I think one of the things Mary was pondering in her heart must have related to the Shepherds visit He took Jesus in his arms, held him close and began to bless the Lord. The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not die until he saw the Messiah whom God had promised his people. she said. how old was simeon when he saw jesus. Luke records that Jesus' parents "marveled at what was said about him" ( Luke 2:33 ). Their patient waiting is now being fulfilled as Simeon and Anna both converge in temple area and meet the Messiah face to face. Only after years of pondering the message in her heart does she become a true follower of Jesus. Museo Civico, Recanati, Italy/Scala/Art Resource, NY. IVE JUST FINISH READING ANNA IS A PROPHETESS FOUND LUKE 2:36. That Lord Jesus Christ has come not only for Jews but also for the Gentiles is seen here in Luke Chapter 2:21-35 where description of one named Simeon is given. Please include the following statement on any distributed copy: by Mark Vroegop. Kauna unahang parabula na inilimbag sa bhutan. Anna, also old in years, had been faithfully worshiping God through fasting and prayer in the temple for 84 years. All men will not accept Jesus. "For a sign that is opposed." Healing the man blind from birth in John 9:1-7. I said that I had not. When Scripture uses blameless or just to describe a man like Zacharias or Simeon, the word means more than just conformity to the Law, to all the commandments and ordinances; it implies the spiritual perception of the purpose of God in the Law and the Prophets. Gods command to us is that we should be holy (Leviticus 20:7), and His provision is the gift of the Holy Ghost who reproduces within us the holiness of the Lord Jesus Himself. We must make this observation, for in verse 29 there are three words which indicate this. Simeon had the infant Jesus in his arms and, moved by the Holy Spirit, sang the Nunc Dimittis, Latin words for "now dismiss." We . Messiah. 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? Like Simeon, let us believe the word of the Lord and rejoice in this as our ground of confidence. Simeon, who saw the baby Jesus, was neither an apostle or It is often assumed that Simeon was an old man, but the Bible never says that. To share this article with your friends, use any of the social share buttons on our site, or simply copy the link below. Additionally he was not a direct descendant of David. Simeon made a prophetic and powerful predictive statement about Jesus and the purpose of His life. This account is reminder to all of us that this day is not just about time with family or wonderful expressions of love. He also saw Mary standing by that cross, pierced in heart at the suffering of her child. Doesnt it say that they thought he had gone mad? Is there a difference between Simon and Simeon? At that circumcision ceremony babies were given their name. Of course, in the end, Luke portrays Mary as successfully making the spiritual journey into the family of faith; in Acts 1:14, when the apostles gather in the upper room after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus, Mary is with them. Even modern day shepherds 27 The Spirit led Simeon to the Temple. What a gift that God had given him! 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). See something we missed? The presentations by all, are excellent and non-controversial. (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.) Verse 28 gives us a beautiful picture. Simeon went to the temple and held the Christ. Luke adds that she treasures the words the angel Gabriel speaks to her. Simeon took the baby Jesus into his arms. He had been baptized and already started gathering his disciples. To look for the Messianic Age is a consolation to all believers in every critical time. The Spirit had prepared him to meet Jesus at the correct moment and had providentially brought them together. In John 21, Jesus is asking Peter if he really loves Him. Simeon praised God. Never has there been a sign more spoken against than that of the Virgin Birth and its attestation to the deity of Jesus Christ, namely, that he is God with us, or Emmanuel. Healing the paralytic at Bethesda in John 5:1-15. Leviticus 12:1-8 gave clear instructions that after the birth of a child a woman was ceremonially unclean. He loved God. If we do, we will rejoice as did Simeon on that occasion. Luke 2:25-35 Reading this narrative, we sense that it was perfectly proper for this old man to take the Baby Jesus in his arms because of what he was and who he was. Simeon's righteous faith qualified him to see something incredibly special. Another assumption that is often made is that Simeon was a priest. Alfred Plummer, in his classic commentary on Luke, suggested that the difference between Anna and Simeon provides a clue to Luke as a salvation historian, a chronicler of the mighty acts of God for his people through the ages. Luke says of Anna: And there was Anna she was of great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; And she was a widow fourscore and four years, You give Anna the age of 84however considering girls were approximately 15 when wed, she lived with her husband 7 years and had been a widow 84 years. Barbara Simeon Expand search. She knew who he was! Zacharias the father of John the baptist was from the house of Abija, we read in Luke 1.5. In the Bible , Simeon was the old man who recognized Jesus as the Messiah. Want to learn some-more about his research? redemption. Are there verses I have missed about her memory leave her?>, [] Witherington IIIs full letter Mary, Simeon or Anna: Who First identified Jesus as Messiah? is permitted on-line during no cost. Mary and Joseph bring Jesus into the temple to dedicate Him forty days after his birth. Let us know if corrections need to be made. disturbing images regarding jesus future. "A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel" (Luke 2:32) What impresses me about Simeon is the powerful mingling of righteousness, Spirit-empowerment, and faith to take God at His Word. Which she knows fullwell, she had pondered this in her heart. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and told Mary, his mother, This infant is destined to cause many in Israel to fall and rise. Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to Simeon. She, too, recognizes Jesus as messiah, but she has a very different reaction: At that moment, she came and began to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem (Luke 2:38). Looking at Jesus inspired him in two ways: the feeling of . was saying and revelling himself at this age God had her back on this one! 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 lesson is about Simeon, an old man, who had a special hope fulfilled by God. He then took the six-weeks-old baby in his arms. The doctors of the Law may have been dead spiritually, but these remnant people, who saw the reality contained in the Law and the Prophets, were alive to what God was doing. wish to examine some-more about his analysis? For such a learned scholar he does not read throughly all of Luke. A similar hope is beating in many hearts today, even while the darkness deepens in political, educational, moral, and spiritual things. Did he marry? The Prophecy of Simeon 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, who was righteous and devout. Notice, in Luke 2:25-35, some of the characteristics of this man who waited for the coming of Christ: He had no doubt about this, as we learn from verse 26. Simon is one Latinised version of the name, the others being Simeon or Symeon. Simeon went to the temple and held the Christ Child, and God holds our every breath. referred to as Simeon, in which case he was both an apostle and Seems to me, she was there to let the rest of us know. husband passed away seven years after her wedding. outfit new lambs in protective coats, especially in cold weather. He was sincere and he was known to be, as we say today, above reproach. 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. So you are saying that when the Shepards and the wise men came Mary had no idea Jesus was Messiah? Simeon spoke to Mary, Jesus' mother. There is no great incentive to holy living than to believe, to live and to labour in the conviction that the Lord Jesus is coming again look up 1 John 3:3. The Global Methodist Church welcomes Scott Jones, who led Methodists in Texas and had advocated for the extreme center and staying at the table., Emily McFarlan Miller - Religion News Service. 4 Si Jose ay umahon din mula sa Galilea, mula sa lungsod ng Nazaret . You and I, who live in the light of the second coming of Christ, have the same glorious word of assurance. Copy. He shall be great, and men will know him for the Son of the most High; the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he shall reign over the house of Jacob eternally; his kingdom shall never have an end., 2. He was a prophet and teacher. 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. Therefore, the ages of Simeon and Anna are very important. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. In this, Mary contrasts sharply with Simeon and Anna, two elderly individuals who happen to be in the Temple when Joseph and Mary bring the infant Jesus to Jerusalem for the first time. By this time Simeon was a very old man. Mary, Simeon or Anna by Ben Witherington III originally appeared in Bible Review, Winter 2005. Until a chance encounter with my moms old Bible opened my eyes. One's response to Christ reveals the true condition of the heart. You seem to have forgotten about Elizabeths greeting to Mary many months before Mary met Anna at the temple. disciple. He saw him as the beauty of God saying, "Promise Fulfilled." But also wanted to add two points: When Simeon saw the Lords Christ, he took him up in his arms and blessed God, saying, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word. This taking Jesus into his arms was an act of the will by Simeon. was a very old man, and was waiting to see the messiah and die. As a sword would pierce his heart, so figuratively a sword of suffering would pierce Marys heart. Director Jon Erwin discusses his inspiration for the film and how history might be repeating itself today. 13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. i know PROTESTANTS dont credit private interpretations. Mary, for example, does not fully understand what Anna immediately recognizes. Luke 2:21-40 tells how Simeon went to the Temple in Jerusalem where he met the Holy Family. Simeon asked God to allow him to "depart in peace, according to Your word" (verse 29). The Spirit came upon the disciples at Pentecost, and they enjoyed power. Both are quicker than Mary to comprehend who Jesus is This statement seems rather presumptive to me. She didnt understand why he At the opening of Aeschyluss Agamemnon, a sentinel, set to watch for the appearing of fire that was to announce the taking of Troy, beholds at last the signal so impatiently expected, and he sings at once, both of the victory of Greece and of his own release. 32 a light that will reveal salvation to unbelievers and bring glory to your people Israel., 33 Jesus father and mother kept wondering at the things being said about him. 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. I like to think it was the shepherds. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! Of course, no one knows how old Simeon was when God gave him this assurance. In Lukes birth narrative, Mary is the first to be told that Jesus will be the messiah. Simeon takes Jesus in his arms and praises God: "Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel" (Luke 2:28-32). 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. 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). 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. A widow . Let me first give you my thesis, and then try to show you three ways that I see this in the text. Jesus was approximately 40/41 days old at the time His mother, i am a veterinarian in texas and i am catholic! Story: Tell the story of Jesus being presented at the temple based on Luke 2:21-40. a. Jesus' Circumcision: Mary and Joseph took God's Son when He was 8 days old and had Him circumcised. Surely youll recall how the unborn John the Baptist leaped in his mothers womb at the presence of Mary and the unborn baby Jesus? Simeon saw the all-surpassing worth of the Messiah. The wisdom of Almighty God is unsearchable! Notice how the text describes him. When Simeon saw Jesus he took Him in his arms and praised God. "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. 2) Im not sure why Simeons reaponse has to be considered less than Annas? One day, his parents, Joseph and Mary, took him up to the Temple to present him to God. God told Simeon that he would see Jesus who was the Son of God. But Mary is also puzzled by the divine message; she is perplexed when the angel greets her and must ponder the meaning of his words (Luke 1:29; see also 2:19). He was a good man. When Jesus was 40 days old Mary and Joseph traveled to the temple in Jerusalem for another ceremony. Luke uses the story of Simeon (2:25-35) and Anna (2:36-38) to demonstrate that the Christ-child is the one for whom Israel had waited and longed for. Simeon declared, Mine eyes have seen thy salvation. The Child is here equated with Gods salvation. I was wondering if you ever thought of changing the structure of your Jesus walking on water in John 6:16-24. Didnt Jesus family try to kidnap him at one point during his ministry. May we be as ready to welcome the Lord Jesus when He comes the second time as Simeon was to welcome Him when He came the first time - look up Revelation 22:20! She is not shaking in her boots because inwardly Jesus is the Son of God. The Spirit gave Simeon divine revelationit was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lords Christ. The word translated revealed is actually a divine response. In the active tense the word means to transact business, to make an answer to those who seek advice. The use of the word in the passive bespeaks revelation made by God in response to the seeking of man. 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). He saw this baby as the reason for his godliness. I believe that Luke records this account to show Theophilus and all of us that Simeon saw the gospel - an attractive, broad, costly, and satisfying gospel. He is now considered one of the top evangelical scholars in the world, and is an elected member of the prestigious SNTS, a society dedicated to New Testament studies. In this beautiful scene, the aged Simeon takes the Baby Jesus up in his arms and expresses his delight and joy to God in a brief prayer. God is being gracious to Israel, but Simeon knows that God's grace is going to overflow the borders of this small nation. He did not know just when He would come, but as his hair whitened and his limbs became enfeebled, these were signs to him that the Lords coming was very near. The Spirit rested upon Samson, and he did marvelous exploits. Now we turn briefly to Simeon's farewell to the world (2:29-35). It will not make sense to them, and honestly it shouldn't. 1. 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. 35 Indeed, a sword will pierce your own soul, too, so that the inner thoughts of many people might be revealed. But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people could connect with it better. And Marys Magnificent states her understanding of what is happening within her. He waited for the consolation of Israel, the Messiah, the Lords Christ. Simeon had long searched the Scriptures and prayed and waited for the coming of the Messiah in fulfillment of prophecy. we can know when Jesus was born. Youre on the money. 19 Feb, 2021 I want to add: each jewish month has exactly 29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes, 3 1/3 seconds. He has mercy upon those who fear him, from generation to generation; he has done valiantly with the strength of his arm, driving the proud astray in the conceit of their hearts; he has put down the mighty from their seat, and exalted the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty-handed. When that old man went out of the world he took nothing but a soul. To have the kind of eyesight that Simeon had we need to see three things: 1) The treasure of a godly life, 2) The beauty of the gospel, and 3) The cost of following Christ. She spread the Simeon knew that Jesus was special. May we be as ready to welcome the Lord Jesus when He comes the second time as Simeon was to welcome Him when He came the first time - look up Revelation 22:20! Now, as Simeon lived just prior to the first advent and anticipated the first coming of the Lord Jesus, so you and I today live just prior to His second advent and should be anticipating His return. They have much to speak into our context. 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].. All you need to do is come down to our service center to learn about our products, pick up your keys, and you will have chance to start a 2006 Chevy Blazer. Jesus mouthing off to his mother in public after they have been frantic after losing him in a larger metropolitan area for three days. Hebrew Sukkot is the plural from Suka booth, tent, tabernacle. 14 Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace (2 Peter 3:10-14). Copyright College Park Church - Indianapolis, Indiana. The word Lord means Over-lord; the word servant means bond-servant; and the phrase, as you have promised indicates complete submission to the promises of the Lord. Jesus, the adolecent, wasnt sining or lying here he was jumping the gun. Twelve years after the presentation of Jesus in the Temple, the Holy Family returns to Jerusalem and Jesus returns to the Temple, this time by himself. 31 which you prepared for all people to see Simeon takes Jesus in his arms and praises God: Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel (Luke 2:2832). Combine a one-year tablet and print subscription to BAR with membership in the BAS Library to start your journey into the ancient past today! For the Holy Spirit to rest upon a man is the highest experience God has for him. Browse 60+ years of magazine archives and web exclusives. How old was Simeon when he saw Jesus?Simeon the priest was a very old man , could be in his late seventies. The Holy Spirit revealed to him that he would die before he saw the Messiah. This is the time Simeon and Anna saw Jesus. If they acknowledge Christ, then they must be humble and bend the knee to God as their creator. He prayed, "God, You kept Your promise, and I have Elizabeth proclaims How is it that the mother of our Lord should come to me? My bet is even if Mary, as you infer, had no idea who Jesus was, then Elizabeth was the first to notify her of the significance of Jesus. Simeon was a righteous and devout man who lived in Jerusalem. Simeon ( Greek: ) at the Temple is the "just and devout" man of Jerusalem who, according to Luke 2:25-35, met Mary, Joseph, and Jesus as they entered the Temple to fulfill the requirements of the Law of Moses on the 40th day from Jesus' birth, i. e. the presentation of Jesus at the Temple . The prophet Anna was a widow who never left the temple after her 25 A man named Simeon lived in Jerusalem. Where in the Bible did Jesus ask Peter if he loved? This. Simeon's words assert that 1) Jesus would be the salvation of the world, 2) He would deliver truth not only to those in Israel but also to the Gentiles, and 3) Jesus would bring glory upon the people of Israel. The story of Simeon is a reminder that this Christmas season is essentially about the far-surpassing joy that a personal relationship with Christ brings. And that is what we are going to examine today: what did Simeon see when he looked into the face of the Messiah.
how old was simeon when he saw jesus