There’s a unique tension at this time of year between the celebration of Christ’s birth and the eventuality of his death. It comes directly at us in the scripture which follows the birth narrative. Just 8 days after his birth, a prophecy is spoken about the Messiah that should have had Mary and Joseph concerned. Here’s the back story:
Three ceremonies for each Jewish family at the time of Jesus - 1) Circumcision was sign of a covenant (Lev. 12:3) - He belonged to God, 2) redemption of the first born (repurchased) through a sacrificial offering (Ex. 13:2, 11-12), 3) 40 days of purification for the mother after the birth of a son (80 after a daughter) before the mother was once again considered clean (Lev. 12:6-8). So Mary and Joseph did what every God fearing Jewish family did at that time on the eighth day they went to the temple. Let’s listen in on the account in its entirety and then go back through by verse:
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.
• The Consolation of Israel refers to final deliverance of Israel from political bondage to other nations. Zechariah expressed a similar hope in chapter 1:68-75. It also lets us know the Holy Spirit was upon Simeon. Tradition has it that Simeon was very old (113 years) but no scriptural basis is provided for the claim. Also Anna had the spirit as well and we know her to be 84 years old.
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,
• The Spirit moved him to come to temple that day.
28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
• Hey Old man what are you doing with my kid?! From verse 28-32, this is called Nunc Dimittis (Latin) which has been used since the fourth century in daily and evening services. It is also referred to as Simeon’s song. The Nunc Dimittis is a canticle which implies peace, fulfillment and rest and hence viewed by the early church to be sung or recited at the end of the day. The next verse gives you the words “Now, Master, you can let your servant go in peace, just as you promised.”
29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss[a] your servant in peace.
• The Prophecy foretold and fulfilled.
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.”
• It was uncommon for but not unprecedented to look forward to a Messiah who would free not only the Jews but the Gentiles. That our God would be God of all. Isaiah spoke of this in 2:2-4, 42:6, 49:6. Luke made sure his Greek audience understood that Christ came to save all that would believe.
33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him.
• This would be the second time that Mary had been greeted with a prophecy about her first born. Do you remember Elizabeth’s from chapter 1? The mother of John The Baptist. The one who loved Mary unconditionally even when her pregnancy would have been filled with shame by the community at large because she had not been fully married.
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.”
• Praise to Blessing, prophecy and the cost. He used three images: the stone, the sign and the sword. The stone is an important OT image of God (Gen 49:24). A corner stone is what the nation would stumble over (psalm 118:2). Just the way, Christians stumble over the cross today and do not see Jesus as their rock. The word sign means “a Miracle” not so much as a power statement but a revelation of divine truth. A truth those in the world still wrestle with. The image of the sword was for Mary alone and it spoke of the suffering/sorrow she would bear as the mother of the Messiah. The Greek word for sword here suggests a large sword and the verb means constantly piercing.
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.[b] She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.
•Anna means “Grace. She was a prophetess which meant she had a special gift of declaring and interpreting God’s message. Even though widows did not have an easy time because they were often neglected and exploited (in spite of commandment to the contrary) she survived. Simeon and Anna were both very old for their time and neither had lost their faith while waiting on the Lord. They both were led by the Holy Spirit and Anna, a woman, is considered by many as the first evangelist. She was a poor woman who spent time in prayer and fasting but when she met the Messiah, was the first to spread the good news among the “remnant” waiting.
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.
Isn’t it interesting that in a culture that worships youth and wealth, God chose an older, poor, woman to first carry the good news?
My mom carried the faith in my home of origin. She was a devout catholic. The church said it and therefore it’s true. Even when it wasn’t. However, it was one of my brother-in-laws that became part of my awakening. He was the one who at every gathering I would end up huddle with as we discussed his business dealings and his wrestling with being a Christian partner in a non-Christian partnership. I was always fascinated that he didn’t play the work game in a ruthless fashion. He would often talk about what would be the best way to help his partners see the better way was not to treat everyone like the enemy but fosters their faith. I honestly thought he was conflict avoidant and not all that spiritual. However, after a while it became apparent he believed in living his life for God and doing everything in the hopes it would inspire another into a relationship with Him. In many ways, he was lifting Jesus in the workplace and being the evangelist in the office.
The birth of Christ and his death allows us all to be both Simeon and Anna in the world today. We can rest assured Christ is our Savior, can foretell the future that He will come again and we can share it with all who are willing to hear and chose Him.
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