JesusWalk Bible Study Forum: Question 2 - JesusWalk Bible Study Forum

2. If Simeon and Anna had never seen the Messiah, in what ways might their lives have been important? In what might your life be important to God?

[FONT=Geneva]If they had never seen the Messiah their devotion to God would have still been a witness to their community. Their lives of righteousness and their devoutness stood out as an example. They had developed reputations because of their lives, this would have inspired others to live lives of righteousness and devoutness as well. And their fasting and intercessory prayer would also have had an impact that only God may have truly known.
Our lives are important to God, our actions and words and example to others may touch them in ways only He truly knows. An elderly woman at church yesterday encouraged us by saying that she often gets comments from people who say that something she did or said years ago touched them. Often she doesn't even remember the instance but they did. So she encouraged us to remain faithful and to continue to try to be good witnesses to others.

Simon's piety would be an example to all who came to the temple. His years of faithful service would cause others to examine their own service to God. Simon portrays a faithful servant who has done what God asked him to do. He has done his part and God will do the rest. Anna's faithfulness also would be an example to anyone who frequented the temple. They lived knowing God would keep His word. My life should show to others that I depend on God and serve as an example of what a life led by God should be. I am the only Gospel many people read and my life should show clearly God's love and plan for them. I should be recognized as being different from the world and if I am not I am not living the life God wants me to.

Their lives were a life of dedication to God and what could be more important than this. We are important to God by dedicating ourselves to Him and so others will also follow.

I believe that their lives were an example of what believers life should be, trusting the Lord and obeying, but also be patient and wait for the promisses given by the Lord. I believe that they were an example for other jewish people at that time and and example for us today. Also I believe that we as believers in our Lord Jesus Christ should act the same way they did. We need to be an example in our communities and work of place, being patient and sharing with others our beliefs and hopes.

2. If Simeon and Anna had never seen the Messiah, in what ways might their lives have been important?

Clearly these two people were fully committed and completely faithful to God. Though many years had passed, they remained true to God and His promises made to them. If there is one way I believe we can actually spur God on to accomplish His will, it is through dedicated Prayer and Fasting. So much so, I’m sure Anna’s faithful Prayers, accompanied by her fasting, wouldn’t go unnoticed by God. Her timely reward, as was Simeon’s, was to meet the Messiah on one of the most precious of days of His life on earth. Jesus’ consecration, or, His presentation to God. The fact that they remained faithful to God would make their lives important. If not to those around them, certainly to God. And that’s what I call Really Important!

In what might your life be important to God?

Even though I can’t claim the same faithfulness of Anna or Simeon, I know my life always has been and always will be, important to God. Just as all our lives are. Jesus said “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows” (Matt 10:28-31) A couple of ‘Godinstances’ (Where God is involved I don’t believe in coincidences) from this account of Simeon and Anna in the temple. Simeon had been told by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before seeing the promised Messiah. During His ministry Jesus said
“I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom." (Matt 16:28) If we examine the rules on Fasting we can learn that it is not something to be displayed or made a show of. However, here we see the writer making a point of Anna’s Praying and Fasting. In Acts 13 and 14 we read of how Prayer and Fasting was indulged before sending God’s chosen out on their missions. How appropriate it was for Simeon and Anna to be around to welcome the young Messiah after such devotion.

Their lives of dedication.

As believers and children of God, our lives are very important to God.

If Simeon and Anna had never seen the Messiah their lives would still have been a testament to the Lord. It would have shown their faith, just as our lives do today. They lived in faith believing the promises God had made to them as we do today. Our lives are important today because we are a light for God that others can see and be drawn to.

Simeon and Anna had spent years of their lives, working, and praying in the Temple.They had devoted there lives to God, Doing good deeds and helping visitors to the temple. and they knew that one day they would see the messiah. Their faithfullness and Faith had been rewarded. but even if they had never met Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Their lives would have been the same. They would still have Loved and served their God. That is what God is asking of us today, that we believe in him, and love one another.

I realize you have long since moved on from this study but I've just stumbled across this blog by accident and I'm leading a study on Luke right now and it took us one whole night to cover the story of Simeon! This is just such a rich story.

For me, Simeon and Anna represent hope. They were two of Israel's children, the result of many generations of hope and expectation for the nation of Israel. Their parents probably passed on many stories of the sufferings and trials of Israel's children from generations prior. Can you imagine how their entire lives were changed by the infant Jesus? My eyes tear up when I think of the image of an old Jewish man and an old Jewish woman, each holding their salvation in their very own arms, each realizing that God has once again delivered one of His promises. Yeah, I'd be praising Him too! Wow, what an experience that must have been! To me, they are the epitome of hope and devotion. They are well worn by life, just like the nation of Israel. They are seasoned by life's trials, by little everyday challenges we still face, they have crows feet on their faces from smiling and frown lines from the sad times. Christ gave each one of those wrinkles value :>)

"34Then 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, 35so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too."

The visual image of the Old ways of the Jews who lived by the law is representative by both of their ages. The image of Christ as a child of God, the Messiah, was representative of a new birth for the World. Otherwise they could have met Jesus when he returned to the temple at age 12. The contrast would have not been nearly as significant as it was with two aged people and an infant.

Would they have known and recognized this infant was the Messiah if they had not spent time with God? It's hard to say, I think maybe not but scripture also tells us that God brings the hearts of His people, we don't.

You question, "In what way might their life have been important had they not seen the Messiah?" That's a tricky question. For them, prayers and worship and praise was their job, they were simply being faithful and believing what they could not see. At their age, that's how they contributed to society and their community.

For us, my life is important because I know and love the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Without Him, I'm nothing. And, if I'm not praising, praying, fasting, and loving then I'm not doing my job