Nativity: Simeon & Anna

This is the manuscript for the sermon I preached at West Bradenton Baptist Southside on Sunday December 15th, 2019

Introduction
Today is the third Sunday of Advent and we are getting closer and closer to Christmas.  It is during this time that we both look back at the greatest gift God has given to his people, which is Jesus Christ.  It is also during this time that we look forward in anticipation for the day when Jesus returns to establish His Kingdom here on earth.  However, in his second advent he will not come back as a child born in a humble manner to peasant parents, instead he will come back as the great and sovereign warrior King above of all kings and Lord over all lords. 
 
In the past two weeks we have looked respectively both Mary and Joseph and the Shepherds and the Angels and the roles they all played in the first Advent of Jesus Christ.  So far, we have looked at Jesus’ humble beginnings and the impact these beginnings have had on that first Christmas day.
 
Today we will continue to look at two individuals who played a role in the Christmas story, but they are not usually associated with the Nativity.  However, both play a significant part in having a better understanding of the purpose of the Christmas story.  Some of you may not recall these individuals at all, but I assure you the part they play in this story is significant and we can learn much from them.  In our passage today we are introduced to and elderly man named Simeon and an elderly widow named Anna.  Their story is told in 15 short verses in Luke chapter 2 and then we do not hear about either one ever again.  Since their is story is short and they are never referenced again I have found that the preparations for today’s message a bit challenging, but in the end I believe that what we can all learn from these two elderly people should encourage us, because it is a reminder that God is never fully done with His children no matter what age or stage of life you are in.
 
Read Luke 2:21 – 38
 
Vs 21: “When 8 days were completed… circumcision.” – According to Jewish custom and Old Testament Law a male child was to be brought before the priest and circumcised. 
(Read Genesis 17:12, 13)
Circumcision – (Hebrew Muwl) – To be cut off. 

1.  Circumcision was the confirmation of the covenant of God with Abraham. 
   1. To be cut off from the world and consecrated to God.
   2. It is a mark of submission to God and His sovereignty.
   3. In the New Testament it is referred to as circumcision of the heart which is a sign of regeneration (being born again).

After the 8th day and the child was circumcised he was named.  The son of Mary and Joseph was named Jesus as directed by the angel before he was conceived.
 
Vs. 22: “days of purification” – when a child was born a mother went through a time of ritual cleansing.
(Read Lev. 12:1 – 8)

1. The child is circumcised on the eighth day and then the mother (Mary in this case) will continue her purification for 33 more days (total 41 days of purification).  During this time, she cannot enter the sanctuary of the temple or touch anything that is considered holy.
   1. When her purification is complete, she is to bring the male child to the Priest and offer a burnt offering (A lamb if one can afford it or two turtledoves if they cannot afford it)
   2. This will be made as an atonement and to declare the mother clean.

 
Vs 23: “As written in the Law of the Lord” – Jesus’ parents were practicing Jews
(Read Deut. 15:19)
 
Vs 25: Simeon – We do not know much about Simeon, but here are some things we do know about him.

What We Know About Simeon (2:25 – 35)

1. Simeon lived in expectation
   1. “Israel’s Consolation”
      1. According to the Faith Life Study Bible – “This likely alludes to prophecies anticipating a time of redemption for Israel, which would be signified by an incredible sense of Yahweh’s presence. This time of restoration was expected to be accomplished through Yahweh’s anointed representative, the Messiah[1]
      2. He was waiting for the Messiah
      3. He was anticipating the restoration of Israel
2. Simeon was led by and filled with the Spirit
   1. The Holy Spirit gave him the ability to speak prophetically
   2. The Holy Spirit revealed to him that he would not die before seeing the Messiah.
   3. He was a righteous man
   4. He was a devout man
3. Simeon’s Song is a blessing, a prophecy and a promise of God. –
   1. (Latin) Nunc dimittis – Now release or Now dismiss
   2. Takes Jesus into his arms and blesses and praises God
   3. The song is a prophetic declaration of praise. 
      
      

Verse 30 – to see Jesus is to see salvation

1. Jesus is light – He will bring the light of salvation to all
   1. Jesus will bring salvation to the Jews – the long-anticipated Messiah who will restore Israel to a right relationship with God.
   2. Jesus will bring salvation to the Gentiles – His life, death, and resurrection will bring hope and salvation also to the Gentiles.  Jesus will be the Lord and savior to all, both Jew and Gentile.
   3. Thus, Jesus would bring division and unity
      1. The child will bring division in the nation thus some will be judged, and some will be blessed, and this is all dependent on how people respond to Him.
      2. Some will believe in Jesus and some will reject Jesus
      3. .Luke 12:15 – Jesus came to bring division – He came to bring the truth and the truth separates right and wrong
      4. John 7:43 – Jesus caused division – Some people embraced Jesus and others did not and this caused division
      5. John 10:21 – Persecution will arise because of Jesus.
      6. Ephesians 4:1 – 16 – Jesus will bring believers together in unity

 Vs 36 – 38: Anna – We know even less about her.

1. Some believe she was over 100 years old. 
   1. She was probably married as a young girl (maybe 13 to 15 yrs. old)
   2. She was married for 7 yrs. And her husband died (age 20 or 22)
   3. Widowed for 84 yrs. (age 104 or 106 yrs. Old)
2. She was a prophetess
   1. According to Harper’s Bible Dictionary – A prophetess is “a woman who serves as a channel of communication between the human and divine worlds. In their prophetic behavior and religious functions, they are not distinguished from their male counterparts.”[2]
   2. She was the first prophetess to recognize Jesus as Messiah
   3. She was devoted to God as she worshiped God in the Temple every day (morning and evening services)
   4. When she met the infant Savior, she began to praise God and tell others about him.
   5. What we can learn from Anna…
      1. When you meet the Savior, it is always a cause for worship and thanksgiving.
      2. When you meet the Savior, you will tell others about Him.

 Application – What can we learn from Simeon and Anna this Christmas Season?
Both Simeon and Anna were living in patient hope, where suffering had become a way of life.

1.  Living under Roman rule the Jews were patiently awaiting their Messiah to come so he (so they thought) would set them free from the bondage of Rome and restore Israel to her former glory.
2. The Jews were living under the heavy-handed Roman government.  The Romans persecuted the Jews through high taxation, physical brutality and oppression.

 
How Can We Live in Patient Expectancy?

1. Understand there was a beginning there will be an end to Creation
   1. We must begin by acknowledging God as Creator
   2. God created the world for his glory
   3. God has appointed a time when the world will be destroyed (Daniel 11:35)
   4. We live in the middle of the beginning and the end and living in the middle is hard
2.  Understand that we live in a fallen and sinful world
   1. Because of sin (Genesis 3:6)
   2. Evil is rampant
   3. Injustice is widespread
   4. The world is hostile towards Christianity
   5. This causes a great tension for us… We want the injustice, hostility and evil to end and for God to sovereignly rule. Waiting is the hardest part
3. Understand that Jesus is triumphant
   1. Evil will try to win
   2. Every knee will bow, and every tongue confess Jesus is Lord (Philippians 2:9 – 11)
   3. The result of Jesus’ victory is that we will live in a new heaven and new earth
   4. Jesus’ triumphant victory over evil is our hope and future.

[1] Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Lk 2:25). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

[2] Achtemeier, P. J., Harper & Row and Society of Biblical Literature. (1985). In Harper’s Bible dictionary (1st ed., p. 830). San Francisco: Harper & Row.