Church Sermon - December 29, 2002

SEEING CHRIST THROUGH THE EYES OF SIMEON AND ANNA

Rev. Bernt P. Tweit

Epistle Lesson; Colossians 3:12-17
Old Testament Lesson; Isaiah 45:22-25
Sermon Text; Luke 2:25-40

After a Jewish child was born, it was a requirement of the law to attend to certain matters. It was the same for Mary and Joseph. And so, this morning I am going to begin by describing the requirements of the law that Mary and Joseph were to follow, after Jesus’ birth.

On the eight day after birth, a son was to be circumcised and named. The circumcision usually took place in the home of the parents. However, we know that Mary and Joseph were a long way from home, because they had to travel to Bethlehem for the census that had been decreed. Since Mary and Joseph were away from home, we don’t know where they might have stayed, completing this requirement of the law, while they remained in Bethlehem. We don’t know for sure, but we hope to think that Mary and Joseph found better accommodations than the stable where Jesus was born. And, probably they did, after all of those people had left Bethlehem, having been counted. So, just as was told by the angel, it was on the eighth day after Jesus was born that he was circumcised and named Jesus, in fulfillment of the Jewish law.

Also, 40 days after a son was born, he was to be brought to the temple and presented to the priest. During this period of 40 days the mother was considered to be unclean. She needed to go the temple with lamb. Or if she was poor, she needed to bring two doves to the temple. This was for a sin offering and a burnt offering. The priest would make a sacrifice for her, to atone for her, so she would then be considered clean. Leviticus 12:1-8

We know from scripture that 40 days after Jesus was born, Mary and Joseph made a short 5-mile trip from Bethlehem to Jerusalem to fulfill those requirements of the Jewish law of Mary being purified and Jesus being presented. The law also required that a firstborn male be consecrated to the Lord. Exodus 13:2

If the child was not given into the service of the Lord, the parents needed to redeem him, by a payment of five shekels. Numbers 3:46, 47

Mary and Joseph did not make this payment, since Jesus was consecrated to the Lord in the fullest possible way.

So right before our text for today, we see Jesus, with Mary and Joseph, going into the temple of Jerusalem.

It was while this was happening that the important occurrence took place, which Luke records for our sermon text this morning. Today we are going to see Christ through the eyes of Simeon and Anna.

Luke 2:25-40

Let’s start out today by looking at the Christ-child through the eyes of Simeon. Simeon, first of all had waiting eyes. We don’t know a lot about Simeon. As a matter of a fact, this is the only place in scripture where he is mentioned. Although he is not mentioned anywhere else in Scripture, we know that Luke says,

"He was waiting for the consolation of Israel and

the Holy Spirit was upon him."

Luke 2:25

What does it mean that he was waiting for the consolation of Israel? He was waiting to be alleviated from misery. He was waiting to be comforted, by seeing the Christ-child. And, our text tells us that the Holy Spirit was upon him. Simeon was waiting for that peace that only God can give to us. God had revealed something extra special to Simeon. He would not die until he had seen the Christ-child.

Our text also tells us that Simeon was devout and righteous. The place where he found peace with God was through the Old Testament scriptures. There, he saw all of the promises that God had made throughout the years, that a Messiah would come and save them from their sin.

In Simeon we find a true representation of those who had not only heard and read about God’s promises in the Old Testament, but who also believed them. He was waiting for the peace of God. He knew that he was a sinful man who was at war with God, sinning against him in thoughts, words and deeds. Through a devout study of God’s Word, he learned to place his hope on the promises of God. In looking forward to and placing all his hope on the coming Messiah or Christ, he found peace for his troubled soul.

It was while Mary, Joseph and Jesus are at the temple that Simeon’s days of waiting end. He sees the Messiah. Simeon’s dream that someday he would meet The One whom God sends to be the Savior of Israel, was fulfilled. This is not something that he dreamed up in his own mind. It doesn’t say exactly how, but Luke says, "It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ." Luke 2:26

The people of Israel had waited hundreds of years for the Messiah to come. And, God promised Simeon that he would see the Lord’s Christ in his lifetime. So when Simeon sees the baby that Joseph and Mary have brought to the temple, he knows it’s not just any infant. How did he know which child was Jesus? Now, Jesus did not have a halo above his head. He looked just like any other six-week-old boy. But God revealed to Simeon, through the Holy Spirit, that this was the Messiah. Simeon’s waiting was now over! He had seen the Lord’s Christ!

Those waiting eyes of Simeon turned into praising eyes. The words he spoke, that I read from our text this morning, are called the Nunc Dimittis, from the Latin meaning ‘now you are letting depart’. Simeon was in the temple, with Jesus in his arms, praising God by saying, "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 people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel." Luke 2:29-32

What a wonderful song of praise that was for Simeon to sing! What a glorious song, talking about the width of God’s plan of salvation, through Jesus, which is for ALL people and that includes both Jews and Gentiles alike.

When Mary and Joseph heard these words, they marveled at what was said about him. Mary and Joseph knew there is something very special about their son. The miraculous virgin conception, and the visits of the angels had not been forgotten. But, it was still sinking in, who this Jesus really was.

Simeon’s eyes of praise now turn to be very descriptive, as he speaks to Mary. He reveals to her in more detail what Jesus’ role, as the Messiah will include. Simeon has a rare, God-given insight. He tells Mary that Jesus will not receive a hero’s welcome as the Messiah. Most Jews expected the Messiah to be a political savior, to rescue them from Roman rule. If Jesus had done that, He probably would have been crowned King of Israel and had the highest popularity rating ever, even higher than King David! But, Simeon knew this would not be the case. Jesus would be a very controversial, divisive Messiah. He would rise up those who trust in Him, but be a stumbling block to those who oppose Him. Just as Simeon said, "This child will cause the falling and the rising of many in Israel."

Through the eyes of Simeon, we see Christ. We also see Jesus, through the eyes of Anna.

Now there is a lady, named Anna, who also sees the Lord’s Christ. And, we have an opportunity to see Christ, through her eyes, as well. Anna is another person from scripture that we don’t know a lot about. Just like Simeon, she is not mentioned anywhere else in scripture. This is the only place in scripture, where we hear about Anna. We often pass over her and miss her, as her story is not much more than a tag-along, following Simeon.

But scripture does give us some interesting information about Anna. First of all, Anna was a prophetess. She knew the Old Testament scriptures very well. While she was at the temple, she would be able to comfort those who came there looking for strength. She would be able to explain the Old Testament scriptures and help build them up in their faith.

The scripture also tells us who Anna’s father was. Her father’s name was Phanuel. His name is very significant because it means ‘face of God.’ This had great significance from the Old Testament. After Jacob had wrestled with God, he set up a stone, and called that place Phanuel, the same name as Anna’s father’s name, Phanuel. Jacob had seen the face of God. And so, Anna’s grandfather must have been a righteous and devout man to name his son that.

Even Anna’s name is significant. Her name is the New Testament equivalent of the Old Testament name, Hanna. We know Hanna as the mother of Samuel, the great prophet from the Old Testament.

Anna was from the tribe of Asher. The tribe of Asher was one of the ten tribes in the Northern Kingdom of Israel. They were carried off into captivity when the Assyrians conquered their land. That is where the story of Asher ends, until we hear that Anna is from the tribe of Asher.

Luke even takes the time to mention that she was very old and a widow for many years. She had been married for seven years and now she was 84 years old. If we do some quick math and make one assumption that Anna got married as a teenager (as most girls did back then), and was married for seven years, then she could have been a widow for sixty years. Imagine that, being a widow for sixty years. Being a widow is not easy. There are a lot of ladies sitting here today who could testify to that. And yet, just like many of you, Anna kept busy. She kept busy in the temple by worshiping, fasting and praying.

She too saw the Christ-child and held Him in her arms. She came up to Jesus and at once began giving thanks to God for letting her see the fulfillment of His most glorious promise.

And then, what does scripture tell us about Anna? It tells us that Anna’s gratitude of faith prompted her to speak about the child "to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem." Luke 2:38

Isn’t that incredible? Many people may have thought that this "old lady fell off her rocker". But that didn’t stop her from sharing the Good News.

Both Anna and Simeon found peace in holding the Christ-child. Both of them knew that they were sinners, in God’s eyes. Both of them knew that they had sinned against God and yet they found peace with God in the fulfillment of scripture, when the Christ-child was in their arms.

The Lord caused both Simeon and Anna’s voice to be raised as a witness that this ordinary looking child, born of poor, lowly parents, was in fact, the Savior sent for Jew and Gentile alike.

That same peace Simeon and Anna had, is the same peace that is ours, as well. Simeon and Anna’s experience is ours, because the Holy Spirit has revealed to us the Lord’s Christ. We had a very sad beginning to our lives. We were born in sin. By nature we are sinners, who have sinned against God, with our thoughts, words and deeds. But, we too may have the same peace as Simeon and Anna. Although we cannot hold the Christ-child in our arms, we can find peace in the Word of God. That is what Christmas is all about! The Christ-child was born, to save us from our sins. There in the Word of God we see the Christ-child born, grow to manhood, live in perfect obedience to God, preach the gospel to the poor, and perform miracles. There in the Word of God we see that He was nailed to the cross as a criminal, die, rise from the dead, break the chains of death, rise in glory and ascend to His Father in Heaven!

We have seen the Christ-child through the eyes of Simeon and Anna. The great joy that they experienced is the same great joy that we have. We, who are sinners, are happy because we know that those sins are forgiven. We are blessed, because of the grace God has given to us. If Simeon and Anna could praise God because the promises had been fulfilled, how much more should we be able to do so. God has not only fulfilled His promises to devout Simeon and Anna, but also to us. We too are blessed, because our eyes have seen Christ and have seen God’s salvation!

Amen.

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