As I read the Christmas story, I am intrigued by the fact that Jesus was presented in the temple “(as it is written in the law of the Lord, every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord), and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord; a pair of doves or two young pigeons” (Luke 2:22-24 NIV).
Following the birth of a son, the mother had to wait forty days before going to the temple to offer sacrifice for her purification. If she could not afford a lamb and a pigeon (or dove), then two pigeons (and doves) would be acceptable.
This custom required the firstborn of both man and animal to be dedicated to the Lord. The animals were sacrificed, but human beings were to serve God throughout their lives.
Wait a minute here! Jesus, will become the lamb one day and be the sacrifice for all mankind.
In His infancy and humility, He is practicing and obeying the Law, by submitting Himself to it. Not only does He submit to it, but permits two prophets, Simeon and Anna, to see the fulfillment of what had been promised to them.
Simeon was a righteous, Godly man in Jerusalem. He was told he would not die until he had seen the Lord, the Christ, His Savior. It was the Holy Spirit who spoke to him and “Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts” (Luke 2:26-27 NIV).
The Holy Spirit not only moved him, He was upon him. He was a man who was Spirit-filled and Spirit-lead, working together.
When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple, “Simeon took him in his arms and praised God.” (Luke 2:28 NIV) He then prophecies, “My eyes have seen your salvation” (Luke 2:30 NIV). Mary and Joseph, “Marveled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them” (Luke 2:33-34 NIV).
This prophetic man of God was given a promise to see his Christ, His Messiah, before he left the earth. That day that promise was fulfilled!
Oh, the beauty of a blessing given! Folks, we take that too lightly; but in the Jewish culture, it’s a big deal to proclaim a blessing. The God of Heaven and earth is receiving a blessing from this humble man, Simeon.
Here Comes the Woman
“There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher” (Luke 2:36 NIV). So what’s so important about Phanuel? It must be of some importance if her name is introduced to us in this way. Phanuel means “face of God.”
Anna, the prophetess, who speaks God’s Word, is now seeing the face of God!
She wasn’t a young chicken either! “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” (Luke 2:36-37).
If you are thinking you are “too old” to be used of the Lord, think again! Simeon and Anna were in their senior citizen years. Their God-given gifts were still being activated.
Seriously, this precious woman of God was only married seven years, and then her husband was gone. Grief was probably her close friend for many years, but her heartbreak was poured out to devotion to Jesus in the midst of her pain and suffering. She lived in the temple and her prayer life was hidden by most, but not by our God!
If you are currently in a time of loss, may you see the face of God, just as Anna did. May you feel His loving embrace around you, in your grief and sorrow. He is holding you.
This grief-stricken, Godly woman, was used by God to evangelize about the Lord’s birth.
Simeon was speaking with Mary and Joseph when, “Coming up to them, at that very moment, she gives thanks to God and spoke about the child to ALL who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem” (Luke 2:38).
Man and woman, serving the Lord together, was demonstrated so beautifully at Jesus’s presentation in the temple. He was presented to mankind, the importance of coming alongside one another, as witnesses.
God had both man and woman positioned and waiting in the temple–to be received by Him and to be received by one another.
Simeon saw the fulfillment of what had been promised. Anna was of a great company of women who proclaim Good News. Women, for years, have been accused of talking too much, or having the “gift of gab,” maybe here’s why:
“The Lord announces the Word and the women who proclaim it are a mighty army” (Psalm 68:11).
Simeon embraced Jesus in his arms, while Jesus embraced man and woman in His heart, to receive Him. Prophetically, the Lord received man and woman together, side by side.
Keep proclaiming and serving as one–man, woman, and child! Proclaim His coming! Proclaim Salvation which only comes from Him. He was born, so we could be born again!
Featured Image by Omar Lopez on Unsplash
