31 which you prepared for all people to see December 21, 2008 College Park Church, What Simeon Saw: Lessons From a Satisfied Old Man. Under the impulse of the Spirit, he had come to the Temple and was performing his devotions when Jesus arrived. www.yourchurch.com. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. Routing number of commercial bank of Ethiopia? 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. The Bible does not mention his age at all , but it does say he Anna begins to preach: She came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. Both are quicker than Mary to comprehend who Jesus is. 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! 34 Then Simeon blessed them and told Mary, his mother, This infant is destined to cause many in Israel to fall and rise. 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). 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. 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. Your statement says she is the only woman in New Testament explicitly described as a prophetess. Simeon instantly and independently recognizes Jesus as messiah. He knew Jesus was the Son of God. After Pushing for UMC Unity, Former Bishop Joins New Denomination, I Was the Proverbial, Drug-Fueled Rock and Roller, Jesus Revolution Director: Were at the Forefront of a Return to God, Christian Conservationists Sue to Protect Ghana Forest, Complete access to articles on ChristianityToday.com, Over 120 years of magazine archives plus full access to all of CTs online archives. As in Simeons day, the message needed is, Comfort ye, comfort ye my people.. 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. Hey, if the Holy Spirit tells Simeon he will not die till he sees the Messiah, and if hes been waiting his entire life perhaps, and hes faithful and in the temple and he comes and serves as that second witness ~ that may be Gods total will for his lifes ending, different from Annas, but just as powerful. Simeon made a prophetic and powerful predictive statement about Jesus and the purpose of His life. It is evident from scripture, by the fact that the people in His hometown and His siblings didnt know He was the Messia (after thirty yrs), that Mary, Joseph or Jesus ever revealed this. We then count 3 and a half months from 1. It was this little child who creates the means by which people separated by their sins can come back to their God. In addition to his many interviews on radio networks across the country, Professor Witherington has been featured on the History Channel, NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN, The Discovery Channel, A&E, and the PAX Network. And at the outset of a long chain of such prophetic insights stand Simeon and Anna, one satisfied that prophecy has been fulfilled and the other pointing to the future, a future as bright as the promises of God. To look for the Messianic Age is a consolation to all believers in every critical time. The Faith That Waits: Simeon's Story | Make it a Garden Simon Peter was also Simeon knew that Jesus was special. He sees baby Jesus, God incarnate, and sings, "Lord, now let your servant depart in peace according to your Word, for my eyes have seen your salvation which has been prepared for all people.". That is enormously comforting, especially if this Christmas is one that is filled with hard providence for you. Verse 26 makes this clear! Mary then announced to Elizabeth (and the world): The passage in which Simeon blessed the baby Jesus and prophesied great things was an opportunity to prove to the readers of Luke's Gospel that Jesus was indeed the son of God. Simeon takes the Child Jesus in his arms and blesses God in order to present it to the Lord. And Marys Magnificent states her understanding of what is happening within her. She is not shaking in her boots because inwardly Jesus is the Son of God. In fact, he is so satisfied that having held the Christ-child he is now ready to die! (Apparently) this was how new lambs were inspected for defects and kept unmarred for eventual sacrifice for forgiveness of sins. He was "waiting for the consolation of Israel." He took the prophets at their word and was looking for the coming Messiah. I mean not just a chuckle, but a hearty laugh. Oh to have the world know this about the followers of Christ. Brown adds, however, that Luke does not leave Mary on the negative note of misunderstanding. How many nieces and nephew luther vandross have? The peace that Simeon is talking about is linked to two phrases - "according to your word" and "for my eyes have seen your salvation." Simeon finds them coming into the temple, takes the child in his arms, and offers a beautiful prayer of thanksgiving to God. anyones radar, so I think Mary indeed had a lot to mull over as she put all the extraordinary information . The telemarketer called and asked me if I had received my car keys in the mail last week. May God give us the kind of spiritual eyesight to see it and lives to live it! Who is Katy mixon body double eastbound and down season 1 finale? 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! Copy. . This is a stand that is very difficult for me to follow how one gets there, since Mary was told by Gabriel, John (to be the Baptist) at 6 mos responded, Elizabeth told her, again all the torment when she rtnd from Elizabeths, the shepards and the wise men the woman would have had to of had amnesia not to know. Simeon knows that God's target is not just Israel but all people. Therefore, if you could see Simeon in the temple courtyard holding the baby Jesus with his eyes lifted to the vast sky of Jerusalem you would see a satisfied old man! Copyright 2023 College Park Church. Please include the following statement on any distributed copy: by Mark Vroegop. news about the Christ Child to everyone in Jerusalem looking for Seven Signs Changing water into wine at Cana in John 2:1-11 the first of the signs Healing the royal officials son in Capernaum in John 4:46-54. COPYRIGHT 2023 BIBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGY SOCIETY 5614 Connecticut Ave NW #343, Washington DC 20015-2604. Notice how the text describes him. He was a prophet and teacher. If we do, we will rejoice as did Simeon on that occasion. A graduate of UNC, Chapel Hill, he went on to receive the M.Div. Called to Gift - United Church of Christ Clearly, Luke is not painting an idealized portrait of Mary or Joseph. Joseph and Mary were in at the Temple in Jerusalem for the redemption of Jesus as the firstborn and the purification of His mother, Mary, as per the Law of Moses in the first five books of the Bible. bringing peace to earth and rebuilding the temple. Seems to me like they didnt get it. But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people could connect with it better. According to Matthew and Luke, however, Joseph was only legally his father. 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). We have an extra set here at our office. We must make this observation, for in verse 29 there are three words which indicate this. What distinguishes Simeon is not his position, but his godliness. He had been told by God, as a much younger man, that he would definitely see the Jewish Messiah before he died. There was a lady named Anna that lived in Jerusalem also. 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. He was a faithful temple goer which means that he regularly met with God. 2:7, 8). When he heard the account given by Mary and Joseph to the priest, he interrupted the process of dedication by taking the Child in his arms and making a great spiritual prophecy under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. 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 older he grew the surer Simeon became that the birth of the Saviour was near. He held him and knew that one day this baby would call people to choose between God and themselves. He was a good man. 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). At least that seems to be what you imply. 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. Another assumption that is often made is that Simeon was a priest. The jewish year in ancient Israel times began in spring, the month of Nisan ,which is about our March/April . 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. He had a personal encounter with Jesus, and foresaw Christ's future crucifixion. 30 because my eyes have seen your salvation, He is at peace and his heart is filled with hope because he knows that God has fulfilled His promise. Some of the biggest misunderstandings come from people who are related to Jesus. He was waiting for the time when God would help Israel. Simeon asked God to allow him to "depart in peace, according to Your word" (verse 29). 1. The presentations by all, are excellent and non-controversial. In Lorenzo Lottos unusual rendition of the Annunciation, dated to 1535, Marys cat is equally frightened by the divine apparition. 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. Why does Gary Soto's work seem autobiographical? 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. 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. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 19 Feb, 2021 And that was when we both started laughing. Anna, also old in years, had been faithfully worshiping God through fasting and prayer in the temple for 84 years. Simeon represented himself as a sentinel whom his master had placed in an elevated position and charged to look for the appearance of the Star. 31 And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus . Global Relief Fund | Earthquake Relief Efforts in Turkey and Syria. The Significance of Simeon Transform Home / / how old was simeon when he saw jesus. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. Both are quicker than Mary to comprehend who Jesus is This statement seems rather presumptive to me. I like the stress on Mary and Joseph as good parents who nevertheless dont get it. Anna was about 106 years old depending upon when she wed. They had dedicated the baby Jesus according to the law of Moses, and they traveled to Jerusalem each year to celebrate Passover. . Wouldn't it be awesome if that was our view of life when it comes to the gospel? He was waiting for eschatological . Simeon had been 40, then 50, then 60 years old. It was God the Fathers and Holy Spirits job to prepare Jesus until he was ready to start His ministry. Gospel account The episode is described in Luke 2:4152. 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 ). He saw the Savior before He died. Luke 2:25-35 Required fields are marked *. Simon is one Latinised version of the name, the others being Simeon or Symeon. Central to Simeon's spiritual eyesight was a deeply rooted godliness. Mary, Simeon or Anna by Ben Witherington III originally appeared in Bible Review, Winter 2005. 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, 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. she said. Did he marry? Harold John Ockenga is president of Gordon College and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (Wenham, Massachusetts), positions he assumed after serving as pastor of Park Street Church in Boston for over thirty years. Waiting for Jesus: Lessons from Simeon and Anna
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