!
God deserved all praise,….from all….
….yet being wise in the Holy Ghost……they told only those who were looking and waiting for Christ, the Son of God, the Messiah, to come.
Christ Jesus came a baby, born in a manger…..for there was no room in the inn….
Heralded by angels….seen and recognized by shepherds,
By wise men from a far country,…
…Simeon and Anna…..
……and those unnamed, but known of God, which looked for the Christ to come.
Let us rejoice at His birth…..and what it means for us.
(Notice the names of Christ spoken here:
Consolation: 2 Thessalonians 2:16 “Now our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God even our Father which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace.”
Salvation: Matthew 1:21 “And she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins.”
Light: Psalm 27:1 “The Lord is my Light and my Salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
The Glory: Psalm 24:7 “Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of Glory shall come in.”
Redemption: 1 Corinthians 1:30 “But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, Who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:”
Redemption is to be bought back….bought back from sin, and death, from Satan’s power, and the world.
He is all these, and more, to those who receive Him.)
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 