We know far more of Jesus through the New Testament revelation than Simeon ever could have known from the Old Testament prophecy, but do we embrace him in the arms of faith as the Lords Christ as Simeon did? Another assumption that is often made is that Simeon was a priest. Keeping with SOLO SCIPTURUAE, we have left out the first procession of CORPUS CHRISTI, which is MARY visiting ELIZABETH. He could not be as he did not fulfill the requirements, i.e. This season of uncleanness was terminated by the offering of a sacrifice (a lamb for a burnt offering and a pigeon or turtledove for a sin offering). I made the telemarketer laugh. May God give us the kind of spiritual eyesight to see it and lives to live it! Simeon was a part of the group of brothers who sold Joseph into slavery and then lied to Jacob, saying that Joseph had been killed by a wild animal ( Genesis 37 ). And she wont for several years. Mary and Joseph were so amazed at the things Simeon was saying about Jesus! The article was first republished in Bible History Daily on February 12, 2013. we are in the 8th month. Simeon asked God to allow him to "depart in peace, according to Your word" (verse 29). 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). Mary and Joseph search for him frantically for three days. The word Messiah, in Hebrew, and the word Christ, in Greek, mean: Anointed One. the angels (you will find the babe swaddled and laying in a manger.). Simeon lived in Jerusalem. Who are we to really imply something different for the amazing Simeon and his song??!!! Director Jon Erwin discusses his inspiration for the film and how history might be repeating itself today. We shall never be perfect while we are in the flesh, but the Lord has made provision for us to be blameless (verse 25), which means that our lives should be such that they bring glory to His name and show forth His praise to those amongst whom we are living. Also, what she went through when almost stone, seems many want to believe Mary just forgot all that, As well as, all the towns people. Simeon was described as devout and just and was a part of the remnant of Gods people. However, given such information, Simeon could not have been more than 55 years old, perhaps an age considered advanced at that time. 31 And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus . It was the day of the year when all the candles, that were used in the church during the coming year, were brought into church and a blessing was said over them so it was the Festival Day (or mass) of the Candles. Teaching Women of the Bible. 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. www.yourchurch.com. Routing number of commercial bank of Ethiopia? Jesus, the adolecent, wasnt sining or lying here he was jumping the gun. Seems to me, she was there to let the rest of us know. What is that point? See answer (1) Best Answer. Doesnt it say that they thought he had gone mad? 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. Youre on the money. Luke's point for Theophilus is that this Christ-child is the one that God-fearing, law-keeping, and faith-filled people looked for. The house of Abijahs servicetime was the number 8, thus the second half of the 4th month of the jewish year which was about June. This is the time Simeon and Anna saw Jesus. Subscribers receive full access to the archives. He had been told by God, as a much younger man, that he would definitely see the Jewish Messiah before he died. But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people could connect with it better. She knew who he was! 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. When expanded it provides a list of search options that will switch the search inputs to match the current . Oh to have the world know this about the followers of Christ. Simeon made a prophetic and powerful predictive statement about Jesus and the purpose of His life. This is the time Simeon and Anna saw Jesus. It wasnt that Mary had forgotten that Jesus was also the Son of God that she didnt understand. When at last they find him listening to and asking questions of the teachers in the Temple, Mary asks, Child, why have you treated us like this? The Law also allowed, in the cases of poverty, for two pigeons or turtledoves to be offered instead of a lamb. Wiki User 2011-01-25 . Continue Learning about Religious Studies. I enjoyed your article and found only one flaw which to some lends itself to your research or thoroughness of it. 30 because my eyes have seen your salvation, Let us begin each day, as Simeon must have begun each day, by saying, I wonder if my Lord will come today!. When Simeon saw Jesus he took Him in his arms and praised God. 2. 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. . Messiah. Simeon was righteous and devout, and the Holy Spirit was with him. 1. Simeon takes the Child Jesus in his arms and blesses God in order to present it to the Lord. Further Zacharias announces who is son John shall be and who Marys Son shall be in his discourse before Jesus or John are even born. must be consecrated to the Lord. Mary and Jesus. In response, Mary made it quite clear to Gabriel that she understood: He would not die until he had seen Jesus. 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. Jesus Brings Revelation to the Nations. Luke wants to show that both of these people have been patiently waiting for the Messiah. The doctors of the Law may have been dead spiritually, but these remnant people, who saw the reality contained in the Law and the Prophets, were alive to what God was doing. Rather, it was the summit of his life-long experience with God. When that Child came into the world, he brought nothing but a soul. There is no great incentive to holy living than to believe, to live and to labour in the conviction that the Lord Jesus is coming again look up 1 John 3:3. Home / / how old was simeon when he saw jesus. All rights reserved. Which scripture acknowledges by saying Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. He was obident and honored them for another 18 yrs until the God given time had come and He revelled himself by changing the water into wine at the Cana wedding. Learn more about Anna in Robin Gallaher Branchs Bible History Daily article Anna in the Bible.. The holy family had made its little pilgrimage from Bethlehem to Jerusalem, a distance of about five miles, to accomplish what was called the purification of Mary. He expresses this so well in verse 32, "a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.". And nobodys recognizing John the Baptists testimony to knowing who Jesus wasfrom the womb! . It was this little child who would life a sinless life, declare words of life, and then absorb the wrath of God so that the creator God and his people could be reunited. He will bring the revelation to non-Jewish people in order to bring Jews and Gentiles to God. The story of Simeon is a reminder that this Christmas season is essentially about the far-surpassing joy that a personal relationship with Christ brings. He was a satisfied old man. Put all of that together and what you have is a very costly gospel. Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace (Luke 2:28, 29). Simeon believed in the imminence of the Messianic age. But the prophetic insight into Gods intentions is a gift which keeps on giving and renewing the people of God. 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 religious signs, moral signs, commercial signs, political signs, Jewish signsthese all proclaim the truth declared in James 5:8! It was God the Fathers and Holy Spirits job to prepare Jesus until he was ready to start His ministry. "Really?" 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! When Jesus was 40 days old Mary and Joseph traveled to the temple in Jerusalem for another ceremony. The Child was to be the shining light that would dawn in human hearts over the whole of the earth. Thus Simeon describes himself as free, released from the heavy burden of life. Wouldn't it be awesome if that was our view of life when it comes to the gospel? 2) Im not sure why Simeons reaponse has to be considered less than Annas? 161162. The neuter gender is used for the word salvation. Luke 2:25-35 She was very old, around 84 years old when she saw Jesus in the temple.Refer also to Luke 2:36-38. Luke adds that she treasures the words the angel Gabriel speaks to her. 2:25 Now a man named Simeon was in Jerusalem. He also saw Mary standing by that cross, pierced in heart at the suffering of her child. We have an extra set here at our office. So, I'd like to call you to be like Simeon - a man supremely satisfied with a costly gospel. To share this article with your friends, use any of the social share buttons on our site, or simply copy the link below. 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. See Alfred Plummer, Luke, International Critical Commentary (Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 1905), p. 71. This man was righteous and devout. God is testing us everyday and has given us the right to make our own choices. They have much to speak into our context. Simeon recognised Jesus as the Christ as soon as he saw him, and blessed the young family. Simeon . In Lorenzo Lottos unusual rendition of the Annunciation, dated to 1535, Marys cat is equally frightened by the divine apparition. Anna belonged to the tribe of Asher. outfit new lambs in protective coats, especially in cold weather. Simeon saw Jesus there, and he picked Jesus up in his arms. She became a widow after seven years of marriage to her husband. 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. The gospel is rooted in God's faithfulness. 8:14). Simeon Sees Jesus. And who better to give it to than a man who would fully appreciate it. In Hebrew Baby Names the meaning of the name Simeon is: Obedient; listening; little hyena. A little Child who was conceived by the Holy Ghost and born of a virgin was to be the means of the deliverance of Gods people. It is sign that reveals the attitude of human hearts. If these shepherds were in charge of Simeon praised God. 32 a light that will reveal salvation to unbelievers and bring glory to your people Israel., 33 Jesus father and mother kept wondering at the things being said about him. God is going global! When Scripture uses blameless or just to describe a man like Zacharias or Simeon, the word means more than just conformity to the Law, to all the commandments and ordinances; it implies the spiritual perception of the purpose of God in the Law and the Prophets. THE WEDDING AT CANA 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. He waited for the consolation of Israel, the Messiah, the Lords Christ. Mary and Joseph bring Jesus into the temple to dedicate Him forty days after his birth. Simeon's words assert that 1) Jesus would be the salvation of the world, 2) He would deliver truth not only to those in Israel but also to the Gentiles, and 3) Jesus would bring glory upon the people of Israel. 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. You can be sure God the father and Holy Spirit let Him know about it. The Eastern Orthodox Church considers Anna and Simeon the God-Receiver as the last prophets of Old Testament and observes their feast on February 3/February 16 as the synaxis (afterfeast) following the Presentation of Christ, which Orthodox tradition calls The Meeting of Our Lord and God and Savior, Jesus Christ. There are critical moments in life when everything depends upon immediate submission to the impulse of the Spirit. MY SHOPPING CART. What are the Physical devices used to construct memories? I am surprised no one else caught this prior to publication. Luke 2:21-40 tells how Simeon went to the Temple in Jerusalem where he met the Holy Family. All men will not accept Jesus. What a gift that God had given him! One's response to Christ reveals the true condition of the heart. Simeon went to the temple and held the Christ Child, and Thus - Simeon was ready to welcome the Lord Jesus when He came. Summary of Jesus life He was born to Joseph and Mary sometime between 6 bce and shortly before the death of Herod the Great (Matthew 2; Luke 1:5) in 4 bce. To be a follower of Christ means that we have declared that nothing is more important, lovely, attractive, and worthy than Jesus! The women are not only more receptive to the message, they are more willing to act upon it, with Elizabeth realizing that her cousin is carrying the messiah and praising God for this blessing and Anna spreading the good news. Here is the picture of a surrendered life - a life which recognises Jesus as the Lord, which takes the place of a bond-servant under His authority and which is completely submissive to His word. Youve got an awful lot of text for only having 1 or 2 images. Healing the paralytic at Bethesda in John 5:1-15. In referring to Alfred Plummers Commentary on Luke, (along with your proposal that Lukes women were more positive examples of discipleship) you write, Yes, a messiah has arrived, as Simeon recognizes, but, as the prophetess Anna suggests, a new era, with a new and living voice of prophecy, has at the same time dawned. That is quite a leap as Luke offers only a one-line summation of her input after he quotes Simeon at length. This. By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. God could have prolonged his life anyway without a word. It is often assumed that Simeon was an old man, but the Bible never says that. He took Jesus in his arms, held him close and began to bless the Lord. Mary was required to make an offering at the temple (Leviticus So Mary and Joseph left Bethlehem, traveled the six miles up to the city of Jerusalem. He loved God. Keeping them wrapped prevented them from becoming blemished later on. The picture presents the contrast of age and of youth, of one nearing the end of the journey of life and one at the beginning. The whole of the strange thing called life lies between the extremes in that picture. "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. Under the impulse of the Spirit, he had come to the Temple and was performing his devotions when Jesus arrived. At the Temple, the family is approached by a man named Simeon, who has been told by the Holy Spirit that he will not die until he has seen the messiah. One day, his parents, Joseph and Mary, took him up to the Temple to present him to God. This required the presentation of a lamb, or for those who were poor, of two pigeons. 14 Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace (2 Peter 3:10-14). Simeon must have understood that Israels conversion would be realized only after the enlightenment of the heathen and the calling out of the Church. 26 The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. What impresses me about Simeon is the powerful mingling of righteousness, Spirit-empowerment, and faith to take God at His Word. Have something to add about this? GOD THE FATHER, HOLY SPIRIT, JESUS AND MARY AT THE TEMPLE Please include the following statement on any distributed copy: by Mark Vroegop. A tour to the pyramids of Giza will reveal some fascinating facts Mary, Simeon or Anna: Who First Recognized Jesus as Messiah? It was attacked by Porphyry and Celsus and other ancients, and many unbelievers center their attacks upon it today. He is called "devout." He was careful about his religious observances. Simeon went to the temple and held the Christ. Jesus is the one that they have been longing and looking for. SCRIPTURE, proclaims elizabeth asking in wonder, how is it that the MOTHER of my LORD comes to me? i could go on and on. However, there is one very important thing which we are told about him, and that is that day by day, as he lived and worked, he was waiting for the consolation of Israel (Luke 2:25); that is, he was waiting for and living in the expectation of the coming of the Messiah. COPYRIGHT 2023 BIBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGY SOCIETY 5614 Connecticut Ave NW #343, Washington DC 20015-2604. I believe it's more likely he was already getting up there in years and he was beginning to worry. 1. He was a faithful temple goer which means that he regularly met with God. As in Simeons day, the message needed is, Comfort ye, comfort ye my people.. A graduate of UNC, Chapel Hill, he went on to receive the M.Div. In Davids time the yearly service of the highpriest priests was divided in 24 houses, each makng the service in the temple in Jerusalem for half a month. Acts 4:11; 1 Pet. Behold, from this day forward all generations will count me blessed; because he who is mighty, he whose name is holy, has wrought for me his wonders. The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not die until he saw the Messiah whom God had promised his people. 13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Let us know if corrections need to be made. bringing peace to earth and rebuilding the temple. We often picture Jesus taking little children in his arms, and we sing, I would like to have been with him then , but this thought of another receiving Jesus into his arms is much less familiar to us. Godly people are supremely satisfied with a costly gospel. Verses 22-24 tell us what is happening here. Both are quicker than Mary to comprehend who Jesus is This statement seems rather presumptive to me. So we know from this that Jesus was 7 + 33 = 40 days old at the time of this ceremony. 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. The Spirit rested upon Samson, and he did marvelous exploits. Simeon instantly and independently recognizes Jesus as messiah. Simeon had the infant Jesus in his arms and, moved by the Holy Spirit, sang the Nunc Dimittis, Latin words for "now dismiss." We . According to Luke 2:2224, [Joseph and Mary] brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord [quoting Exodus 13:2, 12]) and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons [based on Leviticus 12:28].. There was a lady named Anna that lived in Jerusalem also. Simeon told Mary & Joseph that Jesus would be a helper for people. Simeon made a prophetic and powerful predictive statement about Jesus and the purpose of His life. Looking at Jesus inspired him in two ways: the feeling of . That is what Simeon saw, and that is what all godly people should see - even to the point of death. The Holy Spirit allowed Simeon to recognize Jesus as the Messiah. In the biblical Joseph narrative, when Joseph, having settled in Egypt, asks his brothers to bring Benjamin to him, he takes Simeon hostage to ensure that they return. Copyright College Park Church - Indianapolis, Indiana. When Simeon saw Him for whom his soul had been longing, he took Him in his arms. To me, this is a powerful image and one that begs a very important question - "What did he see?" Jesus real name , Yeshua, evolved over millennia in a case of transliteration. To unlock this article for your friends, use any of the social share buttons on our site, or simply copy the link below. In the Bible , Simeon was the old man who recognized Jesus as the Messiah. Being first to hear doesnt always mean being first to understand. The very order of Simeons prophecy foretold that Israel would believe in this Child. 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. IVE JUST FINISH READING ANNA IS A PROPHETESS FOUND LUKE 2:36. They were given a sign a baby swaddled, laying in a manger. If (as some scholars claim) this band of shepherds were those caring for the temple flocks, they would recognize this treatment. Luke uses the story of his life and meeting of the Christ-child to make a very important point for Theophilus, the Roman ruler for whom this book is written. Nisan till the begnning of the service of the house of Abija, which gives us end June as the earliest possible conception date for John, when his father Zacharia went home after his templeservice and went to his wife. Clearly, Luke is not painting an idealized portrait of Mary or Joseph. Mary startles when Gabriel and God the Father appear in her home and interrupt her prayers. 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). birthing the sacrificial lambs for the nearby temple, as some scholars claim, then this sign would present some Are there verses I have missed about her memory leave her?>, [] Witherington IIIs full letter Mary, Simeon or Anna: Who First identified Jesus as Messiah? is permitted on-line during no cost. And when the parents brought in the child Jesus to . Of course, no one knows how old Simeon was when God gave him this assurance. Jesus mouthing off to his mother in public after they have been frantic after losing him in a larger metropolitan area for three days.