Simeon & Anna Meet Jesus: An Eventful Day in Jerusalem, Part 1

 Jesus’ first trip into the storied city of Jerusalem was an eventful one. Forty days after he was born, Mary and Joseph took him into Jerusalem to continue fulfilling what the Law required. Their obedience provides us with special insight into the longing and attitude of faithful Jews who had been awaiting the arrival of their promised Savior. Mary and Joseph followed Leviticus 12:2-5 to the letter which delivered instructions for allowing a woman time to heal after giving birth to a child and provides directions for how an Israelite child was to be cared for as well:

Tell the Israelites: When a woman becomes pregnant and gives birth to a male child, she will be unclean seven days, as she is during the days of her menstrual impurity. The flesh of his foreskin must be circumcised on the eighth day. She will continue in purification from her bleeding for thirty-three days. She must not touch any holy thing or go into the sanctuary until completing her days of purification. 

After allowing Mary 7 days to heal, the young couple took Jesus to receive the sign of God's Covenant with Israel, a promise Jesus came to keep, follow, fulfill and otherwise complete from both sides.  Luke 2:21-38 narrates these historical events that took place after the Christ child was born:

At the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Jesus was named before he was even conceived. Eight days after he was born, the Christ child was circumcised by a local priest in Bethlehem and the name that is above all other names, Jesus, was formally bestowed upon him. This name means “Yahweh is Salvation.” Yahweh is the personal name of God. Such a name tells us that we have a God who loves and cares for us and desires a personal relationship with us so much that He sent His Son to provide a way for us to be saved and reconciled to Him.

Circumcision was the sign of the Old Covenant, but like much of the Old Testament instructions for cleanliness, it also has practical medical benefits and is still common today for that reason. Baptism has replaced circumcision as the sign of the New Covenant, but it is for believers who are old enough to make a decision to follow Christ. This is why we Baptists do not baptize infants. 

It is, however, common to have baby dedications, a practice which also has Biblical roots. While it is not a requirement, it is still meaningful and a good form of worship. About a month after his circumcision, Jesus, Himself, was dedicated in the temple:

And when the days of their purification according the Law of Moses were finished, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (just as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every firstborn male will be dedicated to the Lord) and to offer a sacrifice (according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons)

Thirty-three days after Jesus was circumcised, forty days after he was born, Mary's days of purification were completed. This means that she would no longer be considered "unclean" because her body had received sufficient time to heal after giving birth and she could go to the temple. It was God himself who instituted the concept of a rest for mothers after delivering a child.  

The couple took Jesus to the temple to present and dedicate him to the Lord and to present offerings in accordance with God’s Law. According to Leviticus 12, they were to bring a yearling lamb to sacrifice as a burnt offering and either a pigeon or a turtle dove as a sin offering. A couple that could not afford a lamb could offer two fowl instead. Mary and Joseph were of humble means so they availed themselves of this option presenting one bird as a burnt offering and one as a sin offering. I view the burnt offering as an offering of thanks to God. Joseph and Mary were righteous people, they were in a right standing with God because they followed His laws, but they were not sinless. The sin offering was not because anything about having a child was sinful, but rather a recognition that all people have sinned and need to be forgiven. Mary would leave the temple completely clean, both physically and spiritually.

These offerings were a special act of worship, thanks and reverence for God who had blessed them with a child. The word holy means to be set apart. This dedication of the firstborn child was a way of setting him apart for a special purpose and asking God’s blessing that the whole family would be blessed through him. In fact, all of Abraham’s family tree would be blessed through Jesus.

While visiting the temple complex, Joseph, Mary and Jesus met two true believers:

There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple.

The word translated as consolation, is the Greek word paraklesis, which means comfort or “Comforter.” This was a title given by rabbis to the Messiah. How fitting that Simeon was refer to Jesus as “The Comforter of Israel.” Jesus himself would one day promise to send the His Spirit to believers to live inside of us as our Comforter. Beginning with the proclamation of the angel Gabriel to Mary, then to Joseph and now with the Spirit’s interaction with Simeon, we see that the Holy Spirit will be front and center throughout the New Testament. That very day as Joseph and Mary brought Jesus to present him to the Lord, the Holy Spirit guided Simeon to come to the temple. God had promised him that he would live to see the Messiah, the Savior of his people. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, meaning that he was eagerly waiting hoping and anticipating the coming of the Messiah and trusting in God to deliver His people. Simeon was surely comforted that day as he lay eyes upon the Lord and held him in his arms.

When the parents brought the child Jesus to do for him according to the custom of the Law, Simeon took him up in his arms, praised God and said: “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace according to you word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”

Simeon praised God in a song declaring that Jesus would be a light, not only to the Jews, but also to the Gentiles. He could now die in Shalom, in peace, knowing that his people would be redeemed. The Holy Spirit also revealed to Simeon that God’s salvation would be for both Jews and Gentiles, for all tongues, tribes, nations and people groups on earth, for all who believe. God had promised that all of the nations of the world would be blessed through Abraham, and now, they would indeed be blessed and reconciled through his descendants, the people of Israel and more specifically through Jesus.

And his father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 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 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also) so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

Mary and Joseph were amazed at what Simeon said about Jesus. He had been blessed and would now pronounce a blessing upon the new parents. He prophesied that Jesus would be the reason for both the rise and fall of many in Israel. Those who elevated themselves would be brought low and those who humbled themselves would be exalted. The arrogant religious leaders would be brought low and the poor believers would be lifted up. Those who place their faith in Jesus as the only source of salvation will be raised from the dead to live with Him in heaven. Those who do not believe will destroyed in Limne Pur, the Lake of Fire.

In prophesying that a sword would pierce Mary’s soul, he predicts the sword of the Roman soldier who pierced Jesus’ side to confirm his death on the cross, which must have been a heartbreaking, devastating moment for her. God knows the thoughts and intentions of the human heart. In the act of crucifying Jesus, the religious leaders would finally reveal their true nature to the world. The wolves showed their teeth. Their pride led to a fall. Their power and grip on the people would be lessened as Christianity grew. Their authority would be taken away and given to the humble followers of Christ.

During their trip to the temple, Mary and Joseph also encountered a prophetess named Anna.

There was also a prophetess, Anna, a daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was well along in years, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and was a widow for eighty-four years. She did not leave the temple, serving God night and day with fasting and prayers. At that very moment, she came up and began to thank God and to speak about him to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

  Just as Simeon was speaking to Mary and Joseph, Anna arrived. If married at age 20, she would have been about 111 years old and had been faithfully serving God through prayer for most of her long life. She was so excited that she spoke to everyone who was waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. This means that she told the good news to the faithful Jews of the city and those visiting the temple from around the world who, like Simeon, were hoping, trusting and eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Messiah. 

After her husband’s untimely death left her as a widow, Anna lived her entire life alone without a kinsman redeemer to marry her.  She must have been intimately acquainted with the feeling of longing for redemption and the need for a redeemer. Some of the hearers might have understood that they were being redeemed, rescued and saved from their sins, while others might have mistakenly thought this news meant they were being freed from Roman rule. Time would reveal the truth. Either way, the news of the Messiah must have been very exciting. The city of Jerusalem must have been buzzing with excitement. Could this be true? Could this be real? 

Simeon and Anna learned the truth about the Messiah and they responded appropriately. The Holy Spirit revealed the truth directly to Simeon and he believed, came to Jesus, praised Him and then blessed and encouraged Mary and Joseph, proclaiming a message of good news to the young couple. Anna heard Simeon’s proclamation, believed, thanked/worshipped God and then began proclaiming the good news of Jesus’ birth to men and women who had been eagerly awaiting the coming of the Messiah. 

Simeon and Anna responded with enthusiasm to Jesus. When the good news or Gospel of Jesus Christ is preached, the Holy Spirit speaks to the hearts of men and women calling on us to respond. How will you respond? Will you believe Jesus is the Son of God? Will you believe that He died for your sins and rose again victorious over death? Will you place your faith in Him and worship Him too? Will you be like Anna and share the good news by telling others?

Here is the link to the Final Installment of this series: The Journey of the Magi