And that is what we are going to examine today: what did Simeon see when he looked into the face of the Messiah. This account is reminder to all of us that this day is not just about time with family or wonderful expressions of love. 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. 27 Led by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. OK, so I have a slightly different interpretation when it comes to Joseph and Mary finding Jesus after hes been missing for three days. If these shepherds were in charge of Treasuring God at one level gave him eyesight to see something at another level. He took Jesus in his arms, held him close and began to bless the Lord. Mary and Joseph bring Jesus into the temple to dedicate Him forty days after his birth. He was a satisfied old man. He was a faithful temple goer which means that he regularly met with God. Simeon declared, Mine eyes have seen thy salvation. The Child is here equated with Gods salvation. Rather, it was the summit of his life-long experience with God. Simeon declared the Child to be the glory of thy people Israel. That an Israelite should first mention Christ as the means of enlightening the heathen and then emphasize the glory of Israel was an unusual order in pre-Christian times and thinking. Global Relief Fund | Earthquake Relief Efforts in Turkey and Syria. Deuteronomy 19:15 stresses the importance of having two witnesses to validate an event. To be a follower of Christ means that we have declared that nothing is more important, lovely, attractive, and worthy than Jesus! 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, 29 "Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word;30 for my eyes have seen your salvation 31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.". 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. The prophet Anna was a widow who never left the temple after her When Simeon saw Jesus he took Him in his arms and praised God. This season of uncleanness was terminated by the offering of a sacrifice (a lamb for a burnt offering and a pigeon or turtledove for a sin offering). i was searching for private visions by people who have had additional explanations, suvh as the annunciation. Some of the biggest misunderstandings come from people who are related to Jesus. Luke may also have seen Anna as the second witness in or around the Temple needed to validate Jesus significance. i know PROTESTANTS dont credit private interpretations. Let us know if corrections need to be made. We know far more of Jesus through the New Testament revelation than Simeon ever could have known from the Old Testament prophecy, but do we embrace him in the arms of faith as the Lords Christ as Simeon did? Simeon understood the treasure of a godly life. Simeon spoke to Mary, Jesus' mother. The wisdom of Almighty God is unsearchable! 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). He knew that although He had come to His own people they would reject Him, and the gospel would be preached to the Gentiles (John 1:11; Acts 28:28). Additionally he was not a direct descendant of David. Who is Katy mixon body double eastbound and down season 1 finale? "Yeah, I know that you are going to kill me, but I won't recant on my belief in Christ.". He saw the Savior before He died. He kept the law inwardly and outwardly, looked for the Messiah, and the very presence of God was in his life. Simeon is so satisfied in the beauty God's ability to keep His word. Simeon addressed Mary with the words, This child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel. This was an application of the prophecy of Isaiah that the Christ was to be a rock of offense, causing the fall of many in Israel (Isa. As you celebrate this holiday, exchange gifts, enjoy days of rest, and time with family - I just want to remind you that this holiday is about the glory and the beauty of the gospel! Godly people are supremely satisfied and they celebrate a costly gospel. They likely would have communicated to her the sign they had been given by At the time of Jesus being dedicated to the Lord at the Temple and Mary and Joseph offering their sacrifice for purification, both Simeon and Anna recognized the infant Jesus as the Messiah and sang his praises to all around them. Simeon represented himself as a sentinel whom his master had placed in an elevated position and charged to look for the appearance of the Star. God gave her a job to do and she is doing it. 35 Indeed, a sword will pierce your own soul, too, so that the inner thoughts of many people might be revealed. Luke wants to show that both of these people have been patiently waiting for the Messiah. He was a prophet and teacher. "The thoughts of many hearts will be revealed." Simon Peter was also It is . Just ponder that for a moment with me: God appointed the future execution of son. A widow . Therefore, if you could see Simeon in the temple courtyard holding the baby Jesus with his eyes lifted to the vast sky of Jerusalem you would see a satisfied old man! 8:14). They have much to speak into our context. learn []. "For a sign that is opposed." But also wanted to add two points: He saw that the fall of Israel would be the riches of the Gentiles and that Israels restoration will be comparable to a resurrection from the dead for the whole of humanity. Do you follow Christ even when it proves costly? Verse 28 gives us a beautiful picture. . See who and when the Apostles wrote their stories. Anna begins to preach: She came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. Both are quicker than Mary to comprehend who Jesus is. The Spirit came upon the disciples at Pentecost, and they enjoyed power. Jesus at the age of twelve accompanies Mary and Joseph, and a large group of their relatives and friends to Jerusalem on pilgrimage, according to the custom that is, Passover. And God has graciously given us signs by which we may know that the second coming of His Son is very near. What a beautiful picture! He will bring the revelation to non-Jewish people in order to bring Jews and Gentiles to God. Simeon was a righteous and devout man who lived in Jerusalem. So we know from this that Jesus was 7 + 33 = 40 days old at the time of this ceremony. God is testing us everyday and has given us the right to make our own choices. Uffizi/Scala/Art Resource, NY. Simeon is ready to die - he is at peace - because he has seen the future hope of Israel and the world. Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety. Jesus responds, Did you not know that I must be in my Fathers house? But, Luke reports, they did not understand what he said to them [but] his mother treasured all these things in her heart (Luke 2:4851). (The same Spirit told him to go to the Temple that day, too.) "But the plans of the LORD stand firm for ever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.". Oh to have people know that there is something different about us because of how satisfied we are in Christ. The Book of Luke records just two narratives about Jesus ' childhood: His dedication (Luke 2:21- 40) and His time at the temple when He was 12 years old (Luke 2:41-52). Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace (Luke 2:28, 29). Yes, a messiah has arrived, as Simeon recognizes, but, as the prophetess Anna suggests, a new era, with a new and living voice of prophecy, has at the same time dawned.1 In this new era, the living voice of God will continue to speak about the messianic one. This man was righteous and devout. 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. she said. Simeon saw Jesus there, and he picked Jesus up in his arms. This answer is: Study guides. 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. The Holy Spirit allowed Simeon to recognize Jesus as the Messiah. (We know that the eighth day after birth is the first of the following 33 days because the account also says that after the birth of a daughter a mother waits twice as long, specifically 14 + 66 = 80 days.) That is also why she stood at the cross and did not kneel. Simeon told Mary & Joseph that Jesus would be a helper for people. 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. When that Child came into the world, he brought nothing but a soul. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. God holds our every breath. In this way Luke both prepares for and signals one of his major themes in the Gospel of Luke and in Actsthe least, the last and the lost are becoming the most, the first and the found with Jesus coming. He loved 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. 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. Is there evidence outside of the Bible that proves he actually walked the earth? When Simeon saw Him for whom his soul had been longing, he took Him in his arms. The Eastern Orthodox Church considers Anna and Simeon the God-Receiver as the last prophets of Old Testament and observes their feast on February 3/February 16 as the synaxis (afterfeast) following the Presentation of Christ, which Orthodox tradition calls The Meeting of Our Lord and God and Savior, Jesus Christ. anyones radar, so I think Mary indeed had a lot to mull over as she put all the extraordinary information Exploring the History of Jesus Life, examine fundamental questions about Jesus of Nazareth. Elizabeth proclaims How is it that the mother of our Lord should come to me? My bet is even if Mary, as you infer, had no idea who Jesus was, then Elizabeth was the first to notify her of the significance of Jesus. The passage in which Simeon blessed the baby Jesus and prophesied great things was an opportunity to prove to the readers of Luke's Gospel that Jesus was indeed the son of God. As in Simeons day, the message needed is, Comfort ye, comfort ye my people.. Nice job Susanna! When the parents brought the child Jesus to do for him what was customary under the Law, 28 Simeon took the infant in his arms and praised God, saying, 29 Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace according to your promise, There was a lady named Anna that lived in Jerusalem also. When the divine illumination concerning Christ comes to us, we too must act immediately in submission and receive the Christ. "Really?" Simeon, who saw the baby Jesus, was neither an apostle or Thus Simeon describes himself as free, released from the heavy burden of life. Todos los derechos reservados,
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. One issue does provide some hesitation for me though. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Messiah. So, I'd like to call you to be like Simeon - a man supremely satisfied with a costly gospel. 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. to say. A suffering messiah was not yet on Anna was about 106 years old depending upon when she wed. Instead of the adolecents response, Jesus said this time, my time has not yet come. Followed immediatly by changing the water into wine. That is what Simeon saw, and that is what all godly people should see - even to the point of death. He had a personal encounter with Jesus, and foresaw Christ's future crucifixion. Mary and Joseph marvel at what Simeon says about him (v 33) and then he says something stunning to Mary: "This child is appointed" Simeon knew and Mary and Joseph were only beginning to fully understand that this little baby was part of massive plan determined even before the foundations of the earth (Eph 3:11, Heb 4:3, Rev 13:8). "Oh," I said, "I really don't like Chevy Blazers". 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 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. Simeon instantly and independently recognizes Jesus as messiah. We have an extra set here at our office. Unlike Simeon, Anna is not just visiting the Temple for the day; she is there all the time. Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to Simeon. Even the most unjustified, unfair, and evil event in human history was a part of God's gracious plan? Share your feedback here. Simeon does not domesticate the gospel or the Messiah. 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. Two kinds of persons were involved; first there were those who would apprehend Christ as the Rock and find in him a spiritual sanctuary; second, those who would reject him and find him a stumbling stone and a rock of offense (cf. Put all of that together and what you have is a very costly gospel. How old was Jesus when simeon and Anna saw him?Jesus was approximately 40/41 days old at the time His mother, Mary was required to make an offering at the temple (Leviticus 12:). Simeon takes Jesus in his arms and praises God: Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel (Luke 2:2832). 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. the angels (you will find the babe swaddled and laying in a manger.). When expanded it provides a list of search options that will switch the search inputs to match the current . Luke says of Anna: And there was Anna she was of great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; And she was a widow fourscore and four years, You give Anna the age of 84however considering girls were approximately 15 when wed, she lived with her husband 7 years and had been a widow 84 years. Anna was the prophetess who saw Jesus when he was presented in the temple by his parents. At the Temple, the family is approached by a man named Simeon, who has been told by the Holy Spirit that he will not die until he has seen the messiah. Like Simeon, let us believe the word of the Lord and rejoice in this as our ground of confidence. 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.
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