SIMEON
FINDS JESUS Simeon finds baby Jesus
in the temple with Mary and Joseph. He prophesies Christ's suffering. Anna, the
prophetess, also finds baby Jesus and tells others. Luke 2:22-40 Jesus was circumcised when He was eight days old. At
this time He formally received the name Jesus (Matt. When Jesus was forty days
old, Joseph and Mary with Jesus had to go to Joseph and Mary hurried
through the streets of THE Mary and Joseph
entered the large, beautiful outer courtyard known as the Court of the
Gentiles. Anyone was permitted to enter this courtyard. The buildings of the sacred part of
the temple was set on a somewhat higher terrace within this
courtyard. On this terrace was a low stone wall, 411z feet high, some distance
from the walls of the sacred buildings. At each entrance through this
wall was a sign in both Latin and Greek warning all non-Jews not to go beyond
this point on the pain of death. The Romans specifically permitted the Jewish
authorities to execute any non-Jew who went beyond this point. There were several entrances to the sacred buildings.
Perhaps Mary and Joseph walked up the wide stairway which led up from the stone
wall to the Beautiful Gate of the temple into the Court of the Women.
This gate faced east; its two huge doors were of bronze and were very
beautifully decorated. Hence, the name "beautiful gate." SIMEON As Mary and Joseph walked through the Court of the Women,
an old man named Simeon stopped them. Simeon was a very pious man\ He longed
for the time when God would send the Savior. Luke tells us that "the Holy
Spirit was on him"-Simeon had the gift of prophecy. Through the Holy
Spirit God had promised Simeon that he would see the promised Savior before he
died. On this morning the Holy Spirit moved Simeon to come
to the temple. When he saw Joseph and Mary with the Baby Jesus, he knew at once
that the Child was the promised Christ. He took the Baby from the arms of his
surprised mother and praised God. Simeon's beautiful song is known as the Nunc Dimitti. Simeon praised God that he had been privileged
to see "Your Salvation." Simeon speaks of Jesus as a Light to
be revealed to all people, to Jews and non-Jews alike. As the Savior of
the world, Jesus had come to rescue all people from the darkness and fatal
gloom of sin and bring them to the heavenly light through the forgiveness of
their sin! Isaiah 42: 6 and 49:6). As the: of mankind, Jesus was the
greatest of His people Mary and Joseph were greatly surprised at the words of
Simeon. Simeon was a total stranger. But, Simeon said in his song of praise
more about the future world ministry of Jesus. Simeon blessed Mary and Joseph. He spoke words of prophecy.
They remind us of John's words
when he says of Jesus, "He came to His own, and his own people did not
accept Him" Simeon foretold that Jesus would be opposed by His own
people. \ We think of the suffering of Mary as she watched
Jesus' agony on the cross ( Just then, a very old woman Anna came. God had also granted
her the gift of prophecy. Anna thanked God for permitting her to see the fulfillment
of His promise.
She shared her joy others in When Simeon and Anna had finished, Mary and Joseph
made their way to the Court of the Women up a stairway and through a large
doorway, known as the Gate of Nicanor. Here stood a
priest who came to receive the offering brought for Mary's sacrificial
cleansing (Leviticus 12). When the sacrifice for Mary
had been made, the priest came again for a second ceremony. According to God's
Law if the first child was a boy, he was to be dedicated to serve God full-time
at the sanctuary (Exodus 13: 2, 12ff.). When the Levites were chosen for
service, God permitted the parents to the child to give back five shekels
(around $2.50; Numbers 3:11ff.) The
priest now came to pronounce a praise of thanks for the gift of a son a
second prayer. Mary and Joseph returned to |