II. THE STORIES OF SIMEON AND ANNA
A. Simeon and Anna saw Jesus when Mary and Joseph brought Him to the temple in Jerusalem (Luke 2:21-24).
1. Mary and Joseph came with Jesus to fulfill their obligations under the Law of Moses.
a. Each firstborn male child of Israel had to be redeemed because of the Passover in Egypt.
i. God had spared the firstborn of Israel’s sons during the tenth plague in Egypt when He struck dead all of Egypt’s firstborn sons and beasts (Ex. 11:4-7; 12:21-23, 29-30).
ii. Because of this, God claimed all the firstborn of Israel’s sons and beasts as His own. Most of the firstborn of the beasts had to be sacrificed to God, but the firstborn sons were to be redeemed (Ex. 13:1-2, 11-15; Num. 3:13; 8:17).
b. For male children, this redemption was to occur forty days after birth, which was the time required for the mother’s purification (Lev. 12:1-6).
c. The price of redemption was the sacrifice of a one year old lamb or a pair of turtledoves or pigeons if the mother could not afford a lamb (Lev. 12:6-8). The Scriptures indicate that Mary and Joseph offered turtledoves or pigeons, meaning that they were poor.
2. It was there at the temple that Simeon and Anna saw the baby Jesus and knew He was the Christ.
B. Simeon could not see death until he had seen the Lord’s Christ (Luke 2:25-35).
1. Simeon was a man of godly character (righteousness and devoutness) and godly expectations ("looking for the consolation of Israel”).
2. The Holy Spirit was upon him, giving him revelation and motivation.
a. The Spirit revealed to him that he would not see death until he first saw Christ.
b. He was "in the Spirit” when he came into the temple and saw Mary and Joseph bring in Jesus (compare to John in Rev. 1:10).
3. The Spirit moved him again when he saw Jesus in the temple.
a. It is evident that the Spirit revealed to Simeon the true identity of the baby Jesus, for he took Jesus into his arms and declared that he could now depart in peace after seeing the Lord’s salvation.
b. It is also evident that the Spirit revealed to him what was to come for Jesus, for he prophesied to Mary, "Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed – and a sword will pierce even your own soul – to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
C. Anna served God many years before she also saw Christ (Luke 2:36-38).
1. Anna was a prophetess, which means that she, like Simeon, had the Holy Spirit upon her and was given revelation and motivation.
2. She was also a dedicated servant of God.
a. Her life’s work was unending service to God in the temple, for she continued night and day in fastings and prayer.
b. This passage indicates that she had served in this way for most of her life.
i. She was widowed after only seven years of marriage, which means that she was likely a young woman when her husband died.
ii. Rather than remarrying, it appears that she dedicated herself to serving God from that young age. By the time Mary, Joseph, and Jesus came to the temple, Anna was eighty-four years old.
iii. Anna is the perfect example of the dedication Paul described in 1Timothy 5:5 – "Now she who is a widow indeed and who has been left alone, has fixed her hope on God and continues in entreaties and prayers night and day.”
3. As in the case of Simeon, the true identity of the baby Jesus was also revealed to Anna, for she thanked God for Him and spoke of Him "to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.”
III. LESSONS FROM SIMEON AND ANNA
A. Like Simeon and Anna, are we looking for the coming of the Christ?
1. The expectations of Simeon and Anna are evident, for he was "looking for the consolation of Israel,” and she was speaking to "all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.”
a. By the knowledge of God’s word, they were on watch for the coming of the Lord’s Christ and His kingdom.
b. Others would also share their anticipation, such as men like Joseph of Arimathea (Mark 15:43) and women like the Samaritan whom Jesus met at Jacob’s well (John 4:25, 29).
2. Today, the same sense of eager anticipation should possess every Christian’s mind, for we should be looking for the return of our Lord Jesus.
a. Christ is not coming back to earth, but instead "the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord” (1Thess. 4:16-17).
b. We ought to be "looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells…” (2Pet. 3:12-13).
B. Are we living in a manner that is consistent with our expectations of the Lord’s return?
1. Both Simeon and Anna were not merely looking for the coming of Christ, but they were also living in a consistent manner with their expectations.
a. Simeon was a righteous and devout man. When he finally saw Christ, he praised God and blessed Mary, Joseph, and Jesus.
b. Anna was a tireless servant of God. When she finally saw Christ, she thanked God and told others about Him.
2. We likewise must be righteous and devout servants of God as we anticipate the Lord’s coming.
a. Notice 2Peter 3:11, 14 – "Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness…Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless…”
b. Also consider 1Thessalonians 5:4-10 – "But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.”
C. Are we patient enough to wait on the Lord?
1. Both Simeon and Anna are excellent examples of patience.
a. Simeon patiently waited for Christ’s coming so that he could "depart in peace.”
b. Anna served God night and day in the temple for many years before the Lord came.
2. The period of history in which we now live is defined by patience as we look and wait for the coming of the Lord (Ps. 27:14; Rom. 8:19, 23; 1Cor. 1:7; 1Thess. 1:10).
a. This period is first marked by the Lord’s patience as he gives all men the opportunity to repent and be saved. Consider 2Peter 3:9, 15a – "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance…regard the patience of our Lord as salvation…”
b. It is also marked by our patience as we wait for His coming. Notice James 5:7-8 – "Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.”
IV. CONCLUSION
A. Just as Christ changed the lives of Simeon and Anna, He changes our lives as well.
B. Now let us follow their examples by faithfully serving God with patient anticipation of Christ’s return.
