Simeon went to the temple and held the Christ. He was "waiting for the consolation of Israel." He took the prophets at their word and was looking for the coming Messiah. 31 which you prepared for all people to see I really didn't care about $15,000 at that moment. According to Matthew and Luke, however, Joseph was only legally his father. Simeon was a righteous and devout man who lived in Jerusalem. While considering Dr. Witheringtons question, I would like to ask, How about Elizabeth, wife of Zachariah, whose response to Marys arrival plainly states that the Spirit revealed to her the identity of the unborn Messiah? Luke 1:41-43 reads, When Elizabeth heard Marys greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. blessed the family. to say. At first glance, Simeon and Anna could be easily overlooked within the narrative. Simeon was righteous and devout, and the Holy Spirit was with him. This phrase either means that many will be humbled and spiritually raised up because of him (like the story of the publican in Luke 18:9ff), or it means that Jesus will be a stone over which some will fall and perish while others are spiritual "risen up" by God's power (see Luke 1:51-53). We shall never be perfect while we are in the flesh, but the Lord has made provision for us to be blameless (verse 25), which means that our lives should be such that they bring glory to His name and show forth His praise to those amongst whom we are living. This account is reminder to all of us that this day is not just about time with family or wonderful expressions of love. Further Zacharias announces who is son John shall be and who Marys Son shall be in his discourse before Jesus or John are even born. In fact, he is so satisfied that having held the Christ-child he is now ready to die! Simeon instantly and independently recognizes Jesus as messiah. (The same Spirit told him to go to the Temple that day, too.) He was a good man and very religious. Now we turn briefly to Simeon's farewell to the world (2:29-35). Gabriel made it quite clear to Mary who is Jesus: Anna belonged to the tribe of Asher. How old was Simeon when he saw Jesus in the temple? He will, in fact, be rejected. THE PRESENTATION IN THE TEMPLE. Simeon, who saw the baby Jesus, was neither an apostle or The prophet Anna was a widow who never left the temple after her Simeon, a right living and very devout man of faith, was frequently in the Temple meditating, and in a constant state of anticipation of the most significant foretold event in the Jewish faith the arrival of the Jewish Messiah. SCRIPTURE, proclaims elizabeth asking in wonder, how is it that the MOTHER of my LORD comes to me? i could go on and on. Simeon lived in Jerusalem. Thus Simeon describes himself as free, released from the heavy burden of life. The flame of hope must have been fanned by the report spread abroad by the shepherds of the events at Bethlehem just forty days before. Another assumption that is often made is that Simeon was a priest. This is clear. This lesson is about Simeon, an old man, who had a special hope fulfilled by God. The Bible does not mention his age at all , but it does say he If you ever want to read something that fills in the blanks an,d plays out like a movie, read MYSTICAL CITY OF GOD by SISTER MARY of AGREEDA. Simeon's words assert that 1) Jesus would be the salvation of the world, 2) He would deliver truth not only to those in Israel but also to the Gentiles, and 3) Jesus would bring glory upon the people of Israel. The Holy Spirit revealed to him that he would die before he saw the Messiah. When Simeon saw Him for whom his soul had been longing, he took Him in his arms. Here is the picture of a surrendered life - a life which recognises Jesus as the Lord, which takes the place of a bond-servant under His authority and which is completely submissive to His word. Apparently sacrificial lambs were wrapped (swaddled) at birth The Holy Ghost was upon Simeon. This describes a special experience of anointing known to a noble company of Gods people in all ages. Simon is one Latinised version of the name, the others being Simeon or Symeon. It was through this child that sin could permanently be forgiven. As in Simeons day, the message needed is, Comfort ye, comfort ye my people.. Rather, it was the summit of his life-long experience with God. Shes pondering all right, shes pondering just how hard shes gonna tan his little hide when she gets him home. IVE JUST FINISH READING ANNA IS A PROPHETESS FOUND LUKE 2:36. . Seven Signs Changing water into wine at Cana in John 2:1-11 the first of the signs Healing the royal officials son in Capernaum in John 4:46-54. The pairing of Simeon and Anna reflects Lukes penchant for male-female parallelism when he writes about the recipients of divine blessing and salvation. Simeon had long searched the Scriptures and prayed and waited for the coming of the Messiah in fulfillment of prophecy. How did he meet the test of life? The neuter gender is used for the word salvation. Perhaps she was part of some sort of order of widows (Luke tells us her husband died after only seven years of marriage) who had specific religious functions in the Temple. "Yeah, I know you'd probably leave your husband, but I'm going to believe that God can restore our marriage." Simeon understood the treasure of a godly life. Do you see the gospel for the beauty that it is? The Spirit rested upon Moses, and his face shone like that. His meeting of the Christ-child was not an anomaly or a spiritual aberration. In this, Mary contrasts sharply with Simeon and Anna, two elderly individuals who happen to be in the Temple when Joseph and Mary bring the infant Jesus to Jerusalem for the first time. Reading this narrative, we sense that it was perfectly proper for this old man to take the Baby Jesus in his arms because of what he was and who he was. 32 a light that will reveal salvation to unbelievers and bring glory to your people Israel., 33 Jesus father and mother kept wondering at the things being said about him. husband passed away seven years after her wedding. She was very old, around 84 years old when she saw Jesus in the temple.Refer also to Luke 2:36-38. The Spirit rested upon Moses, and his face shone like that of an angel. The angel had said, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased." Now Simeon, a man of great faith in God's consolation, sees Jesus and is ready to die in peace. OK, so I have a slightly different interpretation when it comes to Joseph and Mary finding Jesus after hes been missing for three days. He was a faithful temple goer which means that he regularly met with God. Simeon went into the church in Jerusalem. Before this baby was born an angel named Gabriel told Mary what to name Him. The religious signs, moral signs, commercial signs, political signs, Jewish signsthese all proclaim the truth declared in James 5:8! Until a chance encounter with my moms old Bible opened my eyes. 26 The Holy Spirit told Simeon that he would not die before he saw the Christ promised by the Lord. Combine a one-year tablet and print subscription to BAR with membership in the BAS Library to start your journey into the ancient past today! In these Old Testament types and experiences, they saw Christ. Behold the handmaid of the Lord; let it be unto me according to thy word., 3. Simeon appears to be a normal Jewish man. It seems that Luke wants to make this scene very personal for Simeon and Anna. In fact, she is the only woman in the New Testament explicitly described as a prophetess. She then stands in the line of figures like the judge, military leader and prophetess Deborah and the Jerusalem prophetess Huldah, who, in the days of King Josiah, was asked to verify that an ancient scroll (a form of Deuteronomy) discovered during Temple renovations was indeed the word of God (2 Kings 22). Luke adds that she treasures the words the angel Gabriel speaks to her. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Verse 25 tells us this, and it means that while he was honest and upright in the sight of men, he was holy (as the word really means) in the sight of God. The late New Testament scholar Raymond Brown wrote: Lukes idea is that complete acceptance of the word of God, complete understanding of who Jesus is, and complete discipleship is not yet possible. This man was righteous and devout. In what has become known as the Nunc Dimittus, Simeon's poetic blessing to God a few verses later, Simeon recognizes the fulfillment of God's promised salvation as "a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel" (vv 30-32; see Isa 9:1-2; 40:5; 42:6; 49:6; 52:10; etc). The Child was to be the shining light that would dawn in human hearts over the whole of the earth. Simeon met baby Jesus and blessed Him, in fulfillment of a promise to Simeon from God. we can know when Jesus was born. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! The text states that Simeon was eventually subdued by Manasseh, and imprisoned. As a crowning reward of his life, God showed him that he should not die until the Christ came. We often picture Jesus taking little children in his arms, and we sing, I would like to have been with him then , but this thought of another receiving Jesus into his arms is much less familiar to us. When Joseph (far left) and Mary (left of center) bring baby Jesus to the Jerusalem Temple, they are greeted by Simeon, who embraces the baby, and Anna, the New Testaments only prophetess, shown at right with a scroll, in this 1342 tempera painting by Ambrogio Lorenzetti. What a beautiful picture! 2 Nangyari, nang mga araw na iyon, na lumabas ang isang batas mula kay Augusto Cesar na nag-uutos na dapat magpatala ang buong sanlibutan. To be a follower of Christ means that we have declared that nothing is more important, lovely, attractive, and worthy than Jesus! She may have been able to undertake this role in the Temple because she was no longer in periodic states of ritual impurity caused by menstruation. He saw one of the most important events in world history! Are there verses I have missed about her memory leave her?>, [] Witherington IIIs full letter Mary, Simeon or Anna: Who First identified Jesus as Messiah? is permitted on-line during no cost. In Davids time the yearly service of the highpriest priests was divided in 24 houses, each makng the service in the temple in Jerusalem for half a month. 11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! Uffizi/Scala/Art Resource, NY. According to Luke, Mary treasures the angels message, but does not fully understand it. It was the day of the year when all the candles, that were used in the church during the coming year, were brought into church and a blessing was said over them so it was the Festival Day (or mass) of the Candles. i am a veterinarian in texas and i am catholic! It is often assumed that Simeon was an old man, but the Bible never says that. Mary and Joseph search for him frantically for three days. Also, what she went through when almost stone, seems many want to believe Mary just forgot all that, As well as, all the towns people. In addition, a gift of five shekels to the Temple was required as an acknowledgment of Gods claim over the firstborn male of the household; the child was thus redeemed from sacred duties to enter the secular life. It reminds me of this New Testament passage: 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Sign up to receive our email newsletter and never miss an update. This practice carried over into English: in the King James Version, the name Simeon Niger is spelt Simeon . degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. from the University of Durham in England. The peace that Simeon is talking about is linked to two phrases - "according to your word" and "for my eyes have seen your salvation." Subscribers receive full access to the archives. The secret of a life that is pleasing in the sight of men and well-pleasing to God is the filling of the Holy Ghost - look up Ephesians 5:18. bringing peace to earth and rebuilding the temple. See who and when the Apostles wrote their stories. God holds our every breath. If Mary were first to know, then surely Elizabeth was second, or if Mary did not realize, then Eizabeth was first to know. This apparatus was prepared by God for the salvation of all people. Simeon takes the Child Jesus in his arms and blesses God in order to present it to the Lord. Rather in 2.51 [his mother treasured all these things ] he stresses her retention of what she has not yet understood and her continuing search to understand.2. My soul magnifies the Lord; my spirit has found joy in God, who is my Saviour, because he has looked graciously upon the lowliness of his handmaid. 3 Ang lahat ay pumunta upang makapagpatala, bawat isa sa kaniyang sariling lungsod. She became a widow after seven years of marriage to her husband. Mary and Joseph were so amazed at the things Simeon was saying about Jesus! Didnt Jesus family try to kidnap him at one point during his ministry. learn []. Simeon declared, Mine eyes have seen thy salvation. The Child is here equated with Gods salvation. Therefore, the ages of Simeon and Anna are very important. When Simeon saw Him for whom his soul had been longing, he took Him in his arms. It was attacked by Porphyry and Celsus and other ancients, and many unbelievers center their attacks upon it today. What a gift that God had given him! She didnt understand why he Anna then approaches the Holy Family. Mary then announced to Elizabeth (and the world): Hey, if the Holy Spirit tells Simeon he will not die till he sees the Messiah, and if hes been waiting his entire life perhaps, and hes faithful and in the temple and he comes and serves as that second witness ~ that may be Gods total will for his lifes ending, different from Annas, but just as powerful. Global Relief Fund | Earthquake Relief Efforts in Turkey and Syria. www.yourchurch.com. Having seen the messiah, Simeon is now prepared to die. He would not die until he had seen Jesus. He knew Jesus was the Son of God. Lukes Christmas story is full of surprising reversals of fortunes and roles, in which outsiders become more intimate associates than family members, and in which women play a more active role then men. So you are saying that when the Shepards and the wise men came Mary had no idea Jesus was Messiah? The word Lord means Over-lord; the word servant means bond-servant; and the phrase, as you have promised indicates complete submission to the promises of the Lord. He is now considered one of the top evangelical scholars in the world, and is an elected member of the prestigious SNTS, a society dedicated to New Testament studies. He had a personal encounter with Jesus, and foresaw Christ's future crucifixion. He was doing just that - listening day by day, hour by hour, and moment by moment for the sound of the footsteps of the Son of God whose coming was drawing near. Praised God and spoke of Jesus' future. 2. Is there evidence outside of the Bible that proves he actually walked the earth? In response, Mary made it quite clear to Gabriel that she understood: All men will not accept Jesus. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. A little Child who was conceived by the Holy Ghost and born of a virgin was to be the means of the deliverance of Gods people. There are critical moments in life when everything depends upon immediate submission to the impulse of the Spirit. Luke portrays the rise of a form of Judaism that would rely on the testimony of women as well as men, and that would empower them once again to fulfill roles like Miriam of old. Like the disciples who will follow her, she is driven to bear witness to what she has seen. It is sign that reveals the attitude of human hearts. I want to add: each jewish month has exactly 29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes, 3 1/3 seconds. Simeon described the Child as a light to lighten the Gentiles. The Gentiles refers to the nations other than Israel. In this beautiful scene, the aged Simeon takes the Baby Jesus up in his arms and expresses his delight and joy to God in a brief prayer. Feeding the 5000 in John 6:5-14. If it starts, you get to keep the vehicle." When at last they find him listening to and asking questions of the teachers in the Temple, Mary asks, Child, why have you treated us like this? But the prophetic insight into Gods intentions is a gift which keeps on giving and renewing the people of God. And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call him Jesus. Luke uses the story of his life and meeting of the Christ-child to make a very important point for Theophilus, the Roman ruler for whom this book is written. In the birth narratives about Jesus, we meet Simeon and Anna, who were also "waiting for consolation" (Luke 2:25). Then Simeon announced that the Child was for a sign which shall be spoken against that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. This also was a quotation from Isaiah (7:14). "But the plans of the LORD stand firm for ever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.". I believe it's more likely he was already getting up there in years and he was beginning to worry. Anna, also old in years, had been faithfully worshiping God through fasting and prayer in the temple for 84 years. That hope motivated the righteous in Simeons day to hold on to the things of God despite the terrible events happening round about them. The story of Simeon is a reminder that this Christmas season is essentially about the far-surpassing joy that a personal relationship with Christ brings. Surely youll recall how the unborn John the Baptist leaped in his mothers womb at the presence of Mary and the unborn baby Jesus? Gospel account The episode is described in Luke 2:4152. Leviticus 12:1-8 gave clear instructions that after the birth of a child a woman was ceremonially unclean. When Simeon saw Jesus he took Him in his arms and praised God. Mary startles when Gabriel and God the Father appear in her home and interrupt her prayers. By this time Simeon was a very old man. An old man called Simeon lived in Jerusalem. Rather, Christmas calls to remember that Jesus is not only the reason for the season, He is only reason for living or (in Simeon's case) dying. The Spirit had prepared him to meet Jesus at the correct moment and had providentially brought them together. It was Mary and Josephs job to bring up Jesus the Son of Man, as Jesus often referred to himself, in the nurture and admonition of the Lord to be a responsible adult in the Jewish culture. It shows that Simeon had received a gracious dealing from God in response to his own searching for divine guidance. The earth-shaking miracles and wonders are . 27 The Spirit led Simeon to the Temple. That is enormously comforting, especially if this Christmas is one that is filled with hard providence for you. Even the most unjustified, unfair, and evil event in human history was a part of God's gracious plan? According to Luke 2:2224, [Joseph and Mary] brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord [quoting Exodus 13:2, 12]) and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons [based on Leviticus 12:28].. So we know from this that Jesus was 7 + 33 = 40 days old at the time of this ceremony. how old was simeon when he saw jesus. We then count 3 and a half months from 1. Verses 22-24 tell us what is happening here. Which she knows fullwell, she had pondered this in her heart. Luke 2:36-38 tells us that Anna, a prophetess, from the tribe of Asher, was an 84 year old widow, when she saw Jesus at the temple. Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to reproduce this material in any format provided that you do not alter the content in any way and do not charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. How old was Jesus when simeon and Anna saw him? The Holy Spirit led Simeon to the Temple on the day Joseph, Mary and Jesus were there. The violations of the Law of God, the iniquity, immorality, and injustice of their day, only deepened their desire for the fulfillment of prophecies concerning the advent of the Messiah. This was Simeons one opportunity to see the Lords Christ. Both are quicker than Mary to comprehend who Jesus is This statement seems rather presumptive to me. I mean not just a chuckle, but a hearty laugh. He saw this baby as the reason for his godliness. The whole of the strange thing called life lies between the extremes in that picture. Who are we to really imply something different for the amazing Simeon and his song??!!! 1) it is said in the New Testament that Philip had four daughters who prophesied and certainly could be considered prophetesses, with Anna not the only one: Acts 21:8-9 Interestingly, in both, the woman is portrayed as the more positive example of discipleship. The presentations by all, are excellent and non-controversial. at the manger. Simeon's testimony was great in that he said that he saw the salvation in Jesus and Jesus was the one whom the Father had prepared before the face of all the people and also that Jesus was the light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of His people Israel.