Simeon

Looking for Consolation and Redemption (Luke 2:25-38)

Simeon (means “he that hears and obeys” and/or “he that is heard”) Righteous (Luke 2:25) - usually used in reference to behavior towards other people Devout (Luke 2:25)- usually used in reference to behavior towards God. From the Greek, eulabes, meaning careful, serious and scrupulous in worship (Compare 2 Pe. 3:11-12) Waiting (Ps. 130, Isa. 30:18, Lam. 3:25-26, Mic. 7:7, Luke 12:35-40, Rom. 8:22-25, James 5:7) For the consolation of Israel (Luke 2:25) Consolation speaks to those longings for healing and restoration from all the past losses and miseries of life. God’s timing (Hab. 2:3) God orchestrated the coming together of Simeon, Anna, Mary, Joseph & Jesus The Holy Spirit Upon Him (Luke 2:25) Revealed to Him Not die before see the Lord’s Christ (Luke 2:26) Moved Him To go to the temple(Luke 2:27) (note: Simeon, Elizabeth, Zechariah, John the Baptist are all said to have been filled with the Holy Spirit before Pentacost) Peace Why can he now die in peace? (Luke 2:29) Prophecy/Affirmation? What did Simeon see? (Luke 2:30-32) Salvation (Luke 2:30) In Sight of all people (Luke 2:31)? Light of Revelation to the Gentiles (Luke 2:32, Isa. 42:1 & 6, 49:6, 60:1-3) Child Destined to cause falling & rising (Luke 2:34) Spoken against (Luke 2:34) Thoughts of many hearts revealed (Luke 2:35, 1 Cor. 4:5) Sword will pierce your own soul (Said to Mary) (Luke 2:35)

Picture in your mind, the shadow of the cross over the baby Jesus Mary & Joseph Following the custom and the law (Luke 2:27, Lev. 12:1-8) Marveled (Luke 2:33) Anna (name means “gracious” or “giving”) Prophetess (Luke 2:36) One of a very small. Select group of female prophets mentioned in the Bible. Daughter of Phanuel (Luke 2:36) Means “Face of God” Tribe of Asher (Luke 2:36) - One of the “lost tribes” after the Assyrian captivity. Considered to be wealthy and not particularly devout. No prophets or judges came out of this tribe. Old (Luke 2:36) Married 7 years (Luke 2:36) Widow until 84 (Luke 2:37) Never left temple (Luke 2:37) Worshipped day and night Fasting and praying (Luke 2:37) An indication of a heart that is grieving and/or possessed of an earnest longing Gave thanks to God (Luke 2:38) Spoke about the child To all looking for the redemption of Jerusalem (Luke 2:38) Redemption speaks to our need to be delivered from the powers that still hold us in bondage. (Luke 1:68: Zechariah’s prophecy) Old Simeon & Anna being present at the presentation of the baby Jesus may serve to symbolize the coming together of the old and new, the transition from an age of hope based on the Law and the Prophets to the age of salvation through God’s gift of Jesus Christ. What’s held in the heart affects what the eyes see and the ears hear. God prepares the heart to receive Christ by stirring up a longing for consolation & redemption. Those who are waiting, watching and expecting to find Jesus are able to see Him when others are not. Be Cheerful, cry out joyfully in unison you devastated places of Jerusalem, for Jehovah has comforted his people, he has repurchased Jerusalem. Jehovah has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth must see the salvation of our God. (Isa. 52:9-10)