how old was simeon when he saw jesus
He then took the six-weeks-old baby in his arms. Simeon thanked God that he was able to see Jesus the savior! It has provided much food for thought. 6 months later, thus about December Jesus was conceived in Mary, and born 9 months later which gives us September for the birth of Jesus which is the time of the feast of Sukkoth which is now fullfilled in the coming of the Word of God to dwell among us in a human body: Greek skenos means tent and figuratively the human body . Who was Anna? As Paul put it in Ephesians 2:19 - no longer strangers or foreigners, but fellow citizens! Simeon met baby Jesus and blessed Him, in fulfillment of a promise to Simeon from God. Jesus real name , Yeshua, evolved over millennia in a case of transliteration. Jesus mouthing off to his mother in public after they have been frantic after losing him in a larger metropolitan area for three days. When Joseph was the vizier of Egypt, he held Simeon in prison until the rest of his brothers came back to Egypt from Canaan ( Genesis 42:18-19, 24 ). 27 And he came in 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, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, 29 "Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word;30 for my eyes have seen your salvation 31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.". Simeon's testimony was great in that he said that he saw the salvation in Jesus and Jesus was the one whom the Father had prepared before the face of all the people and also that Jesus was the light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of His people Israel. He had been baptized and already started gathering his disciples. Anna belonged to the tribe of Asher. Routing number of commercial bank of Ethiopia? I made the telemarketer laugh. But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people could connect with it better. He was sincere and he was known to be, as we say today, above reproach. Interestingly, in both, the woman is portrayed as the more positive example of discipleship. Simeon got it and he saw it! How old was Jesus when simeon and Anna saw him. Simeon had long searched the Scriptures and prayed and waited for the coming of the Messiah in fulfillment of prophecy. If it starts, you get to keep the vehicle." 30 because my eyes have seen your salvation, The story of Simeon is a reminder that this Christmas season is essentially about the far-surpassing joy that a personal relationship with Christ brings. However, there is one very important thing which we are told about him, and that is that day by day, as he lived and worked, he was waiting for the consolation of Israel (Luke 2:25); that is, he was waiting for and living in the expectation of the coming of the Messiah. They were given a sign a baby swaddled, laying in a manger. If (as some scholars claim) this band of shepherds were those caring for the temple flocks, they would recognize this treatment. Jesus was never the Messiah ! Mary and Joseph search for him frantically for three days. Simeon declared, Mine eyes have seen thy salvation. The Child is here equated with Gods salvation. The scene that Luke wants to highlight is more than just historical fulfillment. Your email address will not be published. How old was Simeon when he saw Jesus in the temple? Verses 22-24 tell us what is happening here. He could not be as he did not fulfill the requirements, i.e. He saw that the fall of Israel would be the riches of the Gentiles and that Israels restoration will be comparable to a resurrection from the dead for the whole of humanity. Have something to add about this? Read Understanding []. Mary, Simeon or Anna by Ben Witherington III originally appeared in Bible Review, Winter 2005. Granted it is glorious and attractive, but it is not safe. All rights reserved. 2010-07-06 11:03:12. The older he grew the surer Simeon became that the birth of the Saviour was near. SCRIPTURE, proclaims elizabeth asking in wonder, how is it that the MOTHER of my LORD comes to me? i could go on and on. But also wanted to add two points: Did the Ancient Israelites Think Children Were People. When Joseph (far left) and Mary (left of center) bring baby Jesus to the Jerusalem Temple, they are greeted by Simeon, who embraces the baby, and Anna, the New Testaments only prophetess, shown at right with a scroll, in this 1342 tempera painting by Ambrogio Lorenzetti. Simeon saw Jesus there, and he picked Jesus up in his arms. He loved God. Our digital archives are a work in progress. God told Simeon that he would see Jesus who was the Son of God. She is 84 years old, according to Luke, and she does not want to die: She wants to proselytize. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die until he had seen the Lords Messiah. The presentations by all, are excellent and non-controversial. referred to as Simeon, in which case he was both an apostle and OK, so I have a slightly different interpretation when it comes to Joseph and Mary finding Jesus after hes been missing for three days. The picture presents the contrast of age and of youth, of one nearing the end of the journey of life and one at the beginning. He also saw Mary standing by that cross, pierced in heart at the suffering of her child. He expresses this so well in verse 32, "a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.". By this time Simeon was a very old man. Subscribers receive full access to the archives. Notice, in Luke 2:25-35, some of the characteristics of this man who waited for the coming of Christ: He had no doubt about this, as we learn from verse 26. 1. Seven Signs Changing water into wine at Cana in John 2:1-11 the first of the signs Healing the royal officials son in Capernaum in John 4:46-54. 22 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord") 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons" (Luke 2:22-24). If Mary were first to know, then surely Elizabeth was second, or if Mary did not realize, then Eizabeth was first to know. So Mary and Joseph left Bethlehem, traveled the six miles up to the city of Jerusalem. . Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, 35 Indeed, a sword will pierce your own soul, too, so that the inner thoughts of many people might be revealed. As you celebrate this holiday, exchange gifts, enjoy days of rest, and time with family - I just want to remind you that this holiday is about the glory and the beauty of the gospel! Raymond E. Brown and Karl P. Donfried, eds., Mary in the New Testament (Philadelphia: Fortress, 1978), pp. The Eastern Orthodox Church considers Anna and Simeon the God-Receiver as the last prophets of Old Testament and observes their feast on February 3/February 16 as the synaxis (afterfeast) following the Presentation of Christ, which Orthodox tradition calls The Meeting of Our Lord and God and Savior, Jesus Christ. An old man called Simeon lived in Jerusalem. She may have been able to undertake this role in the Temple because she was no longer in periodic states of ritual impurity caused by menstruation. "The thoughts of many hearts will be revealed." It was the day of the year when all the candles, that were used in the church during the coming year, were brought into church and a blessing was said over them so it was the Festival Day (or mass) of the Candles. He will bring the revelation to non-Jewish people in order to bring Jews and Gentiles to God. Simeon knows that God's target is not just Israel but all people. "Yeah, I know you'd probably leave your husband, but I'm going to believe that God can restore our marriage." The prophet Anna was a widow who never left the temple after her In fact, she is the only woman in the New Testament explicitly described as a prophetess. She then stands in the line of figures like the judge, military leader and prophetess Deborah and the Jerusalem prophetess Huldah, who, in the days of King Josiah, was asked to verify that an ancient scroll (a form of Deuteronomy) discovered during Temple renovations was indeed the word of God (2 Kings 22). We must make this observation, for in verse 29 there are three words which indicate this. I think one of the things Mary was pondering in her heart must have related to the Shepherds visit The jewish year in ancient Israel times began in spring, the month of Nisan ,which is about our March/April . Alfred Plummer, in his classic commentary on Luke, suggested that the difference between Anna and Simeon provides a clue to Luke as a salvation historian, a chronicler of the mighty acts of God for his people through the ages. I really didn't care about $15,000 at that moment. Notice also that the Holy Spirit always leads to and glorifies the Lord Jesus - compare verse 27 with John 16:13-14. Director Jon Erwin discusses his inspiration for the film and how history might be repeating itself today. Before this baby was born an angel named Gabriel told Mary what to name Him. (Apparently) this was how new lambs were inspected for defects and kept unmarred for eventual sacrifice for forgiveness of sins. 12:). Further Zacharias announces who is son John shall be and who Marys Son shall be in his discourse before Jesus or John are even born. Required fields are marked *. The article was first republished in Bible History Daily on February 12, 2013. Simeon was righteous and devout, and the Holy Spirit was with him. Simeon must have understood that Israels conversion would be realized only after the enlightenment of the heathen and the calling out of the Church. Also, he will be a sign that will be opposed. One of the themes of Jesus in the Synoptic tradition seems to be the emphasis that ones own family can become a stumbling block to their walk of faith. Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to Simeon. "Yeah, I know that you are going to kill me, but I won't recant on my belief in Christ.". May we be as ready to welcome the Lord Jesus when He comes the second time as Simeon was to welcome Him when He came the first time - look up Revelation 22:20! This is the time Simeon and Anna saw Jesus. I believe that Luke records this account to show Theophilus and all of us that Simeon saw the gospel - an attractive, broad, costly, and satisfying gospel. husband passed away seven years after her wedding. Dig into the illuminating world of the Bible with a BAS All-Access membership. What is the overall storyline of jesus existence according to johns gospel. Fear God, love God and honor God for the multitude of things he has done in our behalf, the love He has given us and the graciousness He has shown us through His Son and the Holy Spirit! Anna then approaches the Holy Family. She became a widow after seven years of marriage to her husband. 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? What is that point? Luke portrays the rise of a form of Judaism that would rely on the testimony of women as well as men, and that would empower them once again to fulfill roles like Miriam of old. God is testing us everyday and has given us the right to make our own choices. Many, many years before Jesus came to earth as a baby, God had given Moses laws for His people to obey. We know far more of Jesus through the New Testament revelation than Simeon ever could have known from the Old Testament prophecy, but do we embrace him in the arms of faith as the Lords Christ as Simeon did?
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how old was simeon when he saw jesus
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