Character Studies - ElectronicGospel

Simeon and Annaa character study by Jeff S. SmithIntroduction[Read Luke 2:22-24.] After eight days on Earth, Jesus is transported by his mother from Bethlehem toJerusalem to be circumcised according to the custom of the Hebrews. Mary and Joseph were too poor tooffer a lamb for the sacrifice for her purification, so they offered young pigeons instead (cf. Leviticus12:6-8). And somewhat like Hannah with Samuel, they sought to present Jesus to his true heavenly fatherfor a lifetime of service. On this trip into town, they meet two interesting characters, Anna and Simeon,whose reactions to the baby Messiah we will consider today in this character study.DiscussionI. The TextA. Simeon (Luke 2:24-35)1. aside from being an obscure prophet, Simeon is a very ordinary man, a person like you and me;the text implies that he is an older man whose life is being prolonged until he can see his hope in the flesh2. Luke calls him a just and devout man–a man who hungers after righteousness and truly lives thetenets of his faith, rather than simply wearing them like an awkward ornament3. most importantly, Simeon was waiting on the Lord, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, aeuphemism for the Messiah who, according to the prophecies of Moses, Isaiah and others, was to comeand rescue Israel from slaverya. the Holy Spirit was upon him and led him into the temple on the eighth day so that he couldfinally see his hope in the flesh–not a hulking figure like King Saul or even a handsome young man in hisprime like David, but a baby in his mother’s armsb. immediately upon seeing this tender babe, he recognized his hope had been fulfilled and hisheart could return to God in peacec. in that baby’s eyes he saw a light for all the nations shining from the oil of Israel4. while Joseph and Mary had been instructed by Gabriel that their immaculately conceived sonwas something special, they yet marveled at the prophecies of Simeona. this “Prince of Peace” in their arms would also know conflict that would bring pain into theirvery lives and expose the hearts of people who only claimed to wait for a Messiah they didn’t really careforB. Anna (Luke 2:36-40)1. after leaving Simeon, they were interrupted by another elderly person, one Anna, also aprophetess of very advanced age2. the most wonderful thing that Luke has to say about her concerns her worship–she did not departfrom the temple, but served God night and daya. this does not mean that she lived in the temple, but that she was always there in attendanceduring times of prayer (cf. 24:53)b. this is the kind of person that you can always count on, no matter the weather or her mood, tobe present when God’s people are called to assemble3. like Simeon, she too came in the right instant to see the Messiah in his mother’s armsa. she gave thanks to the Lord for this wonderful giftb. and she began to speak of his arrival to all those who sought redemption in JerusalemII. Some ApplicationsA. With Age Comes Perspective1. both Simeon and Anna were old enough that they saw the handwriting on the wall and yet theirfaith kept them going; there was yet something for which they hoped and their experience at life hadhoned their perspective even as their natural senses might have deteriorated2. Proverbs 20:29 says, “The glory of young men is their strength, And the splendor of old men istheir gray head.”3. godly people tend to gain improved perspective as they experience more of life’s unexpectedcurveballs and begin to face the grim specter of death around them and in their own skinCharacter Studies! 89