They had dedicated the baby Jesus according to the law of Moses, and they traveled to Jerusalem each year to celebrate Passover. As a crowning reward of his life, God showed him that he should not die until the Christ came. When Simeon saw Him for whom his soul had been longing, he took Him in his arms. 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! 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. He saw the gospel clearly, and he was a satisfied man. Simeon was a righteous and devout man who lived in Jerusalem. Teaching Women of the Bible. It wasnt that Mary had forgotten that Jesus was also the Son of God that she didnt understand. Verse 28 gives us a beautiful picture. Simeon sang when he saw the infant Christ - and we still sing today. Simeon gets very personal here with Mary telling her that she will suffer greatly by the suffering of her son. Simeon must have understood that Israels conversion would be realized only after the enlightenment of the heathen and the calling out of the Church. It has provided much food for thought. She, too, recognizes Jesus as messiah, but she has a very different reaction: At that moment, she came and began to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem (Luke 2:38). Wouldn't it be awesome if that was our view of life when it comes to the gospel? No doubt they related to the officiating priest some of the things that had happened in connection with the birth of the Child, and Simeon, an old man who was awaiting the advent of the Messiah, overheard them. It is surely significant that his name means Hearing with alacrity. Looking at Jesus inspired him in two ways: the feeling of . You and I, who live in the light of the second coming of Christ, have the same glorious word of assurance. Gospel account The episode is described in Luke 2:4152. Luke may also have seen Anna as the second witness in or around the Temple needed to validate Jesus significance. 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. You see, treasuring godliness and the worth of the gospel are tested when following Christ costs you something. How old was Simeon when he saw Jesus in the temple? 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. Just ponder that for a moment with me: God appointed the future execution of son. Simeon told Mary & Joseph that Jesus would be a helper for people. 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). 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. God gave her a job to do and she is doing it. 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. He had been baptized and already started gathering his disciples. I am surprised no one else caught this prior to publication. 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 was waiting for the one who would comfort Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 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). What are the 4 major sources of law in Zimbabwe? Want to learn some-more about his research? 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. He was a good man. "Yeah, you know what I really don't need this job if you are going to make me do that." Of course, no one knows how old Simeon was when God gave him this assurance. Luke records that Jesus' parents "marveled at what was said about him" ( Luke 2:33 ). By this time Simeon was a very old man. (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.) THE WEDDING AT CANA Also read Numbers 8:17 and Numbers 18:14-1, The angel Gabriel spoke to Mary about the birth of Jesus, An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, Angels praised God for the birth of Jesus, Jesus at 40 days old was taken to the Temple, Magi traveled from the East to find Jesus, King Herod the Great plans how to kill Jesus, Timeline for Birth of Jesus The Christmas Story, Background Information Birth of Jesus The Christmas Story. Mary and Joseph search for him frantically for three days. Simeon appears to be a normal Jewish man. He shall be great, and men will know him for the Son of the most High; the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he shall reign over the house of Jacob eternally; his kingdom shall never have an end., 2. disciple. Story: Tell the story of Jesus being presented at the temple based on Luke 2:21-40. a. Jesus' Circumcision: Mary and Joseph took God's Son when He was 8 days old and had Him circumcised. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 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. Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace. Blessedness and peace were his portion. This is the time Simeon and Anna saw Jesus. Anna then approaches the Holy Family. Four characteristics are given here: From an Old Testament perspective, Simeon was a model of godliness. A remnant of Gods people are looking for another prophetic fulfillmentthe advent of the Messiah in glory, attended by his angels, to establish justice and peace on earth. At that circumcision ceremony babies were given their name. A teacher walks into the Classroom and says If only Yesterday was Tomorrow Today would have been a Saturday Which Day did the Teacher make this Statement? In fact, people may even laugh at your Christ-centered satisfaction. Simeon in the Bible (pronounced Sim-ee-uhn) was a devout and just man. Dr. Witherington has presented seminars for churches, colleges and Biblical meetings in the U.S., England, Estonia, Russia, Europe, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Australia. 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. What is are the functions of diverse organisms? how old was simeon when he saw jesus And Marys Magnificent states her understanding of what is happening within her. Nice job Susanna! 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. And she wont for several years. Simeon had an insight into dispensational truth, as verses 30-32 indicate. . He was sincere and he was known to be, as we say today, above reproach. See Alfred Plummer, Luke, International Critical Commentary (Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 1905), p. 71. 26 The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. Simeon: He Is the Christ | Open the Bible 22 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord") 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons" (Luke 2:22-24). Luke 2:25-35 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die until he had seen the Lords Messiah. 2. Youve got an awful lot of text for only having 1 or 2 images. Didnt Jesus family try to kidnap him at one point during his ministry. The text states that Simeon was eventually subdued by Manasseh, and imprisoned. She is 84 years old, according to Luke, and she does not want to die: She wants to proselytize. The Holy Ghost is the author of all scripture (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21), and the great message of the scriptures concerning the future is that Jesus is coming again - look up John 14:1-3; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and 1 John 3:1-3). The Prophecy of Simeon 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, who was righteous and devout. How old was Simeon when he held Jesus? - chroniclesdengen.com How old was simeon when he saw jesus - Calvary Chapel Augusta Simeon recognised Jesus as the Christ as soon as he saw him, and blessed the young family. Simeon suggested to Mary, A sword shall pierce through thy own soul also. He did not leave the parents upon the mount of elevation but included a drop of bitterness through the prophecy that this helpless Baby was to be the suffering and dying Messiah. thus the feast of Sukkoth is a symbol for God dwellling among us in Jesus . 6 months later, thus about December Jesus was conceived in Mary, and born 9 months later which gives us September for the birth of Jesus which is the time of the feast of Sukkoth which is now fullfilled in the coming of the Word of God to dwell among us in a human body: Greek skenos means tent and figuratively the human body . Mary was required to make an offering at the temple (Leviticus Simeon was described as devout and just and was a part of the remnant of Gods people. It shows that Simeon had received a gracious dealing from God in response to his own searching for divine guidance. Let us know if corrections need to be made. 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 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). Copyright College Park Church - Indianapolis, Indiana. He sees the Christ child with his own eyes and finds fulfillment. All men will not accept Jesus. In the birth narratives about Jesus, we meet Simeon and Anna, who were also "waiting for consolation" (Luke 2:25). Study 2 SIMEON: WAITING FOR THE LORD - Words of Life Ministries Treasuring God at one level gave him eyesight to see something at another level. Simeon believed in the imminence of the Messianic age. The Faith That Waits: Simeon's Story | Make it a Garden . If they acknowledge Christ, then they must be humble and bend the knee to God as their creator. 3 Ang lahat ay pumunta upang makapagpatala, bawat isa sa kaniyang sariling lungsod. We have an extra set here at our office. One's response to Christ reveals the true condition of the heart. That hope motivated the righteous in Simeons day to hold on to the things of God despite the terrible events happening round about them. Is there a difference between Simon and Simeon? "A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel" (Luke 2:32) Please include the following statement on any distributed copy: by Mark Vroegop. Interestingly, in both, the woman is portrayed as the more positive example of discipleship. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, I want to add: each jewish month has exactly 29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes, 3 1/3 seconds. Simeon is so satisfied in the beauty God's ability to keep His word. Who are we to really imply something different for the amazing Simeon and his song??!!! 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. 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.