susan@sonflowergifts.com

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