Simeon and Anna

I know I will get a lot of slack for bringing out Santa Clause in a worship setting, but bare with me as I explain. Today, I want us to look at traditions. How some we do out of obligation, some we just do cause we have always done it, and some are done with the right heart that is honoring to the Lord.

Let me give you a little back story. I will blow some of your minds, Jesus was not born on December 25..What??? Yes, Jesus was not born on some snow night, he was actually born closer to the summer time between 2-6 AD. So where do we get celebrating Christ’s birth when we do?

Researchers have speculated that the Roman Catholic Church chose Dec. 25 because it ties in with the winter solstice and Saturnalia, a festival dedicated to the Roman deity Saturn. The church could also co-opt this popular pagan festival, as well as the winter celebration of other pagan religions, by choosing this day to celebrate Jesus' birthday, according to scholar Ignacio L. Götz in his book "Jesus the Jew: Reality, Politics, and Myth-A Personal Encounter”

The United States made Christmas a national holiday on June 28, 1870, when President Ulysses S. Grant signed a bill into law. The bill was introduced by Representative Burton Chauncey Cook of Illinois after the Civil War. It was made a federal holiday in 1885.

Now to really blow your mind. Santa Clause is based on a real person, but had nothing to do with Christmas.

The story of St. Nicholas dates back to the 3rd century, when he was a monk in Patara, modern-day Turkey. He was known for helping the sick and less fortunate even though he came from a very wealthy family.

It is believed that he held confession and heard three young women say that they wanted to get married , but were not able to come up with the dowry. Yes, back then women had to pay their husbands family to be able to be married. That night he put the dowry in little sacks and threw them through the window by the fireplace. The reason was cause the women would hang clothes by the fireplace and they would see the sacks. St Nick passed away on Dec 26th 343 AD. Sounds vaguely familiar doesn’t it.

Get this, the Dutch called St. Nick, Sinterclaus!

It wasn’t until 1809, when the marketing department at Knickerbocker's of New York decided to take this story and make St. Nick into a jolly old fellow riding in a wagon handing out presents. Then we got him being a jolly old elf being pulled by reindeer when we got the story of Twas the night before Christmas. The red Santa suit and other related apparel are largely the result of modern marketing.

And it made a beautiful story about help and generosity, to a way to sell overindulgence.

Again, it is a heart thing. As Christians, we can celebrate Christmas without worry, because we know and must always remember that it is about the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ, not what the world makes it out to be.

Now staying in the vein of traditions, Joseph and Mary followed the traditions of their people by going to the temple and dedicating Jesus to the Lord.

Luke 2:21–24 CSB

When the eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus—the name given by the angel before he was conceived. And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were finished, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (just as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every firstborn male will be dedicated to the Lord) and to offer a sacrifice (according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons).

Let’s Pray!

Now as I have said, there is nothing wrong with traditions, as long as it is done with a right heart. The parents of Jesus, being good Jews, knew of the traditions and respected the Lord’s ordinances to honor them. And it is because of their respect for these traditions, we get two characters that had a significant impact that Luke felt it was necessary to mention them. And they are Simeon and Anna.

Let’s start with Simeon.

Here is what we know about Simeon. Simeon was one of the godly remnant of Jews who were waiting on the Messiah.

Let’s look at what the bible says about him.

Luke 2:25–28 CSB

There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking forward to Israel’s consolation, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he saw the Lord’s Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, he entered the temple. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him up in his arms, praised God, and said,

He was righteous and devout man that was looking forward to Israel getting back to its former glory. It was revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die until he saw the Lord’s Anointed One. He was such a man in tune with the Lord, that he listened to the promptings of the Spirit.

A few things we can learn from Simeon’s life up to this point.

It is those who walk in quiet contemplative fellowship with the Lord will hear the subtle promptings from the Holy Spirit. Simeon was not a perfect man, but he was a man who obeyed the Holy Spirit which told him to go to the temple at the very same time as Mary and Joseph came in to dedicate Jesus. It is important to note, people did not have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit like we do today, they had to play a vital part in God’s plan for the bible to mention that they heard and obeyed the Spirit. He took this baby in his arms and he gave praise to the Lord. He praised the Lord with a song that we call the Nunc Dimittis. Latin for now I shall depart.

Luke 2:29–32 CSB

Now, Master, you can dismiss your servant in peace, as you promised. For my eyes have seen your salvation. You have prepared it in the presence of all peoples— a light for revelation to the Gentiles and glory to your people Israel.

The purpose of this song is to hearken back to the prophecy spoken about in the book of Isaiah.

Isaiah 49:6 CSB

he says, “It is not enough for you to be my servant raising up the tribes of Jacob and restoring the protected ones of Israel. I will also make you a light for the nations, to be my salvation to the ends of the earth.”

It is prophesying that Jesus would one day be the baby that the salvation of the world would come from, the promised Redeemer. That Jesus would be the light of true knowledge to the Gentiles and to shine in Glory upon the Israelites.

Simeon is praising in song to the Lord cause he knew that the sting of death was gone and he could die in peace of knowing the Messiah has arrived.

Simeon was not done. Before taking his leave, he gave Mary a prophecy about Jesus.

Luke 2:33–35 CSB

His father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and told his mother Mary, “Indeed, this child is destined to cause the fall and rise of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be opposed—and a sword will pierce your own soul—that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

This prophecy that Simeon spoke to Mary has 4 parts that we need to look at.

the fall and rise of many in Israel

Simeon is referring to those who were arrogant, unrepentant, and unbelieving would fall and be punished, but those who humbled themselves, repent, and receive Christ would rise and be blessed.

2. a sign that will be opposed

Christ’s very presence proved to be tremendous rebuke to sin and unholiness, and that brought out (and still brings out) bitterness that is in the heart of man.

3. a sword will pierce your own soul

Some translations say will pierce your soul too. Simeon is telling Mary of the grief she would experience at the moment of her son’s crucifixion.

4. the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed

This expresses not only the way the religious leaders hearts will react to Christ’s message, but it tells us that a way a person reacts to Christ shows what truly is in their hearts and where their worship lies.

Now most people read into the text here and say Simeon left, but the bible is not clear on this point. What we do see is our next person in the story.

The prophetess Anna.

Anna was a elderly woman that could have been well into her 100 years on earth.

Luke 2:36–38 CSB

There was also a prophetess, Anna, a daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was well along in years, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and was a widow for eighty-four years. She did not leave the temple, serving God night and day with fasting and prayers. At that very moment, she came up and began to thank God and to speak about him to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

Anna is one of a few women in the Bible who are designated as prophetesses, along with Miriam, Deborah, Huldah, Isaiah's wife, and Philip's daughters.

The significance of her widowhood might be lost on those of us living in the present day. However, in the time in which she lived, this would mean she lived in poverty and insignificance without the protection of a husband.

God Uses Seemingly Insignificant People. At the first reading of Anna’s story, she seems so insignificant. The world at the time of Jesus would have considered her a nobody. However, God saw her dedication to Him, delighted in her worship, and listened to the cries of her heart.

you may feel insignificant, wondering if God can and will use you. Rest assured, God sees you. He hears you. He understands the longings of your soul. And, He will use you if you allow Him to do so.

A Life Lived in Worship and Prayer Results in Recognizing the Work of God. Anna had spent hours worshipping God and praying to Him prior to this moment. As a result, When Christ entered the temple she recognized Him as the one sent to redeem.

A life lived in worship and prayer is never wasted. God sees the hours you spend worshipping Him and crying out to Him on behalf of others. He sees the times you pray in the middle of the night when you’re not sure what else to do. He hears the whispers of your heart when you’re not sure how to pray and He sees every time you turn your panic into praise. None of it is lost on Him.

Age Is Not the Determination for Serving God. I love how tucked in the Christmas story is the life of an insignificant teen, Mary, who God chose to use to mother His son. Also tucked within the story is an 105-year-old widow who God also uses to spread the story about Him.

Your age is not an indicator of how and when God might use you. If you’re young, resolve to follow Him wholeheartedly. Make it your goal to live a life of prayer and worship like Anna. If you still have breath, God is not done with you yet. Keep worshipping and praying. God has you on earth for a reason.

There is so much we can learn from Simeon and Anna. They made such an impression on Mary that she gave these stories to Luke to write down in his gospel.

One more thing that needs to be noted and holds such significance to us today. Anna name means grace and favor. Simeon is the representation of the law. Once the story finished with Simeon, in walked grace and favor.

That is the salvation gospel in a nutshell.