By this time Simeon was a very old man. Central to the beauty of what Simeon sees is the breadth of what all of this means: "that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples." A graduate of UNC, Chapel Hill, he went on to receive the M.Div. It was God the Fathers and Holy Spirits job to prepare Jesus until he was ready to start His ministry. 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 Law also allowed, in the cases of poverty, for two pigeons or turtledoves to be offered instead of a lamb. How many nieces and nephew luther vandross have? What a gift that God had given him! The jewish year in ancient Israel times began in spring, the month of Nisan ,which is about our March/April . What impresses me about Simeon is the powerful mingling of righteousness, Spirit-empowerment, and faith to take God at His Word. God holds our every breath. Treasuring God at one level gave him eyesight to see something at another level. Mary was required to make an offering at the temple (Leviticus When Simeon saw the Lords Christ, he took him up in his arms and blessed God, saying, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word. This taking Jesus into his arms was an act of the will by Simeon. The story of Jesus birth is framed by two such storiesthat of Elizabeth and Zechariah in Luke 1 and Anna and Simeon in Luke 2. It wasnt that Mary had forgotten that Jesus was also the Son of God that she didnt understand. Several years ago I received a telemarketing call, and I did something I've never done before. Simeon knew that Jesus was special. The Bible does not tell us his age, but one thing is very clear he was a very, very old man.But he was the man who recognized Jesus was the savior even with his dim eyes. What did old Simeon say when he saw Jesus? 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! Now, as Simeon lived just prior to the first advent and anticipated the first coming of the Lord Jesus, so you and I today live just prior to His second advent and should be anticipating His return. No wonder they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, (luke 2:17). Seems to me like they didnt get it. 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). Having seen the messiah, Simeon is now prepared to die. He held him and knew that one day this baby would call people to choose between God and themselves. Simeon was a righteous and devout man who lived in Jerusalem. But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people could connect with it better. Four characteristics are given here: From an Old Testament perspective, Simeon was a model of godliness. The scene that Luke wants to highlight is more than just historical fulfillment. 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. Only after years of pondering the message in her heart does she become a true follower of Jesus. Museo Civico, Recanati, Italy/Scala/Art Resource, NY. He had been told by God, as a much younger man, that he would definitely see the Jewish Messiah before he died. Simeon does not know that years later Paul will write these words: "11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called "the uncircumcision" by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands- 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 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. Simeon at the Temple is a figure in the Gospel of Luke. Now he sees his long-desired Star. Copyright College Park Church - Indianapolis, Indiana. He was a good man and very religious. Mary, for example, does not fully understand what Anna immediately recognizes. Therefore, the ages of Simeon and Anna are very important. She spread the 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die until he had seen the Lords Messiah. Luke records that Jesus' parents "marveled at what was said about him" ( Luke 2:33 ). It will not make sense to them, and honestly it shouldn't. He was "waiting for the consolation of Israel." He took the prophets at their word and was looking for the coming Messiah. Their hearts were right with God. Ben Witherington III is Amos Professor of New Testament for Doctoral Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary and on the doctoral faculty at St. Andrews University in Scotland. He has protected his servant Israel, keeping his merciful design in remembrance, according to the promise which he made to our forefathers, Abraham and his posterity for evermore.. 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. His meeting of the Christ-child was not an anomaly or a spiritual aberration. Jesus name in Hebrew was Yeshua which translates to English as Joshua. They likely would have communicated to her the sign they had been given by 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! Out of their poverty, Joseph and Mary presented a pair of turtledoves and the price of redemption. Verse 26 tells us that God had revealed to him that he would not see death until he had seen the Lord's Christ. A tour to the pyramids of Giza will reveal some fascinating facts In Lukes birth narrative, Mary is the first to be told that Jesus will be the messiah. The presentations by all, are excellent and non-controversial. 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. God is being gracious to Israel, but Simeon knows that God's grace is going to overflow the borders of this small nation. The glorious hope of the Saviours first advent powerfully influenced Simeons life, and the blessed hope of the Lords return should be a powerful incentive to us for holy living and sacrificial service - look up Titus 2:11-13. (Apparently) this was how new lambs were inspected for defects and kept unmarred for eventual sacrifice for forgiveness of sins. This is a stand that is very difficult for me to follow how one gets there, since Mary was told by Gabriel, John (to be the Baptist) at 6 mos responded, Elizabeth told her, again all the torment when she rtnd from Elizabeths, the shepards and the wise men the woman would have had to of had amnesia not to know. Is there evidence outside of the Bible that proves he actually walked the earth? she said. And Marys Magnificent states her understanding of what is happening within her. Clearly, Luke is not painting an idealized portrait of Mary or Joseph. disciple. When the divine illumination concerning Christ comes to us, we too must act immediately in submission and receive the Christ. Simeon thanked God that he was able to see Jesus the savior! Consolation meets us in our. See answer (1) Best Answer. "The Holy Ghost was upon Simeon." This describes a special experience of anointing known to a noble company of God's people in all ages. Hebrew Sukkot is the plural from Suka booth, tent, tabernacle. 2023 Words of Life Ministries - an independent evangelical Registered Charitable Trust (no.269381) Cookie Policy | Privacy Policy Website by: TEKOA Creative, Study 4 JUDAS ISCARIOT: HIS TERRIBLE BETRAYAL, Verse 26 tells us it had been revealed to him. Verse 28 gives us a beautiful picture. 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. Our digital archives are a work in progress. For these people, whether in Jerusalem or in other cities of the Holy Land, the sacrificial system of the Old Testament and the spiritual teachings of the prophets were adequate preparation for the coming of Christ. The reason we assume him to be old is that when he holds Jesus in his arms, he says to God, "Now you are letting your servant depart in peace." He may have been old, but not necessarily so. Dig into more than 9,000 articles in the Biblical Archaeology Societys vast library plus much morewith an All-Access pass. Barbara Simeon Expand search. 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? about the historical past and tradition of historical Egypt. The article was first republished in Bible History Daily on February 12, 2013. There are critical moments in life when everything depends upon immediate submission to the impulse of the Spirit. We then count 3 and a half months from 1. Mary, Simeon or Anna: Who First Recognized Jesus as Messiah? I like the stress on Mary and Joseph as good parents who nevertheless dont get it. Why does Gary Soto's work seem autobiographical? She is not shaking in her boots because inwardly Jesus is the Son of God. I am surprised no one else caught this prior to publication. He has written over thirty books, including The Jesus Quest and The Paul Quest, both of which were selected as top Biblical studies works by Christianity Today. It has provided much food for thought. And that was when we both started laughing. 2. 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. 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, Luke 2:21-40 tells how Simeon went to the Temple in Jerusalem where he met the Holy Family. Wiki User 2011-01-25 . Didnt Jesus family try to kidnap him at one point during his ministry. 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. . This apparatus was prepared by God for the salvation of all people. Mary then announced to Elizabeth (and the world): Luke uses the story of Simeon (2:25-35) and Anna (2:36-38) to demonstrate that the Christ-child is the one for whom Israel had waited and longed for. We have an extra set here at our office. 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).
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