Browse 60+ years of magazine archives and web exclusives. 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. i have a tremendous teachin about the physiologic process a body experiences, during crucifixion. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and told Mary, his mother, This infant is destined to cause many in Israel to fall and rise. Doesnt it say that they thought he had gone mad? "Yeah, you know what I really don't need this job if you are going to make me do that." May we be as ready to welcome the Lord Jesus when He comes the second time as Simeon was to welcome Him when He came the first time - look up Revelation 22:20! One's response to Christ reveals the true condition of the heart. Who was Anna? The Law also allowed, in the cases of poverty, for two pigeons or turtledoves to be offered instead of a lamb. Share your feedback here. 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. Simeon lived in Jerusalem. THE WEDDING AT CANA How old was Simeon when he saw Jesus in the temple? He was sincere and he was known to be, as we say today, above reproach. Simeon asked God to allow him to "depart in peace, according to Your word" (verse 29). To have the kind of eyesight that Simeon had we need to see three things: 1) The treasure of a godly life, 2) The beauty of the gospel, and 3) The cost of following Christ. In fact, people may even laugh at your Christ-centered satisfaction. He proclaims its rising, and he asks to be relieved from the post he has occupied so long. at the manger. How old was Simeon when he introduced Jesus? Granted it is glorious and attractive, but it is not safe. 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. 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." The Spirit came upon the disciples at Pentecost, and they enjoyed power. Let me first give you my thesis, and then try to show you three ways that I see this in the text. What impresses me about Simeon is the powerful mingling of righteousness, Spirit-empowerment, and faith to take God at His Word. Mary, for example, does not fully understand what Anna immediately recognizes. 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. 2010-07-06 11:03:12. Simeon's prayer captures the beauty of the gospel: He begins his praise to God with an expression of ultimate satisfaction in God and it is tied to the word peace: "Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace," (v 29). 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). 2) Im not sure why Simeons reaponse has to be considered less than Annas? "Yeah, I know that you are going to kill me, but I won't recant on my belief in Christ.". 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. He could not be as he did not fulfill the requirements, i.e. Jesus was approximately 40/41 days old at the time His mother, He will either accept him or reject him. 2:25 Now a man named Simeon was in Jerusalem. So Simeon was known for his godly conduct toward others. As a crowning reward of his life, God showed him that he should not die until the Christ came. 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. 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 You see, treasuring godliness and the worth of the gospel are tested when following Christ costs you something. Of course, in the end, Luke portrays Mary as successfully making the spiritual journey into the family of faith; in Acts 1:14, when the apostles gather in the upper room after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus, Mary is with them. The Holy Spirit revealed to him that he would die before he saw the Simeon had an insight into dispensational truth, as verses 30-32 indicate. Their patient waiting is now being fulfilled as Simeon and Anna both converge in temple area and meet the Messiah face to face. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of 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. Both are quicker than Mary to comprehend who Jesus is This statement seems rather presumptive to me. What distinguishes Simeon is not his position, but his godliness. See answer (1) Best Answer. You can be sure God the father and Holy Spirit let Him know about it. 31 which you prepared for all people to see He expresses this so well in verse 32, "a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.". Anna then approaches the Holy Family. Is there evidence outside of the Bible that proves he actually walked the earth? . Verse 28 gives us a beautiful picture. 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. Who is Katy mixon body double eastbound and down season 1 finale? In the free ebook Who Was Jesus? Verse 26 tells us that God had revealed to him that he would not see death until he had seen the Lord's Christ. 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. If these shepherds were in charge of Like Simeon, let us believe the word of the Lord and rejoice in this as our ground of confidence. The nunc dimittis of Simeon emphasizes the end of a long vigil of waiting. Four characteristics are given here: From an Old Testament perspective, Simeon was a model of godliness. At first glance, Simeon and Anna could be easily overlooked within the narrative. 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! It is evident from scripture, by the fact that the people in His hometown and His siblings didnt know He was the Messia (after thirty yrs), that Mary, Joseph or Jesus ever revealed this. Simeon was righteous and devout, and the Holy Spirit was with him. we are in the 8th month. Simeon praised God. 1. As Joseph and Mary marveled at the things spoken of their Child by Simeon, they were blessed by him, and heard Gods purpose for the Child. GOD THE FATHER, HOLY SPIRIT, JESUS AND MARY AT THE TEMPLE It shows that Simeon had received a gracious dealing from God in response to his own searching for divine guidance. However, given such information, Simeon could not have been more than 55 years old, perhaps an age considered advanced at that time. Put all of that together and what you have is a very costly gospel. The religious signs, moral signs, commercial signs, political signs, Jewish signsthese all proclaim the truth declared in James 5:8! Global Relief Fund | Earthquake Relief Efforts in Turkey and Syria. In the Bible , Simeon was the old man who recognized Jesus as the Messiah. Notice, in Luke 2:25-35, some of the characteristics of this man who waited for the coming of Christ: He had no doubt about this, as we learn from verse 26. Never has there been a sign more spoken against than that of the Virgin Birth and its attestation to the deity of Jesus Christ, namely, that he is God with us, or Emmanuel. 8:14). Behold the handmaid of the Lord; let it be unto me according to thy word., 3. How old was Simeon when he saw Jesus?Simeon the priest was a very old man , could be in his late seventies. 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. That is enormously comforting, especially if this Christmas is one that is filled with hard providence for you. So you are saying that when the Shepards and the wise men came Mary had no idea Jesus was Messiah? Let us know if corrections need to be made. He saw this baby as the reason for his godliness. Oh to have the world know this about the followers of Christ. He was a good man. Where in the Bible did Jesus ask Peter if he loved? Simeon Sees Jesus. my name is david snyder. On the next day we who were Pauls companions departed and came to Caesarea, and entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. 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. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die until he had seen the Lords Messiah. He also saw Mary standing by that cross, pierced in heart at the suffering of her child. Instead of the adolecents response, Jesus said this time, my time has not yet come. Followed immediatly by changing the water into wine. This is clear. At least that seems to be what you imply. What is are the functions of diverse organisms? Jesus, the adolecent, wasnt sining or lying here he was jumping the gun. Until a chance encounter with my moms old Bible opened my eyes. thus the feast of Sukkoth is a symbol for God dwellling among us in Jesus . Simeon saw Jesus there, and he picked Jesus up in his arms. 27 Led by the Spirit, he went into the Temple. I believe it's more likely he was already getting up there in years and he was beginning to worry. She is 84 years old, according to Luke, and she does not want to die: She wants to proselytize. Praised God and spoke of Jesus' future. It is sign that reveals the attitude of human hearts. Its amazing all the women named or not named. Zacharias the father of John the baptist was from the house of Abija, we read in Luke 1.5. By this time Simeon was a very old man. Simeon was a righteous and devout man who lived in Jerusalem. Even modern day shepherds How did he meet the test of life? Simeon accepted the Baby Jesus as the Christ of God. "A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel" (Luke 2:32) 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). When that Child came into the world, he brought nothing but a soul. May Almighty God, Jesus, The Holy Spirit and Christianity be our guiding lights, our safety nets and our inspiration for loving happiness with Almighty God! When he heard the account given by Mary and Joseph to the priest, he interrupted the process of dedication by taking the Child in his arms and making a great spiritual prophecy under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Luke's point for Theophilus is that this Christ-child is the one that God-fearing, law-keeping, and faith-filled people looked for. 2:7, 8). He had a personal encounter with Jesus, and foresaw Christ's future crucifixion. 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. Simeon appears to be a normal Jewish man. 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. Wiki User 2011-01-25 . The Child was to be the shining light that would dawn in human hearts over the whole of the earth. Published November 29, 2021. God is being gracious to Israel, but Simeon knows that God's grace is going to overflow the borders of this small nation. We are told this in verse 25, and it means that his life was honest and upright in the eyes of men. 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. Mary, Simeon or Anna by Ben Witherington III originally appeared in Bible Review, Winter 2005. 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, 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. There is a remarkable identity in the Greek between this phrase and Peters confession, Thou art the Christ of God. Simeon identified this baby with the pre-existent Lord of Glory, with the Christ of prophecy, the Incarnate God, the Saviour who was to work out the deliverance of the nations. 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. It is often assumed that Simeon was an old man, but the Bible never says that. Keeping them wrapped prevented them from becoming blemished later on. Being first to hear doesnt always mean being first to understand. Seems to me like they didnt get it. Simeon had long searched the Scriptures and prayed and waited for the coming of the Messiah in fulfillment of prophecy. He is at peace and his heart is filled with hope because he knows that God has fulfilled His promise. An old man called Simeon lived in Jerusalem. 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. There are many speculations as to who this Simeon was although there is no record of his genealogy. 2021 Calvary Chapel Augusta - WordPress Theme : by, Who was with jesus on the mount of transfiguration, Jesus came to seek and save those who were lost, What happened after jesus rose on the third day, What was jesus wrapped in when he was born, Why did jesus go to the desert for 40 days, What is church of jesus christ of latter day saints. Simeon was a righteous and devout man who lived in Jerusalem. If they acknowledge Christ, then they must be humble and bend the knee to God as their creator. They had dedicated the baby Jesus according to the law of Moses, and they traveled to Jerusalem each year to celebrate Passover. As in Simeons day, the message needed is, Comfort ye, comfort ye my people.. Simeon took the baby Jesus into his arms. Youre on the money. Looking at Jesus inspired him in two ways: the feeling of . Copyright 2023 College Park Church. Do you follow Christ even when it proves costly? we can know when Jesus was born. This button displays the currently selected search type. I enjoyed your article and found only one flaw which to some lends itself to your research or thoroughness of it. Can you be godly through seasons where God makes you wait? We then count 3 and a half months from 1. Luke adds that she treasures the words the angel Gabriel speaks to her. It was this little child who creates the means by which people separated by their sins can come back to their God. Christ is the touchstone of human hearts. 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. All rights reserved. He was waiting for the time when God would help Israel. And Marys Magnificent states her understanding of what is happening within her. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! This required the presentation of a lamb, or for those who were poor, of two pigeons. They have much to speak into our context. 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. 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. According to Matthew and Luke, however, Joseph was only legally his father. Elizabeth was the first to call Mary the mother of my Lord! together regarding her first born. 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? As Paul put it in Ephesians 2:19 - no longer strangers or foreigners, but fellow citizens! What is that point? Leviticus 12:1-8 gave clear instructions that after the birth of a child a woman was ceremonially unclean. 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.