Simeon and Anna: The Fruit of Waiting Close to the Lord
Theme: Good News to Share
Theme Verse: "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10b NIV
Readings: Luke 2:21-40
Memory Verse: Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For My eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared in the sight of all the people, a light for revelation to the gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel." Luke 2:29-32
Simeon and Anna were ready to receive what God had for them to see and do. What do we need to do to be "ready"? Are we ready daily?? Word received: Be ready. Watch for what God is doing.
Background: See Leviticus 12:2-8. Joseph and Mary are obediently following the law and customs about the birth of a child, especially first-born male child. Look how their obedience brings opportunities for God to pour out blessings on them and on others. (There was obedience in naming the baby, circumcision, purification, consecration of 1st born child, sacrifice. Luke emphasizes their obedience.) Word received: I want you to be obedient to Me as Joseph and Mary were.
Here we see not only faithfulness and obedience of Mary and Joseph but also the role of a healthy religious culture and law/word of God play in bringing us before God at important times in our lives. It is an opportunity for God to work further in our lives and call us back to himself. Remember what we learned about the role of annual fests and fasts for God's people. Word received: My word will NEVER return to Me void. I will use it for My glory.
Both Simeon and Anna were waiting for God's promise to be fulfilled. (Isaiah 40:31) Word received: There are times when you will need to wait for Me to reveal Myself. Be faithful to Me as I am always faithful to you. Then you will reap the rewards I have for you.
And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. (Luke 2:25) Prayer: Holy Spirit, come upon us -- help us to be just and devout, waiting for your consolation.
[NOTE on "consolation of Israel": Compare this with the end of verse 26,"see the Christ of the Lord". See what it says about Anna in Vs.38 that she spoke "to all who were looking for "redemption IN Jerusalem" ( This is the literal Greek.). See also Luke 23:51 about Joseph of Arimathea who asked for Jesus body and put it in his own tomb. "He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, who had not consented to their purpose and deeds and he was looking for the Kingdom of God." "Consolation" in Greek means, comfort, consolation, exhortation, entreaty. " In the Old Testament the language of "consolation" comes up in the message of the prophets when the Jews are in exile in Babylon. "Consolation" refers to God's gracious deliverance of his people from exile and the ultimate fulfillment of his promise. By the time of Jesus the language has clearly been adapted to refer to the fulfillment of God's Messianic promise -- basically "consolation of Israel"= "The Kingdom of God." (quote from Fr. Christopher Brown).]
"And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ." (Luke 2:26) Word received: Simeon lived in the hope of what I would reveal. I want you to live in that same hope.
"So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law,"(Luke 2:27) Word received: Think of Philip who also was at the right place at the right time. If you let me guide you by my Holy Spirit, that will happen to you as well.
"he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said:" (Luke 2:28) Word received: He saw with eyes of faith and responded to what he saw: pray for such eyesight for yourself and those around you. Word received: Now is the time to take Jesus into your arms, your heart.
"Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation" (Luke 2:29-30) Word received: He had eyes to see my salvation: pray for such sight; pray that blind eyes will see my salvation.
"Which you have prepared before the face of all peoples," (Luke 2:31) Word received: My salvation has been prepared for everyone; pray they will receive what I have prepared.
"A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel." (Luke 2:32) Word received: I want my light to shine forth to all people; I want my word, my revelation to bring light to the nations.
"And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of him." (Luke 2:33) Word received: I want your heart to be touched as well.
Simeon also warned Mary of pain that would come to her in Jesus' death. God sometimes prepares us for hard times by giving us a hint ahead of time so we won't be surprised and to help us prepare.
Most of Anna's adult life was lived as a widow, living in the temple, worshipping God with fasting and prayer day and night. She was also a prophetess ( one who spoke God's present message). She too was led by the Holy Spirit to arrive at just the right time to see the infant Messiah and immediately she recognized him and praise God and shared the good news with all that group of people waiting for God's promises to be fulfilled. (See Note on page 1 about the various ways this hope was expressed.)
Notice to whom God revealed the gift of his son, the fulfilling of his promise: to two elderly, faithful and ordinary servants of his, who had a lifetime of walking close to God, some lowly shepherds and some wise foreigners--not the political and religious leaders of Israel.
Verse 39 again emphasized Mary and Joseph's faithfulness in obeying the law of God, and God's word to them, which led to the blessing of so many people as well as themselves. Verse 40 speaks quite simply of God's blessing on Jesus' childhood. God incarnate had to experience growing up to make him like us. "Therefore in all things he had to be made like his brethren that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest" (Hebrews 2:17) "for we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin." (Hebrews 4:15) Notice also that the gospels do not indulge our curiosity about Jesus' boyhood. However popular imagination created many stories to fill the gap. One or two appear in the Quran.
Teaching Ideas for Lesson 13.
Please read the Study Guide first. Go over Memory Verse to make sure the children understand it and then if they have memorized it.
Remind them their parents need to sign a report slip monthly if they have read the lessons, so they will get credit at the end of the year.
Make sure they know what happened in the story. Get them to tell you.
Basic points of the lesson for little ones:
1.God wants us to live close to Him. He wants to be close to us too. He wants us to live in hope of what He will do.
2. When we live close to God, He can prepare us for special times in our lives. Obedience and readiness go hand in hand.
3. When we listen to Him and do what He says, then He can work in our lives.
4. God wants to prepare us for the birth of His Son, Jesus, which we celebrate at this season. God wants to touch our hearts. ("What can I give him, poor as I am? I give him my heart".)
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