MONDAY, 28 December, 2020 “Simeon & Anna”

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Hello my “Walking with Jesus” friends.

Today we begin the final week of 2020, the last few days of what will go down in history as one of the most unforgettable, unpredictable years in our recent past! Would you agree this year has been filled with almost daily surprises?

The Christmas story is one major, unexpected surprise after another, isn’t it? Today, let’s walk with Joseph and Mary as they climb that long flight of steps up to the great Temple mount in Jerusalem. That huge walled area of their day is in the same place as the Temple mount is today! The famous golden dome Islamic temple of our day is almost exactly where the great Jewish Temple was the day Joseph and Mary climbed those steps. Let’s walk with them, into the Temple courtyard area which is filled with hundreds of people.

Joseph and Mary have come to fulfill their privilege as young parents and their Jewish obligation to thank God for their firstborn child, who Mary is carefully carrying, and consecrate baby Jesus to God. They have brought their humble sacrifices, and now they look for a priest who will help them in this sacred, private ceremony, that was prescribed by God way back in the days of Moses. (Leviticus 12)

Suddenly an old man, wearing the Jewish prayer shawl, approaches Joseph and Mary. He stops us in our tracks… ‘May I see Him” The old man asks. Mary looks at Joseph. We all wonder “who is this old man”? Out of respect for what appears to be an old man of God, Mary hands her baby over to him.

The old man pulls back the cloth covering the baby’s face and his old eyes grow large as though he’s looking at a priceless treasure. His mouth opens wide as though struggling to catch his breath. The old man looks at Mary, then Joseph, then up to heaven. Tears begin to run down his cheeks… “Do you have any idea how long I’ve waited to see this child?” The old man asks. “I’ve prayed every day for many years that God would keep me alive until the day this miracle baby would be carried into this Temple area, as you have come today…”

With eyes raised to heaven but filled with tears, the old man began to pray “Sovereign LORD, as You have promised, You may now dismiss Your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You promised for all the nations: He is a light to reveal You, O God, to the nations, and He is the glory of Your people Israel.” (Luke 2:29-32)

Stunned Joseph and Mary look at each other… who is this old man? How does He know who infant Jesus is? How did he find us in this big crowd? How did he know we’d come to the Temple this day?

My “Walking with Jesus” friends, when was the last time God surprised you? I mean with a breathtaking type of surprise…something unexplainable except, God did it! Notice please that Dr. Luke tells us this old man was named Simeon. He was a holy man and very devout. We can assume he spent time almost every day here in the Temple, praying and watching. Watching for what you might ask? Listen to Luke’s explanation: “He was waiting for Messiah to come as the consolation for Israel’s long awaiting. The Holy Spirit was upon old Simeon and had revealed to him that he would not die before he had seen the LORD’s Messiah with his own eyes. Moved by the Holy Spirit that day, Simeon went into the Temple courts…” (Luke 2:25-27)

Ah, do you see it my friends? This was a miracle of God. God was honoring the long faithfulness of this dear, devout man of God. And the Holy Spirit of God led Simeon to the Temple that day, and led him through the crowd to just the right young couple with a baby…not just any baby of course. As soon as Simeon pulled back that little cloth and saw his face, the Holy Spirit of God confirmed in Simeon’s heart “This is Messiah. . .the great I AM has come to earth, Immanuel.” That’s why Simeon took the baby in his arms and prayed as he did! It was a defining moment for Joseph, Mary, Simeon and our entire human race! But this sacred experience was not over!!

Simeon then looked right at young Mary and as he was handing back her child he said “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that many will speak against, so that the secret thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.” (Luke 2:34,35)

Suddenly the great, boundless joy of Simeon’s glorious prayer was shattered. Many would oppose this sweet child? Mary’s own heart would be broken, several times? But why would God allow this to happen? Gabriel had greeted her by saying “Greetings you who are highly favored! The LORD is with you.” (Luke 1:28)but what Simeon has just said does not at all sound like the favor of God, it sounds terrible and painful.

For an instant Mary wanted to run with her baby, far away from the Temple, and Simeon and anything or anyone who might harm them. But Simeon’s tender, loving eyes… the tears running down his weathered old cheeks… the profound, powerful prayer he had just prayed… the certainty that this child is in fact the long awaited Jewish Messiah, the promised Anointed One from God. How could a precious moment be so wonderful and so dreadful at the same time? Mary’s troubled thoughts were then interrupted by a touch on her arm. Mary turned and looked into the face of a very old woman with such a loving smile.

Who was she? What did she want? She began to speak… “Glory to God in the highest! Oh praise be to the God of Israel, that He has sent to us a Savior for such a time as this.” She explained her name was Anna. Like Simeon, she spent most every day here in the Temple. She had married early in life, but her husband had died after only a few years, and she’s been a widow ever since. Oh but she says, “don’t feel sorry for me. I have lived a full life! Every day here in this Temple I pray, I worship and fast. God and I have a wonderful, very special relationship. Simeon and I have spoken many times about what it would be like when finally we see HIM! Oh thank you God, thank you!”

Of course friends, those words are not recorded in Scripture. They are what I imagine Anna might have said to them. Scripture does tell us Anna “…gave thanks to God and spoke to them about the child and all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.” (Luke 2:38)

How long did Joseph and Mary linger in the grand Temple courts that day, simply in awe of God’s majesty, His goodness to Israel and His remarkable miracle of involving them, a poor couple from a no name town of Nazareth, in His eternal great plan? And then, after some time, they walked through that crowd and left the great Temple, simply in awe of God.

Could I ask you on this Monday between Christmas and the New Year, are you in awe of God today? Has He surprised you over and over in 2020? Has He done in your life, the miracles that only God can do? Have you thanked Him? Do you understand what God is attempting to accomplish IN you and THROUGH your life? Do you see how God has positioned you for what HE is planning for 2021?

Are you in AWE of God and His Christmas plan to offer salvation to our world? I invite you, my friends, join with me in this brand new, powerful song from Hillsong, and let your soul be overwhelmed as Simeon and Anna’s were. . .

Click to read today’s chapter: Luke 2:25-38. (At the top you can choose a different translation.)

Click here to listen to a dramatized reading of Luke 2.

Bible images provided with attribution to www.LumoProject.com.

Have a comment or question about today’s chapter? I’m ready to hear from you, contact me here.

Pastor Doug Anderson 262.441.8785
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2)

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