Looking for Consolation and Redemption

(Luke 2:25-38)

Simeon (means “he that hears and obeys” and/or “he that is heard”)

Righteous (Luke 2:25) - usually used in reference to behavior towards other people

Devout (Luke 2:25)- usually used in reference to behavior towards God. From the Greek, eulabes, meaning
careful, serious and scrupulous in worship (Compare 2 Pe. 3:11-12)

Waiting (Ps. 130, Isa. 30:18, Lam. 3:25-26, Mic. 7:7, Luke 12:35-40, Rom. 8:22-25, James 5:7)

For the consolation of Israel (Luke 2:25)

Consolation speaks to those longings for healing and restoration from all the past losses and
miseries of life.

God’s timing (Hab. 2:3)

God orchestrated the coming together of Simeon, Anna, Mary, Joseph & Jesus

The Holy Spirit

Upon Him (Luke 2:25)

Revealed to Him

Not die before see the Lord’s Christ (Luke 2:26)

Moved Him

To go to the temple(Luke 2:27)

(note: Simeon, Elizabeth, Zechariah, John the Baptist are all said to have been filled with the Holy Spirit
before Pentacost)

Peace

Why can he now die in peace? (Luke 2:29)

Prophecy/Affirmation?

What did Simeon see? (Luke 2:30-32)

Salvation (Luke 2:30)

In Sight of all people (Luke 2:31)?

Light of Revelation to the Gentiles (Luke 2:32, Isa. 42:1 & 6, 49:6, 60:1-3)

Child Destined to cause falling & rising (Luke 2:34)

Spoken against (Luke 2:34)

Thoughts of many hearts revealed (Luke 2:35, 1 Cor. 4:5)

Sword will pierce your own soul (Said to Mary) (Luke 2:35)
 Picture in your mind, the shadow of the cross over the baby Jesus

Mary & Joseph

Following the custom and the law (Luke 2:27, Lev. 12:1-8)

Marveled (Luke 2:33)

Anna (name means “gracious” or “giving”)

Prophetess (Luke 2:36) One of a very small. Select group of female prophets mentioned in the Bible.

Daughter of Phanuel (Luke 2:36) Means “Face of God”

Tribe of Asher (Luke 2:36) - One of the “lost tribes” after the Assyrian captivity. Considered to be wealthy and
not particularly devout. No prophets or judges came out of this tribe.

Old (Luke 2:36)

Married 7 years (Luke 2:36)

Widow until 84 (Luke 2:37)

Never left temple (Luke 2:37)

Worshipped day and night

Fasting and praying (Luke 2:37)

An indication of a heart that is grieving and/or possessed of an earnest longing

Gave thanks to God (Luke 2:38)

Spoke about the child

To all looking for the redemption of Jerusalem (Luke 2:38)

Redemption speaks to our need to be delivered from the powers that still hold us in bondage.
(Luke 1:68: Zechariah’s prophecy)

Old Simeon & Anna being present at the presentation of the baby Jesus may serve to symbolize the coming together of
the old and new, the transition from an age of hope based on the Law and the Prophets to the age of salvation through
God’s gift of Jesus Christ.

What’s held in the heart affects what the eyes see and the ears hear.

God prepares the heart to receive Christ by stirring up a longing for consolation & redemption.

Those who are waiting, watching and expecting to find Jesus are able to see Him when others are not.

Be Cheerful, cry out joyfully in unison you devastated places of Jerusalem, for Jehovah has comforted his people, he has
repurchased Jerusalem. Jehovah has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth
must see the salvation of our God. (Isa. 52:9-10)