Anna then approaches the Holy Family. All men will not accept Jesus. Dig into more than 9,000 articles in the Biblical Archaeology Societys vast library plus much morewith an All-Access pass. God holds our every breath. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed" (Luke 2:25-35 ESV). It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Messiah. Another assumption that is often made is that Simeon was a priest. But Mary is also puzzled by the divine message; she is perplexed when the angel greets her and must ponder the meaning of his words (Luke 1:29; see also 2:19). 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. Global Relief Fund | Earthquake Relief Efforts in Turkey and Syria. Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace. Blessedness and peace were his portion. The women are not only more receptive to the message, they are more willing to act upon it, with Elizabeth realizing that her cousin is carrying the messiah and praising God for this blessing and Anna spreading the good news. Simeon was a righteous and devout man who lived in Jerusalem. Now he sees his long-desired Star. Mary and Joseph were so amazed at the things Simeon was saying about Jesus! December 21, 2008 College Park Church, What Simeon Saw: Lessons From a Satisfied Old Man. It was attacked by Porphyry and Celsus and other ancients, and many unbelievers center their attacks upon it today. Simeon praised God. We have an extra set here at our office. He saw him as the beauty of God saying, "Promise Fulfilled." 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die until he had seen the Lords Messiah. How old was Simeon when he introduced Jesus? The telemarketer called and asked me if I had received my car keys in the mail last week. If they acknowledge Christ, then they must be humble and bend the knee to God as their creator. Deuteronomy 19:15 stresses the importance of having two witnesses to validate an event. It has provided much food for thought. 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. The Holy Ghost was upon Simeon. This describes a special experience of anointing known to a noble company of Gods people in all ages. He has mercy upon those who fear him, from generation to generation; he has done valiantly with the strength of his arm, driving the proud astray in the conceit of their hearts; he has put down the mighty from their seat, and exalted the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty-handed. But the prophetic insight into Gods intentions is a gift which keeps on giving and renewing the people of God. How old was Simeon when he saw Jesus?Simeon the priest was a very old man , could be in his late seventies. Brown adds, however, that Luke does not leave Mary on the negative note of misunderstanding. Mary also tells the Archangel Gabriel she agrees to having the Son of God. Kauna unahang parabula na inilimbag sa bhutan. 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. As in Simeons day, the message needed is, Comfort ye, comfort ye my people.. Oh to have the world know this about the followers of Christ. The prophet Anna was a widow who never left the temple after her Mary and Jesus. He waited for the consolation of Israel, the Messiah, the Lords Christ. There is no great incentive to holy living than to believe, to live and to labour in the conviction that the Lord Jesus is coming again look up 1 John 3:3. Good Stuff Ben and I love preaching on Simeon and Anna over the years, thanks. The Child was to be the shining light that would dawn in human hearts over the whole of the earth. He had been baptized and already started gathering his disciples. 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. He had been told by God, as a much younger man, that he would definitely see the Jewish Messiah before he died. Simeon's righteous faith qualified him to see something incredibly special. 2. He would not die until he had seen Jesus. 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. According to the gospel, Mary and Joseph took the Infant Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem forty days (inclusive) after his birth to complete Marys ritual purification after childbirth, and to perform the redemption of the firstborn son, in obedience to the Torah (Leviticus 12, Exodus 13:1215, etc.). The Holy Spirit was in him. 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. Twelve years after the presentation of Jesus in the Temple, the Holy Family returns to Jerusalem and Jesus returns to the Temple, this time by himself. How did the 2nd February come to be called Candlemas ? Some of the biggest misunderstandings come from people who are related to Jesus. One of the themes of Jesus in the Synoptic tradition seems to be the emphasis that ones own family can become a stumbling block to their walk of faith. Christ is the touchstone of human hearts. To me, this is a powerful image and one that begs a very important question - "What did he see?" Its very well written; I love what youve got Doesnt it say that they thought he had gone mad? Healing the man blind from birth in John 9:1-7. The Holy Spirit revealed to him that he would die before he saw the Messiah. He will, in fact, be rejected. "Yeah, I know that you are going to kill me, but I won't recant on my belief in Christ.". In verse 32 he stated that the Lord Jesus was to be, first, a light for revelation to the Gentiles; and second, for glory to your people Israel. 161162. In Lukes birth narrative, Mary is the first to be told that Jesus will be the messiah. They were given a sign a baby swaddled, laying in a manger. If (as some scholars claim) this band of shepherds were those caring for the temple flocks, they would recognize this treatment. She changed strategies, "Well, how about $15,000? 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. For such a learned scholar he does not read throughly all of Luke. Like the disciples who will follow her, she is driven to bear witness to what she has seen. Where was he really bornBethlehem or Nazareth? 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. husband passed away seven years after her wedding. Of course, no one knows how old Simeon was when God gave him this assurance. Your email address will not be published. Thus Simeon describes himself as free, released from the heavy burden of life. The holy family had made its little pilgrimage from Bethlehem to Jerusalem, a distance of about five miles, to accomplish what was called the purification of Mary. how old was simeon when he saw jesus. 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? degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. from the University of Durham in England. How old was Simeon when he saw Jesus in the temple? And nobodys recognizing John the Baptists testimony to knowing who Jesus wasfrom the womb! my name is david snyder. Simeon made a prophetic and powerful predictive statement about Jesus and the purpose of His life. Notice how the text describes him. Simeon waited and watched for the Babe of Bethlehem, and you and I are to wait and watch for the Lord who said, I will come back, and take you to be with me (John 14:3). The Global Methodist Church welcomes Scott Jones, who led Methodists in Texas and had advocated for the extreme center and staying at the table., Emily McFarlan Miller - Religion News Service. 14 Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace (2 Peter 3:10-14). They were devout in their worship and righteous in their dealings with their fellow men. Simeon made a prophetic and powerful predictive statement about Jesus and the purpose of His life. He did not know just when He would come, but as his hair whitened and his limbs became enfeebled, these were signs to him that the Lords coming was very near. "Yeah, I know that we could buy that, but we'd rather give our money away." 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. 3 Ang lahat ay pumunta upang makapagpatala, bawat isa sa kaniyang sariling lungsod. 3 Pilgrimage Paths from Galilee to Jerusalem, Dating the Oldest New Testament Christian Manuscripts, The Bethesda Pool, Site of One of Jesus Miracles. For the Holy Spirit to rest upon a man is the highest experience God has for him. Feeding the 5000 in John 6:5-14. I made the telemarketer laugh. 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 saw the Savior before He died. It will not make sense to them, and honestly it shouldn't. This. Simeon went to the temple and held the Christ. Put all of that together and what you have is a very costly gospel. Does not detract from the subject matter, but some would doubt your research capabilities. This is the time Simeon and Anna saw Jesus. The Spirit gave Simeon divine revelationit was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lords Christ. The word translated revealed is actually a divine response. In the active tense the word means to transact business, to make an answer to those who seek advice. The use of the word in the passive bespeaks revelation made by God in response to the seeking of man. 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. Zacharias the father of John the baptist was from the house of Abija, we read in Luke 1.5. Dig into the illuminating world of the Bible with a BAS All-Access membership. What is are the functions of diverse organisms? Mary, for example, does not fully understand what Anna immediately recognizes. The jewish month has only about 29 days .please google the theme here and you will find all detailed informations for what I wrote here. Simeon was so happy! Mary was the first to have the good news announced to her, but Anna is the first woman to understand fully and proclaim the good news. Thus Jesus was driven by the Spirit into the wilderness, to be tempted of the devil. redemption. The older he grew the surer Simeon became that the birth of the Saviour was near. This was Simeons one opportunity to see the Lords Christ. Amen! Granted it is glorious and attractive, but it is not safe. The small child that Simeon holds will be a light to the Gentiles. She is not shaking in her boots because inwardly Jesus is the Son of God. But the story of Simeon and Anna suggests Mary had much to learn before she could enter into the Kingdom, and into the spiritual family of faith, which they already belonged to, and which is to be the primary family of Jesus in the eschatological age. That is enormously comforting, especially if this Christmas is one that is filled with hard providence for you. In John 21, Jesus is asking Peter if he really loves Him. The thoughts of men's hearts will be revealed by what they do with Christ. Joseph and Mary were in at the Temple in Jerusalem for the redemption of Jesus as the firstborn and the purification of His mother, Mary, as per the Law of Moses in the first five books of the Bible. This is clear. I really didn't care about $15,000 at that moment. Luke records that Jesus' parents "marveled at what was said about him" ( Luke 2:33 ). 35 Indeed, a sword will pierce your own soul, too, so that the inner thoughts of many people might be revealed. Simeon described the Child as a light to lighten the Gentiles. The Gentiles refers to the nations other than Israel. Let a man be confronted with Christ as a supernatural person, one born without a human father, brought into the world through the womb of a virgin, as the apparatus of redemption, and he will reveal his own hearts condition by his attitude toward this supernatural Christ. Its amazing all the women named or not named. Simeon finds them coming into the temple, takes the child in his arms, and offers a beautiful prayer of thanksgiving to God. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility" (Eph 2:11-14). 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! Copyright 2023 College Park Church. 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. Godly people are supremely satisfied and they celebrate a costly gospel. This practice carried over into English: in the King James Version, the name Simeon Niger is spelt Simeon . Simeon the priest was a very old man , could be in his late seventies. The doctors of the Law may have been dead spiritually, but these remnant people, who saw the reality contained in the Law and the Prophets, were alive to what God was doing. To look for the Messianic Age is a consolation to all believers in every critical time. Wouldn't it be awesome if that was our view of life when it comes to the gospel? Thus Simeon was driven under the impulse of the Spirit into the Temple, and when he was confronted with the Christ Child, it was necessary to receive him into his arms, not doubting because of the poverty, the humility, or the insignificance of this family. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. The very order of Simeons prophecy foretold that Israel would believe in this Child. 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. It is surely significant that his name means Hearing with alacrity. Verse 28 gives us a beautiful picture. referred to as Simeon, in which case he was both an apostle and thus the feast of Sukkoth is a symbol for God dwellling among us in Jesus . Most of parenthood is like this for me. When the divine illumination concerning Christ comes to us, we too must act immediately in submission and receive the Christ. Notice also that the Holy Spirit always leads to and glorifies the Lord Jesus - compare verse 27 with John 16:13-14. He took Jesus in his arms, held him close and began to bless the Lord. Todos los derechos reservados,
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. Continue Learning about Religious Studies. In the Bible , Simeon was the old man who recognized Jesus as the Messiah. All that we have is the fact that Simeon was sufficiently old; he was just and devout. See something we missed? Summary of Jesus life He was born to Joseph and Mary sometime between 6 bce and shortly before the death of Herod the Great (Matthew 2; Luke 1:5) in 4 bce. Simeon, believed to be an old man, was waiting for the redemption of Israel, and the Holy Spirit told him that he would not die until he had see the redemption in the infant body of Christ, in the Anointed One of God. Browse 60+ years of magazine archives and web exclusives. Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to Simeon. 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 2:28-32). Luke wants to show that both of these people have been patiently waiting for the Messiah. Mary and Joseph search for him frantically for three days. Jesus name in Hebrew was Yeshua which translates to English as Joshua. "A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel" (Luke 2:32) Let me first give you my thesis, and then try to show you three ways that I see this in the text. The Bible does not mention his age at all , but it does say he IVE JUST FINISH READING ANNA IS A PROPHETESS FOUND LUKE 2:36. "Yeah, you know what I really don't need this job if you are going to make me do that." 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!
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