3 Lessons Simeon and Anna Have for Us at Christmas

The religious leaders, who could not be bothered to travel the short distance to Bethlehem when the Magi told them of the birth of Jesus, revealed the apathy that permeated society. Only a small remnant of faithful Jews adhered to the Laws of Moses and still believed God would fulfill His promises. They were waiting for God to send the Messiah, who would console Israel. They were looking for the Consoler, the great Comforter, the promised Messiah, who would redeem the people from their sins. Among this little remnant was this elderly man named Simeon.

“Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: ‘Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel’” (Luke 2:25-32).

Simeon was led by the Spirit of God, taught by the Word of God, obedient to the will of God, and given the opportunity to witness the salvation of God. He joyfully praises God for the privilege of seeing the Messiah. His song of praise includes world missions, which is something unusual for a devout Jew standing in the temple. He foresees God’s salvation available to “all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles” (v. 32).

“The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: ‘This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too’” (Luke 2:33-35).

Simeon stopped praising God and began prophesying. His message included three important images concerning the Child: a stone, a sign, and a sword.

Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Casper1774Studio

Simeon said, “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel” (v. 34b). Jesus is a stumbling stone to many who will not accept His teaching. But for those who believe in Him and accept Him as their savior, He is a steppingstone to salvation and the cornerstone of their faith. 

“As you come to him, the living Stone — rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him — you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says: ‘See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.’ Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,’ and, ‘A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall’” (1 Peter 1:4-8).

He Is a Sign

Simeon said the Child was “to be a sign that will be spoken against (v. 34c) Jesus’ life and ministry was a sign, revealing divine truth that He was the Savior. Our Lord’s miracles in John’s gospel are called signs because they reveal special truths about Him. Yet throughout His ministry and death, the majority slandered Him and rejected His message.

“Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:30-31).

He Is a Sword

Simeon then spoke directly to Mary and said, “a sword will pierce your own soul too” (v. 35b). The sword spoke of the suffering and sorrow she would bear as the mother of the Messiah. Mary witnessed increasing sorrow during the life and ministry of Jesus, culminating as she stood at the foot of the cross, witnessing His immense torment as He bore the sins of the world.

“Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, ‘Woman, here is your son,’ and to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ From that time on, this disciple took her into his home” (John 19:25-27).

Mary and Joseph marveled at Simeon’s words, pondering their significance. As his voice, weathered by years of devotion, rose in praise, the gathered crowd listened and watched in silence. The child in his arms was the fulfillment of the long-awaited promises, the hope for a people yearning for redemption.

Photo credit: ©Getty Images/bazilfoto

Amid the assembly, moving like a gentle whisper, a woman emerged from the shadows. Guided by the Spirit and filled with wisdom, Anna moved gracefully toward the holy family. Her eyes, though weathered by the passage of time, sparkled with joy as she beheld the infant Messiah.

“There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem” (Luke 2:36-38).

God’s timing is always perfect. At the very moment Simeon was praising the Lord for the Christ Child, Anna appeared. Known for her unwavering dedication to God, she recognized the significance of the moment and joined Simeon in praising their Lord. What a wonderful moment this must have been to see these two elderly people singing praises in the temple. The Spirit of God inspired their praise, and God accepted it.

Anna, who had faithfully served God in the temple, gave thanks to Him for being able to witness what she had been praying for eighty-four years, to see the Messiah, the redemption of Israel. This dear lady who had been speaking to God all those years, started talking to everyone else about the redemption of Jerusalem.

These two witnesses of the Christ Child provide examples for us to follow:

Photo credit: ©Getty Images/sezer66

The prophet Isaiah wrote, “Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago” (Isaiah 25:1).

Do you spend time in private and public worship? Do you sing praises to God? Do you thank Him for all He has done for you?

They Heard and Listened to God’s Voice

“The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice. … My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:2-4, 27).

Do you know God’s voice? Do you listen to Him? Do you read His Word and are capable of distinguishing His voice apart from the voice of the world?

They Looked Forward to the Coming of Christ

Simeon and Anna look forward to the first advent of Christ, and in the same way, we are to look forward to His second advent. The apostle Paul wrote, “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).

Are you eagerly awaiting the return of Christ? Do you share the news of His coming to encourage others?

In a world filled with uncertainty and turmoil, we can draw strength from their steadfast trust in God. Simeon’s and Anna’s patient anticipation encourages us to stay hopeful as we await the fulfillment of God’s plans. Their devotion to God demonstrates the transformative power of a life dedicated to seeking His presence.

Photo credit: Unsplash/Jessica Fadal