Epiphany . Waiting Together . Episode 8
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21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.
Jesus Presented in the Temple
22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.”33 The child’s father and mother marvelled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
36 There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshipped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
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Luke 2 records the presentation of Jesus at the Temple and introduces the best supporting actors, Simeon and Anna, prophesying that Jesus was the Messiah.
Let us enter into the drama by reading from Luke 2.
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21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.
Jesus Presented in the Temple
22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”
33 The child’s father and mother marvelled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
36 There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshipped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
Our reading in Luke 2:21 begins:
‘When the time was right, on the eighth day the child was circumcised, he was named Jesus.’
In the naming of the child, Jesus, the divine purpose of this child is in his name, Yeshua, meaning; Saviour, Rescuer. Christianity is a rescue religion, not self-help or mindfulness techniques to empty your mind but a Saviour to fill you to overflowing with the Holy Spirit. The angel gave him that name before he was born, so there could be no doubt about it. He saves us from a life in spiritual darkness, a Christ-less life thereafter.
It’s all in his name!
Enter stage left, the best supporting actor, Simeon ‘a righteous man and a devout man….the Holy Spirit was upon him.’
When I look at Simeon, I think what a privilege he had of holding the Christ child in his arms.
God’s answer to a world gone wrong, and Simeon held him. He waited years expecting and believing. In Simeon, I see three qualities that I want more of in my life. These are found in 2:25
‘Simeon was righteous and devout… and the Holy Spirit rested upon him….’
‘Righteous’
If we are to be open to the Lord’s promptings in our lives, we must be righteous (25). Some translations say he was a just man or a good man. Righteous refers to the way Simeon dealt with others. Righteousness is not something we can do of ourselves: ‘If I say I’m going to be a nice guy today, it’s not long before someone pinches my place in a queue! ‘ — and because of that, we must learn to recognise when we fall short of his righteousness and come to the Lord quickly and often, asking for cleansing, for forgiveness, a new start.
So let us desire righteousness which means right in the way we relate to others.
‘Devout’
If righteousness is about relating to those around us, then Devout was how he was with God. Here is a man so in touch with God that he was able to be in the right place at the right time, to hold the baby Jesus and was so in touch with the Holy Spirit that he was able to speak God’s words of prophecy over the Christ child for all to hear.
Simeon makes me wonder how I can be that type of person who moves and goes to places because God guides me. The type of person who speaks out Gods words or prays God’s prayers. Simeon is the type of person we can all aspire to be.
Enter Stage right, Anna: staunch, dedicated, devoted.
All we know about Anna is contained in three verses Luke 2:36-38. We know her father’s name and her tribe. She was married just seven years before her husband died, and she had been a widow many years. She was 84 years old.
Anna was constantly in the Temple and (2:37) ‘worshipped night and day, fasting and praying.’
In our drama of the presentation of Christ at the temple, she was truly the best supporting actress.
2:38 ‘at that moment, she came and began to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.’
What can we learn from Anna?
2 Chronicles 7:14 ‘If my people will humble themselves and pray.’
Anna is waiting, waiting for the Messiah. Waiting is hard; there’s nothing to show for waiting; it can be painful.
What are you waiting for?
A pay rise, health all clear, a job, healing, reconciliation with a relative or friend, for a marriage partner, for the salvation of a loved one, waiting to die (as a chaplain, I sat with many in that waiting room).
Waiting is hard and painful, yet Anna waited with hope. If we commit time to prayer, the Holy Spirit causes longing to well up in his people, and it comes out in passionate prayer. Not to twist God’s arm for a speedy answer but to express how much that prayer means (in Anna’s case) how much she longs for God to fulfil his promise.
What an example Anna is to us all. Those who have faced a crisis like a bereavement or a major loss of some sort (a job, a possession, health). These times are crucial spiritually for holding tightly to faith, seeking God, trusting in him without knowing the answers. 84-year-old Anna is a challenge to each one of us.
If Simeon was devout, then Anna was turbo-Devout: a regular in the temple, regular in her devotions. Devoted to reading the scriptures and in prayer and fasting and in praising God 2:37 says she ‘worshipped.’ Anna was turbo-devout, and I wish I could be more like her. We can make a start today as we stand at the gate of a new Year. We can commit to reading the bible. We can decide to follow a reading plan. Commit to daily prayer, commit to worship, both in church and personally, filling our hearts and homes with praises.
Doris Roberts was a widow for 50 years. Alone from the day her husband died when she was 44 until she died aged 94. But she wasn’t alone because Doris was devout in her daily walk with the Lord in prayer, bible reading, and in praise.
And if we do likewise, we become more available to God – open to his promptings and guidance (as Simeon and Anna were). So we are able to speak for the Lord when we are led to that right place at that right time.
In Conclusion, as we think of these two older people, Simeon and Anna, allow them to influence us at the start of this new year.
But wait a minute, there’s more. In this drama of Jesus — as the lead role, and Simeon and Anna — as the best-supporting actors. There’s more — there are the Extras!
Read 2:38 again
‘Anna spoke to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.’
We don’t know who these people were; they gathered around Anna, who held the baby Jesus and listened to her.
Those ‘extras’ are you and I, people waiting together who strengthened each other’s resolve. One person doubts another reassures and encourages to keep praying, keep coming to meetings, keep on keeping on. Through all the ups and downs, those extras waited together. It is not passive waiting but an active waiting in our daily lives, loving God, loving neighbours.
Giving self (living sacrifice) praying – ‘your kingdom come’, praying for the salvation of friends, relatives and neighbours – waiting together. Together keeps us hoping, believing, encouraging.
These gathered people are not named (hence extras), but they are you and I as we look forward to the day when the Lord fulfils his promises and returns in glory and great power.
