After Jesus was born, Mary and Joseph fulfilled what the Jewish law said to do after the birth of a son. They had Jesus circumcised on the eighth day. After 40 days of a purification period, they went to the temple in Jerusalem to offer a sacrifice for their first born son. There in the temple they met a special man, Simeon, who had been waiting to see the Savior before he died. Simeon praised God in a wonderful way when he saw with his eyes what God had promised. We, too, need to see with our eyes the majesty of who Christ is and what he has done for us. Ephesians 1:17-19a says, “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.”
Luke 2:21-40
21 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
Jesus Presented at the Temple
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.” 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 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[a] 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.”
33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.[b] She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
The Return to Nazareth
39 And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.
COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS:
Why was Simeon at the temple when Mary and Joseph went there? (25-27)
What was his praise to God? (29-32)
What did he say to Mary about the baby? (34-35)
How did Anna respond to Jesus? (38)
THOUGHT QUESTIONS:
What do you think it was like for Simeon and Anna to see Jesus?
Why did so few other people see Jesus with the same eyes as they did?
PRAYER:
Pray for eyes that see clearly what God has given you through his Son. Pray for humility so that you would see your own sin and would receive all that Christ wants to give you.
FOCUS VERSE: Luke 2:30-32
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.”