INTRODUCTION

The faithfulness of these two saints in the prevailing circumstances, their lives of piety, their living close to God and their constant looking for the coming of the Messiah not only encourages Christians today in their walk, but also stands as a rebuke to those who make excuses about their compromise with the evils of prevailing society.  

The priorities of the two people who met and blessed the baby Jesus in the Temple, as well as their adherence to the ways of righteousness stand in direct contrast to the views and attitudes of their culture. As we consider this lesson we should look at and follow the example of both Simeon and Anna, though the life of Anna does not form a part of our lesson today.  We too should learn that we can stand in direct opposition to the views and values of our culture, and in so doing, change our goals and our lifestyles so that we bring a godly witness to the world. 

The incident in this lesson follows the appearance of the angelic hosts glorifying God for the birth of Messiah to some shepherds who were working in the fields around Bethlehem.  The shepherds were told by the angels where Messiah was to be found and they immediately visited Him.  It appeared that they were the first to visit Messiah after His birth.  They would have seen Him wrapped in swaddling clothes and laying in a cattle feeding trough. 

But despite the humble circumstances in which they found Messiah, they glorified God and praised Him that Messiah was now on earth and they proclaimed this great news to everyone around them. 

The shepherds were the first human beings to bear witness about the good tidings of great joy.  Now we will see the story of others that also were called to witness.

Verse 21.  When a child was born the mother became ritually or ceremonially unclean

 (Leviticus 12:2). In the case of the male child she was unclean for seven days and could not enter the Temple for another thirty-three days.  When a girl child was born the period of ritual uncleanness was doubled and the mother was unclean for fourteen days and could not enter the Temple for sixty-six days. 

It must be understood however that ritual uncleanness was not the same as sinfulness.  ‘Uncleanness’ did not happen because of sin.  On the other hand all sin in Israel resulted in uncleanness.  So in this case Mary became unclean not because of anything she had committed but because she was bearing a child.  Childbearing is not a sin and is encouraged by God for those that are able to do so. 

This state of ritual uncleanness in which Mary found herself is an important fact, for the fact that she became unclean when she gave birth to Jesus emphasizes that the Incarnation was real, and that Jesus was a real human being.  He was born just like any other male child.  He definitely was not an apparition, or appeared to be a real man. He was as the Apostle Paul tells us in

Galatians 4:4  “made of a woman, was made under the law”.  He was born according to the laws of nature, became a son of Adam and a son of Abraham, made under the Law of Moses.  He underwent the required ceremonies as any other Jewish male child. 

When Jesus was born, three ceremonies associated with a male child took place.

The first ceremony was circumcision.  This would most likely have happened where Mary and Joseph were living and not at the Temple.  God had instructed Abraham in Genesis 17: 9-14 that as a pledge of His covenant all the males should be circumcised on the eighth day and accordingly Jesus was circumcised on the eighth day. 

Luke stresses that Jesus was a son of the covenant, being made according to the seed of Abraham.  He was an Israelite, made like men and could therefore represent them. 

The requirements of the law were followed precisely.  One writer comments about Jesus’ circumcision: “Though it supposed him a stranger, that was by that ceremony to be admitted into covenant with God, whereas he had always been his beloved Son, Ex 4:25; nay, though it supposed him a sinner, that needed to have his filthiness taken away, whereas he had no impurity or superfluity of naughtiness to be cut off, yet he submitted to it; nay, therefore he submitted to it, because he would be made in the likeness, not only of flesh, but of sinful flesh, Romans 8:3”. 

On that day when circumcision took place the child was also named. (See Luke 1: 59-63).  The angel Gabriel had instructed Mary that her firstborn child was to be named “Jesus”, which is “Joshua”, a name arrived at by combining two root words which means “the Lord” and “to save”. The name Jesus means “the Lord is salvation”.

Verse 22-23.   The second ceremony for the male child was the Presentation of the firstborn son.  This ceremony was based on the instruction given in Exodus 13:2, 12 and Numbers 18: 15-17.  

This requirement had originated at the time when God acted to free the people of Israel from the slavery of Pharaoh, He brought the last plague in which all the ‘firstborn’ of Egypt, both man and animal, was slain.  The only people that were saved from death were the firstborn of the Israelites, who were in the homes where the blood of the Passover Lamb had been smeared on the doorposts and lintels (Ex.12). 

God had spared the firstborn in Israel then and so established the requirement that all the firstborn in Israel belonged to Him and their lives had to be dedicated to His service.  Since the firstborn that were not Levites would not be able to be dedicated to God's service, the family therefore had to “redeem” the firstborn. In so doing they were acknowledging that the child belonged to God.  The act of redemption involved was a reminder of the nature of the covenant that the nation had with God. 

This verse also refers to the “third ceremony”, which was the purification of Mary, which the law required after the birth of her child. Since Mary was ritually unclean for seven days after the birth and also could not enter the sanctuary of the Temple for another thirty-three days (Leviticus 12:4), this means that Jesus would be about six weeks old when he was Presented to the Lord at the Temple in Jerusalem. 

The parents were obviously very pious Israelites and they circumcised and presented their son Jesus exactly as required in the law of the Lord. 

Jesus was of course the “firstborn among many brethren” and He certainly was to be called “holy to the Lord”.

The extraordinary thing was that Jesus had recently come out of the ‘bosom of the Father’, who according to the book of Hebrews had prepared a body for Him.  Yet here He who came out of the bosom of the Father was presented to the Father by the hands of a priest, as if He needed someone to introduce Him to His Father. 

In this case some regard this Presentation Ceremony as signifying that He was being presented to the Lord as Mediator.

Verse 24.  As a reminder that we are all born in sin, Mary had come to present a sin offering to the priest at the Temple, to atone for her uncleanness as required by Leviticus 12: 6-7.  The offering normally required was a lamb, but Leviticus 12:8 had made a provision that if the woman could not afford a lamb, she could offer two doves or two pigeons instead, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. Mary obviously chose the more inexpensive route and this has led many to suggest that she could not afford the more expensive lamb sacrifice. 

It must be considered also that on the Presentation of their son Mary and Joseph would have had to “redeem” their son by paying five shekels into the treasury, for Him according to Numbers 18: 50.  One writer comments on this payment or lack of it: “It could be paid to a priest anywhere

(Ex 13:2).  The fact that the scene of the present incident is the Temple, no ransom prize is mentioned, and the child is present, show that Jesus is not here being redeemed but consecrated to the Lord”. 

This incident probably happened before the wise men came from the east and gave them the rich gifts which Matthew mentions in Matthew 2:11.

Verse 25.  Luke uses the expressive and dramatic word “Behold”, to introduce us to a man called Simeon who lived in Jerusalem, who was a great example of righteousness, piety and devotion to God. 

Luke points to the reputation of this man and by so doing assures us that credible people recognized that Jesus was indeed the Messiah.  Luke's description of Simeon tells us that he was in close a personal walk with God and his integrity was unquestioned.  He was so devout that he's described as having the Holy Ghost upon him.

Verse 26.  Besides his devotion to God Simeon was a member of the believing remnant who looked for the coming of Messiah. 

His view of the Messiah is described by the phrase he waited “for the consolation of Israel”.  This expression highlights the faith and the expectation of the saints, that God would fulfill His promise of restoring Israel through the coming of Messiah.   

The remnant of Israel was miserable and oppressed and they anxiously desired the coming of Messiah to remove evil.  The land was at a rock-bottom, with corrupt leadership, people suffering economically, politically and spiritually.  As Jesus later said the people were like sheep without a shepherd. 

Simeon was filled with the Holy Spirit and the Spirit had revealed to him that he would not die before he had seen Messiah, God's Anointed One. 

This promise should not be interpreted to mean that Simeon was an old man.  The text does not say that, but people assumed that. 

But no matter how it is viewed, this was a most gracious promise.  Simeon knew that he could look death in the face and not be afraid, for it would not occur before he was given the opportunity to see Messiah.  This man had tremendous faith in the word of God and the integrity of the promises of the Spirit.

Verse 27.  On the very day that Jesus was presented to the Lord, the Holy Spirit led Simeon to the Temple. The Spirit had given him hope, and now the same Spirit would give him joy and satisfaction 

We are not told how Simeon recognized the baby Jesus, but it seems clear that the Spirit would have identified the child to him.  It was likely that since Jesus was a common name, several boys named Jesus would be undergoing this ceremony.  This Spirit would have had to be leading Simeon, so that he could know that this child was different from all the other children named Jesus that would be presented on that day.

Verse 28.  Simeon recognized Jesus as the Messiah and he took Jesus into his arms. One can imagine his joy and satisfaction! One can also imagine Mary and Joseph’s surprise at this stranger’s request to hold their child in his arms! 

When Mary and Joseph allowed him to hold the child in his arms, he blessed God, for he now had in his arms the one that many prophets, kings and great men had desired to see and did not see. Simeon had been seeking Messiah for a lifetime, and he now had inexpressible joy, for he now held God in his arms.

Verse 29.  Now that Messiah had come he knew that everything would be all right with the remnant of Israel.  God's word had been spoken and now God had brought Messiah.  All the other words of God would certainly be fulfilled as God had promised.  Of that Simeon was sure. 

Tremendous peace flowed all over him and he knew that he could die without any regrets.  His joy was so deep and so full that he considered his life completed, and he was ready to die.  All he had longed for had now come to pass.  One writer comments:

“See here, First, How comfortable the death of a good man is; he departs as God's servant from the place of his toil to that of his rest.

He departs in peace, peace with God, peace with his own conscience; in peace with death, well reconciled to it, well acquainted with it.”

Verse 30.  The presence of Jesus was a reason for joy and praise of God.  The sunrise had come and the long watching Simeon felt as one writer says, “He could be relieved of his watch” 

Simeon's words indicate that he expected that on the other side of death he would be in a happy state, precisely because of the salvation that he was now seeing, and which he held in his hands.  Death held no terror.

Verse 31.  Simeon added that God had not hidden His salvation in a corner, but had prepared His salvation and placed it before all people.  None would be able to deny not having seen that God had come to save them. 

Simeon presented himself as a witness to the good news that God's salvation was right there and present in the Temple.  Others in Israel also knew that God would send his Messiah and there was no reason that they, at least in Jerusalem and in Judea, should not have been able to recognize Messiah’s presence.

Verse 32.  God's plan had brought salvation to the entire world.  The devout Simeon did not believe that Messiah’s coming would only benefit Israel.  He and others knew that Messiah was Israel's King and would sit on the throne of His father David.  Messiah was Israel's glory and would bring tremendous benefits to Israel.  Isaiah 45: 25 had said: “In the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.” (See also Isaiah 60:1-3,19).  

Simeon knew the Scriptures prophesied that Messiah would also bring salvation to Gentiles as well as to Israel.  He was obviously quoting from Isaiah 49:6 where the Father addressed his Servant and says: “And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that though mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.” 

Simeon had certainly known Psalm 98:2-3:

“The Lord has made known His salvation; He has revealed His righteousness in the sight of the nations.  He has remembered His loving kindness and His faithfulness to the house of Israel; All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.”

Verse 33.  After Simeon, a total stranger, had walked up to Mary and Joseph and then out of the blue told them the reasons that they should rejoice at the birth of their son, they were obviously amazed. 

We do not know if Mary and Joseph thoroughly understood all the Old Testament revelations about Messiah that Simeon referred to and whether or not they had also expected Messiah to be mainly a political leader.  But now they knew for sure what Messiah's task was. The parents of Jesus were happy and surprised to hear this exciting news from others about their son.  Their astonishment was mixed with joy.

Verse 34.  Up till now, only positive and happiness producing things had been said about the Lord Jesus. The parents had been told:

-He would rule on the throne of David,

-He would fix up all the wrong things on earth and make them right,

-He would bring peace and salvation to men,

-He would bring glory to Israel, and

-He would bring salvation to the Gentiles.

Now Simeon showed them that there was another side to the life and work of Messiah.  He would remind them that there were prophecies in Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53 which predicted that Messiah would be rejected, crucified and die a painful death.   

It was certainly true that Jesus brought tremendous blessings to Israel.  But it must be recognized that the heart of so many were corrupt, that His presence aggravated their sin and their evil nature.  Their prejudices would make them ‘hit the roof’ and they would rage against His teaching. 

The hearts of men were such that His presence would cause division.  His presence and teaching would cause some to rise and some to fall. Others would reject Him and fall spiritually, while others would accept Him and His word and rise spiritually.  He would attract some, but others would avoid Him. While He would be a stumbling source for some, because of Him others would reach for Heaven.  He would bring salvation to some but condemnation to others. 

He would be a target or sign for the attacks of many people.  His person would incite the decision to obey or disobey the will of God.  He and His presence would force men to make the all-important moral decisions which would determine their destiny.  Some would enjoy seeing Him and some would not.  Importantly, whether or not they accepted Him, the fact was that they would be judged by what they thought about Christ. 

The reproaches of sinners, the abuse and attacks on Him, the rage and enmity directed at Him, the evil reactions of those who stumbled at His words would cause Mary much grief. She wouldn't enjoy seeing Him suffer because of the rejection and antagonism of many.  As a mother, she would feel as if the swords levelled at Him were also piercing through her. 

It is pointed out that Simeon addressed Mary and warned her of the coming grief.  He did not apparently direct these words at Joseph, and some think that this was a prophecy that Joseph would die before these events, certainly before Jesus’ time of ministry.

CONCLUSION

Note that this incident at the blessing of Jesus and His parents took place in the Temple during His first visit.  Some believe that this visit and the one recorded in John 2 should be looked at as being very significant in view of the prophecy of Malachi 3:1. Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the LORD, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. 

It is clear that Luke is trying to tell us something very important about what happened at the Temple, for he does not even describe the ceremony of Presentation, or the ritual, and does not tell us which priests did this important ceremony.  He is obviously focusing on what Simeon and later Anna said about Messiah and that is what should concern us. 

Luke is emphasizing and certainly stressing that both Simeon and later Anna the prophetess identified the baby Jesus as the Messiah, God's Anointed One, the ‘Salvation of God’. 

These model disciples whose goals and priorities were focused on Messiah were not important people in the hierarchy of Israel.  But they recognized Messiah; it was they who blessed God, blessed Jesus and blessed Mary and Joseph. 

There was no word from Luke about the religious officials and their discernment or lack of it, their interest or disinterest, or any comment on their level of guidance by the Holy Spirit.  This signifies that Luke was condemning the religious leaders.

LESSONS FOR TODAY

What lessons can we learn?  How should we live?  What is it that set Simeon and Anna apart from the religious leaders who did not even know that Messiah was right there in the Temple? 

Obviously, what mattered to Simeon was that he trusted God, obeyed the word of God, was indwelt by the Spirit and spent his life looking for the Kingdom of God. 2 Peter 3: 10-12 summarizes his way of life as follows:

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burnt up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.”

The coming of Jesus should preoccupy us. The certainty of His coming should motivate us to live a life dominated by righteousness and holiness, so that people will be attracted to the good news of God's salvation. We must be witnesses, for we have been called to witness.   

Once Simeon saw Messiah, he was not worried about dying, for he knew that God's promises were for both those living in Christ and for those dead in Christ. 

We should remember that death no longer has any ‘sting’ for those in Christ.  Actually, death should not trouble us, for we should eagerly look forward to seeing Messiah face-to-face.   

We should work without ceasing to spread the message of salvation, so that when we do die, we can rightfully proclaim that we have finished all the work that God intended for us to do.