When the parents brought the child Jesus to do for him what was customary under the Law, 28 Simeon took the infant in his arms and praised God, saying, 29 Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace according to your promise, 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). 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. The Book of Luke records just two narratives about Jesus childhood: His dedication (Luke 2:21- 40) and His time at the temple when He was 12 years old (Luke 2:41-52). It wasnt that Mary had forgotten that Jesus was also the Son of God that she didnt understand. Let us begin each day, as Simeon must have begun each day, by saying, I wonder if my Lord will come today!. Put all of that together and what you have is a very costly gospel. 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). Luke 2:25-38 ICB - Simeon Sees Jesus - Bible Gateway However, given such information, Simeon could not have been more than 55 years old, perhaps an age considered advanced at that time. Simeon blesses Jesus | Bibleview 27 Led by the Spirit, he went into the Temple. Hebrew Sukkot is the plural from Suka booth, tent, tabernacle. Luke 2:26 The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not see This is the gospel - full of hope, rooted in God's faithfulness, spread to all people, and the most glorious news in all the world! 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. Simeon understood the treasure of a godly life. The Holy Ghost was upon Simeon. This describes a special experience of anointing known to a noble company of Gods people in all ages. Several years ago I received a telemarketing call, and I did something I've never done before. The author of Luke often used repetition to ensure certainty among his readers, so the story of Simeon was immediately followed by the story of Anna the prophetess. This apparatus was prepared by God for the salvation of all people. Verse 28 gives us a beautiful picture. This lesson is about Simeon, an old man, who had a special hope fulfilled by God. Simeon appears to be a normal Jewish man. Simeon thanked God that he was able to see Jesus the savior! What a gift that God had given him! Jesus is the one that they have been longing and looking for. THE WEDDING AT CANA Simeon in the Bible (pronounced Sim-ee-uhn) was a devout and just man. And when the parents brought in the child Jesus to . In Hebrew Simeon means: hearing or listening. What is that point? 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. Four characteristics are given here: From an Old Testament perspective, Simeon was a model of godliness. "Yeah, you know what I really don't need this job if you are going to make me do that." As a crowning reward of his life, God showed him that he should not die until the Christ came. 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. "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. He was a faithful temple goer which means that he regularly met with God. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and told Mary, his mother, This infant is destined to cause many in Israel to fall and rise. According to Matthew and Luke, however, Joseph was only legally his father. I really didn't care about $15,000 at that moment. The event occurred when Joseph and Mary brought the Child to the Temple to present him to the Lord, according to the law of Moses. (Apparently) this was how new lambs were inspected for defects and kept unmarred for eventual sacrifice for forgiveness of sins. 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. The whole of the strange thing called life lies between the extremes in that picture. At the time of Jesus being dedicated to the Lord at the Temple and Mary and Joseph offering their sacrifice for purification, both Simeon and Anna recognized the infant Jesus as the Messiah and sang his praises to all around them. 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. disturbing images regarding jesus future. So, I'd like to call you to be like Simeon - a man supremely satisfied with a costly gospel. I see this in Simeon's personal statement, "For my eyes have seen your salvation" (2:30), and from Luke's account of Anna's actions, "And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for the redemption of Israel" (2:38). "Oh," I said, "I really don't like Chevy Blazers". Jesus name in Hebrew was Yeshua which translates to English as Joshua. degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. from the University of Durham in England. 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. Global Relief Fund | Earthquake Relief Efforts in Turkey and Syria. What an act of faith that was! She is 84 years old, according to Luke, and she does not want to die: She wants to proselytize. 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. Most of parenthood is like this for me. Kauna unahang parabula na inilimbag sa bhutan. 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. Jesus at the age of twelve accompanies Mary and Joseph, and a large group of their relatives and friends to Jerusalem on pilgrimage, according to the custom that is, Passover. How old was Jesus when simeon and Anna saw him. See something we missed? Its very well written; I love what youve got website? She didnt understand why he 161162. Simeon was described as devout and just and was a part of the remnant of Gods people. 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? 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. That is also why she stood at the cross and did not kneel. How old was Simeon when he held Jesus? - chroniclesdengen.com 7. www.yourchurch.com. "Yeah, I know that we could buy that, but we'd rather give our money away." "Really?" See who and when the Apostles wrote their stories. The Holy Ghost is the author of all scripture (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21), and the great message of the scriptures concerning the future is that Jesus is coming again - look up John 14:1-3; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and 1 John 3:1-3). Who was Simeon in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org When that Child came into the world, he brought nothing but a soul. They were devout in their worship and righteous in their dealings with their fellow men. referred to as Simeon, in which case he was both an apostle and I was really trying to politely end the call. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. Todos los derechos reservados,
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. They likely would have communicated to her the sign they had been given by 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. was a very old man, and was waiting to see the messiah and die. the angels (you will find the babe swaddled and laying in a manger.). 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. So what? Now he sees his long-desired Star. Simeon asked God to allow him to "depart in peace, according to Your word" (verse 29). 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. redemption. He was waiting for the one who would comfort Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. He loved God. Called to Gift - United Church of Christ Biblical Archaeology Society, [] Witherington IIIs full essay Mary, Simeon or Anna: Who First Recognized Jesus as Messiah? is accessible online for free. In the free ebook Who Was Jesus? Two kinds of persons were involved; first there were those who would apprehend Christ as the Rock and find in him a spiritual sanctuary; second, those who would reject him and find him a stumbling stone and a rock of offense (cf. In addition, a gift of five shekels to the Temple was required as an acknowledgment of Gods claim over the firstborn male of the household; the child was thus redeemed from sacred duties to enter the secular life. Mary, Simeon or Anna by Ben Witherington III originally appeared in Bible Review, Winter 2005. Granted it is glorious and attractive, but it is not safe. God is testing us everyday and has given us the right to make our own choices. He waited for the consolation of Israel, the Messiah, the Lords Christ. He has protected his servant Israel, keeping his merciful design in remembrance, according to the promise which he made to our forefathers, Abraham and his posterity for evermore.. Simeon is so satisfied in the beauty God's ability to keep His word. Let me first give you my thesis, and then try to show you three ways that I see this in the text. Teaching Women of the Bible. was saying and revelling himself at this age God had her back on this one! Thus, Simeon was speaking not of the Saviour but of the apparatus fitted to bring salvation. He had been told by God, as a much younger man, that he would definitely see the Jewish Messiah before he died. 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. The reason we assume him to be old is that when he holds Jesus in his arms, he says to God, "Now you are letting your servant depart in peace." He may have been old, but not necessarily so. Also see the reading below from verses 29-32 and verses 34-35. What impresses me about Simeon is the powerful mingling of righteousness, Spirit-empowerment, and faith to take God at His Word. A widow . Lukes Christmas story is full of surprising reversals of fortunes and roles, in which outsiders become more intimate associates than family members, and in which women play a more active role then men. There were three characteristics of Simeons Spirit-controlled life: The Spirit-controlled life is a life which is endued with the Spirit, taught of the Spirit and led by the Spirit. Study 2 SIMEON: WAITING FOR THE LORD - Words of Life Ministries We must make this observation, for in verse 29 there are three words which indicate this. I was wondering if you ever thought of changing the structure of your 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. Simon Peter was also It was attacked by Porphyry and Celsus and other ancients, and many unbelievers center their attacks upon it today. 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). 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). Jesus was never the Messiah ! 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. Oh to have people know that there is something different about us because of how satisfied we are in Christ. The peace that Simeon is talking about is linked to two phrases - "according to your word" and "for my eyes have seen your salvation." Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to reproduce this material in any format provided that you do not alter the content in any way and do not charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. See Alfred Plummer, Luke, International Critical Commentary (Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 1905), p. 71. Simeon at the Temple is a figure in the Gospel of Luke. The Spirit rested upon Samson, and he did marvelous exploits. He prayed, "God, You kept Your promise, and I have Simeon was so happy! The Spirit rested upon Moses, and his face shone like that of an angel. GOD THE FATHER, HOLY SPIRIT, JESUS AND MARY AT THE TEMPLE So you are saying that when the Shepards and the wise men came Mary had no idea Jesus was Messiah? The angel had said, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased." Now Simeon, a man of great faith in God's consolation, sees Jesus and is ready to die in peace. 6 months later, thus about December Jesus was conceived in Mary, and born 9 months later which gives us September for the birth of Jesus which is the time of the feast of Sukkoth which is now fullfilled in the coming of the Word of God to dwell among us in a human body: Greek skenos means tent and figuratively the human body . Thus Simeon describes himself as free, released from the heavy burden of life. He would not die until he saw for himself the coming Messiah. Luke wants to show that both of these people have been patiently waiting for the Messiah. There are many speculations as to who this Simeon was although there is no record of his genealogy. In Lukes birth narrative, Mary is the first to be told that Jesus will be the messiah. SCRIPTURE, proclaims elizabeth asking in wonder, how is it that the MOTHER of my LORD comes to me? i could go on and on. Simeon had been 40, then 50, then 60 years old. Mary at the Cana wedding sensed, maybe with the Holy Spirits nudging, that perhaps this was the time for Jesus to reveall him self in a big way. What is the overall storyline of jesus existence according to johns gospel. All men will not accept Jesus. How old was Simeon when he saw Jesus? - Answers Barbara Simeon on LinkedIn: #customerexperience #sounddecisionmaking # Of course, no one knows how old Simeon was when God gave him this assurance. Anna belonged to the tribe of Asher. 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, 25 A man named Simeon lived in Jerusalem. An old man called Simeon lived in Jerusalem. Dig into more than 9,000 articles in the Biblical Archaeology Societys vast library plus much morewith an All-Access pass. 3 Ang lahat ay pumunta upang makapagpatala, bawat isa sa kaniyang sariling lungsod. 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. 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. What did old Simeon say when he saw Jesus? Like the disciples who will follow her, she is driven to bear witness to what she has seen. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! Dig into the illuminating world of the Bible with a BAS All-Access membership. Simeon gets very personal here with Mary telling her that she will suffer greatly by the suffering of her son. It is . Many, many years before Jesus came to earth as a baby, God had given Moses laws for His people to obey. birthing the sacrificial lambs for the nearby temple, as some scholars claim, then this sign would present some 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? By this time Simeon was a very old man. 1. Simeon's righteous faith qualified him to see something incredibly special. Dr. Witherington has presented seminars for churches, colleges and Biblical meetings in the U.S., England, Estonia, Russia, Europe, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Australia. . \\"Kindness Therapy\\" and Our Lady of Guadalupe "Yeah, I know that you are going to kill me, but I won't recant on my belief in Christ.". 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. How old was Simeon when he introduced Jesus? Healing the paralytic at Bethesda in John 5:1-15. 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? Jesus was approximately 40/41 days old at the time His mother, In fact, he is so satisfied that having held the Christ-child he is now ready to die! A graduate of UNC, Chapel Hill, he went on to receive the M.Div. 11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But the beauty is not limited here to Simeon's experience alone. No wonder they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, (luke 2:17). He was a satisfied old man. Simeon spoke to Mary, Jesus' mother. And Marys Magnificent states her understanding of what is happening within her. I said that I had not. Keeping them wrapped prevented them from becoming blemished later on. Waiting for Jesus: Lessons from Simeon and Anna 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].. In Lorenzo Lottos unusual rendition of the Annunciation, dated to 1535, Marys cat is equally frightened by the divine apparition. Simeon praised God. Both are quicker than Mary to comprehend who Jesus is This statement seems rather presumptive to me. Simeon addressed Mary with the words, This child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel. This was an application of the prophecy of Isaiah that the Christ was to be a rock of offense, causing the fall of many in Israel (Isa. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God (Eph 2:19). This. 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. 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 ). The Spirit had prepared him to meet Jesus at the correct moment and had providentially brought them together. (We know that the eighth day after birth is the first of the following 33 days because the account also says that after the birth of a daughter a mother waits twice as long, specifically 14 + 66 = 80 days.). news about the Christ Child to everyone in Jerusalem looking for God holds our every breath. By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Also, he will be a sign that will be opposed. Mary startles when Gabriel and God the Father appear in her home and interrupt her prayers. He had a personal encounter with Jesus, and foresaw Christ's future crucifixion. The Spirit rested upon Moses, and his face shone like that. 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. Mary and Joseph search for him frantically for three days. 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. Required fields are marked *. Simeon's testimony was great in that he said that he saw the salvation in Jesus and Jesus was the one whom the Father had prepared before the face of all the people and also that Jesus was the light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of His people Israel. In fact, she is the only woman in the New Testament explicitly described as a prophetess. She then stands in the line of figures like the judge, military leader and prophetess Deborah and the Jerusalem prophetess Huldah, who, in the days of King Josiah, was asked to verify that an ancient scroll (a form of Deuteronomy) discovered during Temple renovations was indeed the word of God (2 Kings 22). How old was Jesus when simeon and Anna saw him? - Answers That is what Simeon saw, and that is what all godly people should see - even to the point of death. Copyright 2023 College Park Church. Even better, Mary understood that she had indeed been greatly blessed, and that all generations would call [her] Blessed. Anna wasnt there to tell Mary something she didnt already know. Continue Learning about Religious Studies. So we know from this that Jesus was 7 + 33 = 40 days old at the time of this ceremony. It was God the Fathers and Holy Spirits job to prepare Jesus until he was ready to start His ministry. When Simeon saw Jesus he took Him in his arms and praised God. 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. If these shepherds were in charge of It has provided much food for thought. learn []. As Christians, we should be known for our absolute honesty, our truthfulness, our dependability and our moral integrity. The Law also allowed, in the cases of poverty, for two pigeons or turtledoves to be offered instead of a lamb. In what has become known as the Nunc Dimittus, Simeon's poetic blessing to God a few verses later, Simeon recognizes the fulfillment of God's promised salvation as "a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel" (vv 30-32; see Isa 9:1-2; 40:5; 42:6; 49:6; 52:10; etc). anyones radar, so I think Mary indeed had a lot to mull over as she put all the extraordinary information And who better to give it to than a man who would fully appreciate it. Luke 2:21-40 tells how Simeon went to the Temple in Jerusalem where he met the Holy Family. This is because in addition to being a proselytizer, Anna is a prophetess (Luke 2:36). But the prophetic insight into Gods intentions is a gift which keeps on giving and renewing the people of God. Simeon . She is not shaking in her boots because inwardly Jesus is the Son of God. Deuteronomy 19:15 stresses the importance of having two witnesses to validate an event. December 21, 2008 College Park Church, What Simeon Saw: Lessons From a Satisfied Old Man.
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