Christmas is over and now we have 358 days until Christmas 2024. If I was a child I’d be a little depressed about having to wait so long Christmas to come back around again. As I was growing up there were many things I felt like I waited on; a girl to like me, for me to be taller, for me to get my driver’s license, for me to get married, to find the job I want, to own a home, you get it.
Once you have all of that, you can still find yourself waiting perhaps that’s for kids or grandkids or maybe financial security and/or retirement but I feel like almost all Christ-followers and even a lot of people that are spiritually seeking in this world may be waiting for something we just can’t seem to put our finger on.
I would say that we all start waiting for something real, something worthwhile, for something that will make us feel spiritually alive, for us to feel like we’re making in a difference in a world that doesn’t seem like it’s getting any better. Maybe you’re waiting to an easing of pain or an end to suffering whether that be physical or emotional.
The longer you wait, the easier it is to get disenchanted, discouraged, disillusioned. Waiting for something can make you feel alone in a crowded world, can’t it. It can also make you question your faith. But I’m here to tell you today not only of a story of a man (and also of a woman) that waited most likely decades for the coming of the Messiah but I want to give you encouragement that each of us in this room are not only called to help others in their waiting but I believe that every one of us has someone that God is sending to you to help you in your waiting.
For sometimes its not just that you’re waiting for a certain thing to fall into your lap or even for God to do something, perhaps you waiting on someone like Simeon was.
Simeon’s story is told here in Luke 2. And, generally, the story always seems to focus on him but I’d be remised if I don’t encourage you to also consider why the prophetess Anna is mentioned here, too, for they both had been waiting on the coming of the Son of God.
We don’t know that much at all about Simeon nor Anna. In fact this is the only time either of them are ever mentioned in the Bible. You’ve probably heard that Simeon is a priest but Luke never explicitly tells us that. What tells me otherwise is the fact that verse 27 says that Simeon was moved to come to the Temple courts. If he was a priest, he would be there every day like it was his job.
So here we can get the sense that Simeon is simply a devout believer who is in tune with God and willing to go to the Temple, the place of worship at any time. The fact that he may not be a priest actually speaks volumes about how God can be in contact with the average Joe. That means you and I.
Both Simeon and Anna had been faithfully anticipating the coming of the Savior. While we don’t know how long Simeon had been waiting, we can assume that he’s advanced in age since verse 26 mentions that he had insight that he would see the Messiah before he died.
We have a few more clues to the age of Anna. Not only does verse 36 say she’s “very old,” which isn’t very gentlemen like to say but, if you’re like me, you may think “how old is very old?” The NIV chooses to translate verses 36 and 37 to say that she was married to her husband for 7 years and was a widow until she was 84. Perhaps a better translation of the Hebrew, which a few other translations do say, that she had been a widow for 84 years. Either way, Anna is either 84 years old but she could be in the range of 110! (Assuming she was married around the age of 16.)
So yeah, if you’re in your 80s, there’s a good chance that the Bible wouldn’t call you very old.
So both of these people are elderly and seem to be living for the hope of change that the Messiah would bring. Our Scripture says that Simeon was waiting for the “consolation of Israel.” Don’t think of consolation prize, think of the word “console.” Simeon was literally waiting on the LORD’s comforter, the one that would alleviate fears and give hope.
So that’s basically all that we know about Simeon and Anna. We know that they’re old and faithfully anticipating comfort from the LORD. Its plausible to think that they may not know exactly who or what that actually means. Who are they waiting for? Perhaps they don’t know what their supposed to see when it comes to them.
Let’s check in with the other characters within this story. We get a lot details about what Joseph and Mary have been up to. Jesus is still an infant and was circumcised when he was 8 days old, perfectly following the law of Moses as well as following the Gabriel’s command of giving the baby the name Jesus.
Joseph and Mary’s diligence doesn’t stop there. Another requirement that Mary needed to fulfill was her purification rite. Whenever a woman had her period or gave birth she was deemed ceremonially unclean along with anything she touched for the next 7 days. This was, generally, the only time that the wife was not expected to cook, clean and care for the home. How many of you ladies wish that was the case? Wouldn’t it be nice to get a week’s break after having your period? Amen!
This is where we start to see some irony. Do you know how women were ceremonially purified? It was by immersion in water; essentially a baptism. They also came to the temple for another reason. Verse 23 echoes the command of Exodus 13:12 which says that every firstborn male belongs to God which means that parents would have to make a choice: either Jesus would be offered to the service of the Temple for life, as what happened with the prophet Samuel when he was a baby in 1 Samuel 1 or he could be redeemed or bought back with the offering of a sacrifice.
Here’s the irony in that exchange. Jesus would definitely live in service to God for the duration of his life, even though his earthly parents chose to redeem him, the redeemer of all humankind.
Let me ask you all a quick trivia question: Do you think this story happened before or after the wise men met Jesus? Perhaps the answer is obvious but just in case it isn’t there are two cues to consider: the first is that Jesus is only 8 days old and hadn’t defected to Egypt to escape the wrath of Herod’s mass infanticide edict. The other cue is just as subtle. The prescribed offering to redeem the firstborn male would be a lamb. Again, irony is thick, a lamb is required for the lamb who takes away the sin of the world.
However, that is not what Joseph and Mary offered, which were a pair of birds. Were they deviating from the law? Absolutely not. The law in Leviticus 12 stated that if the parents couldn’t afford a lamb that a pair of doves or pigeons could be offered instead. One could say that when the holy family came to the temple to take care of two requirements they were literally killing two birds with one stone.
Let me ask you all another question, most of you should get this. The wise men offered Jesus three gifts: frankensense, myhrr and what? _____. Gold! Yes! Gold would’ve easily paid for multiple lambs but since a pair of birds were purchased for the offering it’s a clear indication that the Magi had not visited the family and offered their gifts yet. Good thing because I’ll be preaching about the wise men next Sunday.
So the stage is set. You have Simeon and Anna patient and faithfully waiting on the LORD while Joseph and Mary are obediently fulfilling all of their Scriptural responsibilities. When faithful waiting and obedience merge, wonderful things happen. Something tells Simeon that this family is special. I need you all to realize that the temple is a very busy place. There are probably hundreds of people there each with their different types of offerings and sacrifices that they need to make. The temple would always be abuzz and have a constant flow of people in, out and around.
Mary and Joseph are simple commoners, they’re not dressed like royalty or members of an oligarchy but more likely as peasants. Simeon is drawn in by them, probably by God giving him discernment. He takes the baby Jesus into his arms and is relieved that he can die a happy man knowing that God had not only heard him but fulfilled the promise the Lord made to Simeon. Simeon could die knowing that the Kingdom of Heaven, the comforter was here on earth to bring people to God.
Don’t you dare forget Anna in this story. For when Jesus makes his first appearance at the Temple a prophetess, a woman named Anna is also given a starring role. In Jesus’ wake women are never excluded. It should be a strong, deliberate, clear sign from God of the importance of leadership that women have within the Lord’s ministry. I say that because what did Anna do after meeting the infant Messiah? She began to teach, she began to prophecy about Jesus and his forthcoming ministry. Women, yes, it is also your duty to preach, to prophecy (if you have that gift) and share the gospel as much as it is for a man. Amen?
Here’s another thing I don’t want you to miss. Here’s the great lesson in not only faithfully waiting but also the importance of obedience.
Simeon and Anna could’ve been faithful, patience and doing everything that they’re supposed to do and if Joseph and Mary would’ve been skirted any of their responsibilities they would’ve been the reason why Simeon and Anna would’ve been made to wait longer, where doubt and discouragement could’ve set in.
So what does that have to do with you and me today? If you’re the one waiting today, don’t get discouraged, keep being faithful, keep showing up, keep believing that God is going to show up and that your life will change for the better. God never forsakes, lies or fails to keep his promises. However, God almost always uses another human being to bring his promises to light.
That’s where the rest of us come in. Maybe you’re not waiting on anything, maybe your life is good where it is for you. I think that this story today could be for you. There’s still something for you to do. As Christ-followers, we should never grow complacent or be good with good-enough. When we fail to pursue God’s calling on our lives, we may fail to show up on behalf of God when there are people waiting for us.
Remember, Simeon and Anna didn’t know exactly who they were waiting on. They knew they were waiting on the Messiah but the truth is that if Joseph and Mary wouldn’t have been devout, wouldn’t have been diligent and obedient, Simeon and Anna would’ve missed Jesus or at least waited a lot longer.
There are so many people right here in this neighborhood that are waiting for a change in their life, waiting for God to show up and some of them may simply be waiting for “God knows what.” They just know they are unfulfilled, trapped in the rat race of life, with seemingly no purpose, no comfort in life. But guess what? The comforter lives within you.
We are called to make disciples, if we’re not diligent in that people don’t get to meet the Messiah, experience God’s promises, his love and his care. Simply put, people can’t experience freedom in Christ if you and I aren’t obedient. It’s not good enough to be a believer, it’s not good enough to know some Bible verses, it’s not good enough to simply go to church services often. We must be diligent in serving those who are waiting.
Sure, there may be some that need encouragement and to hear your testimony that are here in this room. But I can guarantee you that most of those who are waiting for God’s knows what, waiting for comfort, waiting for you are outside the walls of this church. I implore you, no matter who’s waiting, don’t make them wait. We have all the power, all the good news in the world to bring hope, peace, joy and love right at our disposal. So, when we get together for our community cleanup in a couple of weeks, on January 15th, that’s a great first step to serving and putting your faith to action.
As we go about this year, be asking God for clarity about your calling and just be obedient. Even if you don’t get clarity, be the bearer of good news, be an encourager, an ear that will listen, a shoulder that welcomes an embrace. Many times we need to say few words but offer ourselves in other ways.
Again, if you’re waiting, stay faithful. If you’re not waiting, the way to obedience may be to get moving.
