Delivered at Bethel United Methodist Church on December 28, 2008.
Simeon and Anna
Scripture:
When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they 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"), and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, "a pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons."
Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,
And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, "This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too."
There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband for seven years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshipped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favour of God was upon him.
Luke 2:22-40
There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place will be no more
We’ll see Jesus face to face
Scripture:
When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they 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"), and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, "a pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons."
Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,
"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."
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."
And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, "This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too."
There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband for seven years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshipped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favour of God was upon him.
Luke 2:22-40
There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place will be no more
We’ll see Jesus face to face
From "There Will Be a Day" by Jeremy Camp
On the last day of school before Christmas break, the sixth graders from my school would go to the local shopping mall and sing Christmas songs. On the year that my class was to sing at the mall, we practiced a song called "Simeon and Anna." In this song, the girls would sing the part of Anna, asking questions to Simeon. They would sing, "Simeon, Simeon, did you see Jesus…?" and the boys would respond with the part of Simeon, "Yes, Anna, yes, I saw." We would go back and forth like this for several verses. The song ended with a twist. In the last verse, the girls would sing, "Simeon, Simeon, I think of Mary... Will great glory and joy fill her spirit?" The boys would respond, "No, Anna, no, a sword."
The music teacher decided that we would not sing this song at the mall. She figured that the people there would not understand the song. I would venture a guess that this is not a very familiar Bible story to most people. I know that I would probably not know this story very well were it not for the song I learned in sixth grade. Even those who read the Bible regularly could easily gloss over this story since it is sandwiched between two more familiar stories. Before this story we read about the birth of Jesus in the stable and about the shepherds who went to see Him. After this story we read about Jesus being separated from Mary and Joseph only to be found back at the Temple teaching the teachers, so to speak. Familiar or not, though, I think this story has a lot to say to us.
In this story, Jesus is just over a month old when He is taken by Mary and Joseph to the Temple. According to the Torah, every firstborn son is to be dedicated to the Lord’s service. At this ceremony, two very interesting people are present: Simeon the Righteous and Anna the Prophetess. Simeon was a very devout man who had been promised by God that he would not die until he saw the Messiah. Anna, whom the Bible calls a prophetess, was a widow who worshiped at the Temple day and night.
On the day of Jesus’ dedication, Simeon is led by God into the Temple, and, when he sees Jesus, he knows right away that he is the Lord’s Messiah. He then takes Jesus into his arms and breaks into song:
The story says that Mary and Joseph were amazed to hear what Simeon said about Jesus. I have never had a child, so I have never experienced the pride that a parent feels. I know, though, that a parent is proud when his or her child brings home a good report card or makes a spot on the sports team, or gets a solo in his school band. If these things make a parent proud, then imagine what Mary and Joseph must have felt that day, to hear this man saying these things. How would you feel if you heard that your child would be the salvation of your people and that he would be the glory of your people and that he would be a light to the nations?
After his song, Simeon blessed Mary and Joseph. He then turned to Mary and began to prophesy. He said, "This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel..." When Jesus was born, Israel had been under Roman occupation for over sixty years, and the Jews were looking forward to a messiah who would be a great political or military leader who would restore Israel back to its former glory as in the days of King David and King Solomon. The Jews would likely have interpreted Simeon’s prophecy to mean that Jesus would mean the falling of the occupying Roman government in Israel and the rising of Israel as an independent nation again. This sentiment can be seen in the movie King of Kings. In this interpretation of Jesus' life, the insurrectionist Barabbas hopes that Jesus will support his revolt against Rome. We know from history, though, that this is not what God had in mind.
Jesus would cause a different kind of upheaval in Israel. He caused the falling of the elite and the rising of the downtrodden. He brought down the teachers of the Law who were so wrapped up in the legalism of things that they missed the point of the Law entirely. He lifted up those who were looked down upon by such religious leaders. In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus said, "I have come to call not the righteous but sinners." He lifted up the poor, the unclean, the lepers, the prostitutes, the tax collectors, and the sinners, while knocking the Pharisees and Sadducees off of their high horse. This is just the way Jesus’ message is: it confounds the arrogant; it gives hope to the hopeless; it humbles the proud; and it lifts up the downcast.
Jesus’ message was so revolutionary that Simeon went on to predict the controversy that he would cause. He said that Jesus would "be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed." Throughout the Gospels, we read of people constantly trying to trip Jesus up with trick questions, and we read of people constantly bringing accusations against him. Of course we know that time and time again He meets these questions and accusations head on, confounding His accusers even further.
Lastly, Simeon says to Mary that 'a sword will pierce [her] own soul too.' Most scholars understand this statement to be a prediction of the sorrow Mary would feel as she watches her Son being crucified thirty-three years later. While I’m sure that her Son’s crucifixion broke her heart, I wonder if this is really what Simeon was referring to. In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul refers to the Word of God as the "Sword of the Spirit." In the Revelation of John, Jesus is described as having a sword coming from His mouth. In the Bible, we read of many who were "cut to the heart" by the life and message of Jesus. The tax collector Zacchaeus, for example, gave up cheating people after meeting Jesus. Paul, after his encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus, turned from a life of avidly persecuting Christians to a life of ministry, spreading the Good News throughout the Middle East. I know that many of us in here could say how much the message of Jesus has cut us to the heart. I wonder if Simeon actually meant that Mary would be affected just as profoundly by her Son’s ministry.
The story goes on to mention another prophet Anna who also recognized Jesus as the Lord’s Messiah and immediately began spreading the Good News to others.
So what does this story have to say to us today? The Advent season reminds us that we too are waiting - and not just for Christmas. Just like Simeon and Anna, we too are waiting for our Messiah to come into the world and set things right. We are waiting for Jesus Christ to return to fix this fallen world.
There is a song that I love to hear on the radio, particularly after a bad day at work. It is by a Christian singer and songwriter named Jeremy Camp, and it is entitled “There Will Be a Day.”
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them as their God; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away." And the one who was seated on the throne said, "See, I am making all things new."
I think that it is a shame that we usually only associate this passage with funerals, because I think that it is a good promise to remember in our day to day lives. When we look at the world around us, and when we turn on the news and see the injustice that plagues our world, and when the weight of the world has us down, we have this promise to remind us that someday, Jesus will return to restore the world to the way it was intended to be. Imagine a world where people will no longer toil in vain only to see the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Imagine a world where people will no longer be subject to corrupt governments. Imagine no more bloodshed, no more crime, and no more hatred. The return of our Messiah will mean the falling of the greed and the corruption and the lust for power that seems to make the world go round, and the rising of justice and mercy and love.
So how can we be modern-day Simeons and modern-day Annas? How do we await the return of our Messiah? Jesus calls us all to be His disciples and to follow in His footsteps. We can await His return by continuing the ministry He started almost two thousand years ago, by loving God with our whole hearts, by showing His love to our neighbors, by worshiping and praising Him, by doing His will, and by responding to those in need. May the words “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven” be not just our wish but our mission statement as well until that day when Christ returns to restore this fallen world to the creation God meant it to be.
Christ says, “Surely I am coming soon.”
“Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”
The music teacher decided that we would not sing this song at the mall. She figured that the people there would not understand the song. I would venture a guess that this is not a very familiar Bible story to most people. I know that I would probably not know this story very well were it not for the song I learned in sixth grade. Even those who read the Bible regularly could easily gloss over this story since it is sandwiched between two more familiar stories. Before this story we read about the birth of Jesus in the stable and about the shepherds who went to see Him. After this story we read about Jesus being separated from Mary and Joseph only to be found back at the Temple teaching the teachers, so to speak. Familiar or not, though, I think this story has a lot to say to us.
In this story, Jesus is just over a month old when He is taken by Mary and Joseph to the Temple. According to the Torah, every firstborn son is to be dedicated to the Lord’s service. At this ceremony, two very interesting people are present: Simeon the Righteous and Anna the Prophetess. Simeon was a very devout man who had been promised by God that he would not die until he saw the Messiah. Anna, whom the Bible calls a prophetess, was a widow who worshiped at the Temple day and night.
On the day of Jesus’ dedication, Simeon is led by God into the Temple, and, when he sees Jesus, he knows right away that he is the Lord’s Messiah. He then takes Jesus into his arms and breaks into song:
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.
It is no wonder that he would break into song at this moment. Simeon is finally seeing what he has waited so long for. He is seeing what the Jews had been awaiting for generations. The child that he was holding that day was the Messiah, the Lord’s Anointed, and the Chosen One who would bring salvation to Israel. Imagine what it must be like to see firsthand what your people have been awaiting for so long.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.
The story says that Mary and Joseph were amazed to hear what Simeon said about Jesus. I have never had a child, so I have never experienced the pride that a parent feels. I know, though, that a parent is proud when his or her child brings home a good report card or makes a spot on the sports team, or gets a solo in his school band. If these things make a parent proud, then imagine what Mary and Joseph must have felt that day, to hear this man saying these things. How would you feel if you heard that your child would be the salvation of your people and that he would be the glory of your people and that he would be a light to the nations?
After his song, Simeon blessed Mary and Joseph. He then turned to Mary and began to prophesy. He said, "This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel..." When Jesus was born, Israel had been under Roman occupation for over sixty years, and the Jews were looking forward to a messiah who would be a great political or military leader who would restore Israel back to its former glory as in the days of King David and King Solomon. The Jews would likely have interpreted Simeon’s prophecy to mean that Jesus would mean the falling of the occupying Roman government in Israel and the rising of Israel as an independent nation again. This sentiment can be seen in the movie King of Kings. In this interpretation of Jesus' life, the insurrectionist Barabbas hopes that Jesus will support his revolt against Rome. We know from history, though, that this is not what God had in mind.
Jesus would cause a different kind of upheaval in Israel. He caused the falling of the elite and the rising of the downtrodden. He brought down the teachers of the Law who were so wrapped up in the legalism of things that they missed the point of the Law entirely. He lifted up those who were looked down upon by such religious leaders. In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus said, "I have come to call not the righteous but sinners." He lifted up the poor, the unclean, the lepers, the prostitutes, the tax collectors, and the sinners, while knocking the Pharisees and Sadducees off of their high horse. This is just the way Jesus’ message is: it confounds the arrogant; it gives hope to the hopeless; it humbles the proud; and it lifts up the downcast.
Jesus’ message was so revolutionary that Simeon went on to predict the controversy that he would cause. He said that Jesus would "be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed." Throughout the Gospels, we read of people constantly trying to trip Jesus up with trick questions, and we read of people constantly bringing accusations against him. Of course we know that time and time again He meets these questions and accusations head on, confounding His accusers even further.
Lastly, Simeon says to Mary that 'a sword will pierce [her] own soul too.' Most scholars understand this statement to be a prediction of the sorrow Mary would feel as she watches her Son being crucified thirty-three years later. While I’m sure that her Son’s crucifixion broke her heart, I wonder if this is really what Simeon was referring to. In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul refers to the Word of God as the "Sword of the Spirit." In the Revelation of John, Jesus is described as having a sword coming from His mouth. In the Bible, we read of many who were "cut to the heart" by the life and message of Jesus. The tax collector Zacchaeus, for example, gave up cheating people after meeting Jesus. Paul, after his encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus, turned from a life of avidly persecuting Christians to a life of ministry, spreading the Good News throughout the Middle East. I know that many of us in here could say how much the message of Jesus has cut us to the heart. I wonder if Simeon actually meant that Mary would be affected just as profoundly by her Son’s ministry.
The story goes on to mention another prophet Anna who also recognized Jesus as the Lord’s Messiah and immediately began spreading the Good News to others.
So what does this story have to say to us today? The Advent season reminds us that we too are waiting - and not just for Christmas. Just like Simeon and Anna, we too are waiting for our Messiah to come into the world and set things right. We are waiting for Jesus Christ to return to fix this fallen world.
There is a song that I love to hear on the radio, particularly after a bad day at work. It is by a Christian singer and songwriter named Jeremy Camp, and it is entitled “There Will Be a Day.”
I try to hold on to this world with everything I have
But I feel the weight of what it brings, and the hurt that tries to grab
The many trials that seem to never end, His word declares this truth,
That we will enter in this rest with wonders anew
But I hold on to this hope and the promise that He brings
That there will be a place with no more suffering
There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place will be no more
We’ll see Jesus face to face
But until that day, we’ll hold on to you always
I believe this artist must have been inspired to write these powerful and comforting words by chapter 21 of the Book of Revelation:But I feel the weight of what it brings, and the hurt that tries to grab
The many trials that seem to never end, His word declares this truth,
That we will enter in this rest with wonders anew
But I hold on to this hope and the promise that He brings
That there will be a place with no more suffering
There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place will be no more
We’ll see Jesus face to face
But until that day, we’ll hold on to you always
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them as their God; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away." And the one who was seated on the throne said, "See, I am making all things new."
I think that it is a shame that we usually only associate this passage with funerals, because I think that it is a good promise to remember in our day to day lives. When we look at the world around us, and when we turn on the news and see the injustice that plagues our world, and when the weight of the world has us down, we have this promise to remind us that someday, Jesus will return to restore the world to the way it was intended to be. Imagine a world where people will no longer toil in vain only to see the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Imagine a world where people will no longer be subject to corrupt governments. Imagine no more bloodshed, no more crime, and no more hatred. The return of our Messiah will mean the falling of the greed and the corruption and the lust for power that seems to make the world go round, and the rising of justice and mercy and love.
So how can we be modern-day Simeons and modern-day Annas? How do we await the return of our Messiah? Jesus calls us all to be His disciples and to follow in His footsteps. We can await His return by continuing the ministry He started almost two thousand years ago, by loving God with our whole hearts, by showing His love to our neighbors, by worshiping and praising Him, by doing His will, and by responding to those in need. May the words “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven” be not just our wish but our mission statement as well until that day when Christ returns to restore this fallen world to the creation God meant it to be.
Christ says, “Surely I am coming soon.”
“Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”
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