Holidays

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Our last devotional was about an older couple who was expecting an unexpected baby. This week, we will talk about another older couple who was expecting an expected baby in a different way.

Simeon and Anna were not a married couple, but they were both in the right place at the right time, shortly after Jesus was born. They were in the temple when Joseph and Mary brought the baby Jesus there to dedicate him (Luke 2:22). Simeon was directed by God the Holy Spirit to go to the temple, and Anna lived at the temple, worshiping night and day (vv. 25–38). They were both very devout. They were both waiting for this day.

Simeon was righteous and pious, a model Jew (v. 25). Consequently, as were all believing Jews, he was waiting for “the consolation of Israel,” a reference to the Messiah based on Isaiah 61. God told Simeon that he would live to see the Christ (v. 26). Such was the hope of all Israel.

When Jesus was brought in, Simeon knew who he was, and praised God:

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 (vv. 29–32).

Simeon understood who Jesus was: the bringer of salvation, not only for the Jews, but for the Gentiles. And he waited for him.

Anna was a widow, over 80 years old. She was fully devoted to the Lord, and “served God with fastings and prayers night and day” (v. 37, NKJV). When she saw Jesus, “she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem” (v. 38). She, too, knew that this baby would be the one to redeem Jerusalem, saving his people from their sins (Matthew 1:21).

Notice that this couple was expecting someone. Mary and Joseph were expecting someone as well, as we saw in Part 1. However, they were not expecting to be expecting, and they certainly weren’t expecting to bear the Messiah! But being devout Jews, they too were expecting the Lord of Glory to come soon. At least, that was their hope.

Most Jews were merely nationalistic in those days, waiting for a conquering king to come and cast off the shackles of Rome, and punish the nations that had overrun them for hundreds of years. There were some humble Israelites that understood the need to be cleansed from sin in order to be welcomed into the kingdom, but the majority just wanted the benefits of political power. Therefore, they did not understand that Christ had to come once to die, to bear the sins of many (Hebrews 9:28), and to call out a special people, the church, composed of believing Jews and Gentiles (1 Corinthians 12:13). Faithful people, like Simeon and Anna, knew for whom they were waiting.

One of the fundamentals of the Christian faith is the bodily return of Jesus Christ. This has been prophesied so many times in both testaments that it is uncontestable. When he comes the second and final time, he comes as the conquering hero, who will punish the nations and set up an eternal kingdom for those who were faithful to him (Matthew 25:34; 1 Corinthians 15:23). Rewards are promised to those who wait: “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8, NKJV).

Simeon and Anna did not hang around, living life at whim while waiting—they served the Lord devotedly. They embodied Christ’s later admonition to live faithfully, anticipating the Master’s return (Luke 12:35–48). We are all given tasks and responsibilities to carry out as good stewards, and the rewards that we anticipate spur us to holy, fruitful living. “But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure” (1 John 3:2, 3). Our hope, unlike Joseph and Mary’s, is in his second coming.

Similarly to Simeon, we know that the Savior has come, paid for our sins, and is coming again. He came to open the eyes of the non-Jews, reconcile them and the Jews to God, and he will come again to bring back the glory to Israel. Therefore, like Anna, we should thank God for His “indescribable gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15) and tell the world about Jesus Christ. The task he has given us to faithfully perform until he returns is: “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19, 20).

Are you expecting a savior? He already came. Are you expecting him to come again? Then get busy!

In our last installment, we will witness the shepherds witnessing.

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