Luke 2:22–40
22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.”
33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
36 There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.
The Humble Origins of the Saviour
As we survey the whole of this passage, we see that as Jesus comes, as the Law requires, to be circumcised, named, and presented at the Temple. This is no ordinary affair. The passage begins by highlighting the humble origins of Jesus. Mary and Joseph can only present the offering of two doves or pigeons, which was prescribed for those who could not afford a lamb. This ordinary and humble beginning continues as we are introduced to two people, themselves seemingly ordinary. We are not told that either of them held any significant office as a high priest, Sanhedrin, temple official, or Levite. Yet, the LORD had placed them there for this very moment. Simeon was “waiting for the consolation of Israel” (2:25), and later we see Anna speaking about Jesus to all at the Temple “looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem” (2:38). Both Simeon and Anna embody the sincere faith into which God has always invited his people. That is, a faith which doesn’t look to ideologies, governments, or powers (military or social), but God alone to work out his purposes, even in ways that seem opposite to our expectations.
Simeon’s faith was both trusting God in his timing (as he waited for Jesus) and trusting God in his means (as he prophesied over Jesus to Mary and Joseph). Just listen to the words of Simeon, “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too” (2:34-35). That’s not exactly a decisive, victorious, or even kingly prophecy for a baby God had revealed to him would at the same time still fulfill the role as “consolation of Israel” (2:24) and “the Lord’s Messiah” (2:25). However, interestingly, Simeon’s proclamation, though perhaps not necessarily fitting the expectation many in Israel had of a “conquering hero,” firmly finds its roots in Scripture. A few examples in the Book of Isaiah include:
And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken. (Isaiah 40:5)
I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, (Isaiah 42:6)
I am bringing my righteousness near, it is not far away; and my salvation will not be delayed. I will grant salvation to Zion, my splendor to Israel. (Isaiah 46:13)
He says: “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth. (Isaiah 49:6)
Burst into songs of joy together, you ruins of Jerusalem, for the LORD has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem.
The LORD will lay bare his holy arm in the sight of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God. (Isaiah 52:9-10)
These passages in Isaiah were historically connected with Israel, as the “Servant of the Lord.” In a way, Simeon’s proclamation recovers a long-neglected but seminal truth of who Israel was meant to be. That is, that they are not the sole heirs of God’s salvation, but were called to a conduit of God’s revelation to all humanity (i.e. Gen. 12:1-3; Deut. 4:6; Isa. 49:6; 60:3).
Jesus is brought into the Temple so that he might be dedicated to God. This signals a promise made now being fulfilled. We might imagine that Jesus, “the light of the world” (John 8:12), comes into the Temple, is dedicated, but is also in some way confirmed to be the one who will take the light of God, which this Temple symbolizes, and bring it to all peoples. This builds our anticipation for what Jesus is coming to accomplish, and as we see Simeon’s proclamation initiated by the Holy Spirit (recalling Isaiah 61), this anticipation only grows in the veracity of its witness of what is to come in the remainder of Luke-Acts.
This passage is filled with anticipation, which is meant to build up for us the expectation of hope and promise that is being fulfilled through Jesus.
- Can you identify with Simeon and Anna in some way? Have you ever waited so long for something, and then, “surprise!”, it finally arrived? How did that feel?
- Take a couple minutes to reflect on Luke 2:22-40. Is there anything that particularly grabs your attention? Does something excite you for what is coming next in this story?
- What are some of the hopes you carry in this season (especially as you anticipate Jesus’ first coming in Advent – which literally translates “arrival”)?
- Take some time to pray and listen. Set a timer for 3 minutes, and then pray: Holy Spirit, I desire to be led, like Simeon and Anna, into the joyous excitement of what you have done through Jesus. How would you desire to lead me into Your hopes and priorities in the current season I am in?
- Write down anything that comes: Scripture, word, thought, picture, or impression.
- When the time has elapsed, thank the Holy Spirit for anything you have received, and then take some time to reflect on what is highlighted for you in this time, and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you in how he desires to lead you into his hopes and priorities for you.
Author Bio:
My name is Kris Schmidtke, and I am the Pastor of Mixed Adults at
Heartland Alliance Church in Sherwood Park, Alberta. I am married to my lovely wife Michelle, and we are a family of five, with our two sons and our friend who lives in our basement.
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Luke and Acts taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®
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