Luke 2:21-38

Luke 2:21-38

Luke chapter 2 gives us one of the few glimpses into Jesus’ pre-adult life - and this particular passage shares the story of Simeon and Anna as they behold their savior for the first time. The first time anyone encounters Jesus is memorable, but just imagine the joy these two experienced seeing their messiah after 400 years of silence, captivity, and Roman occupation. Simeon and Anna trusted the Lord and their faith in this passage reminds us of three truths.
 
Simeon trusted God in the waiting. He trusted that God would deliver his people despite the hardships and sufferings. I wonder how many times Simeon cried out to the Lord, “how much longer before you fulfill your promises?” Not only did God promise the Israelites that he would deliver them, but he personally revealed to Simeon that he would see the Messiah before he died.

Sometimes the hardest thing to do in life is to wait for the Lord. To wait for healing, guidance, life-change, deliverance. But just like Simeon, we have a promise from the Lord in 1 Peter 5:10, “After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, the one who called you into his eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will himself restore, empower, strengthen, and establish you.” Take heart, the Lord has not forgotten about you. He is with you, so trust Him in the waiting.

Second, Simeon trusted God to save. That seems like an easy thing, but remember he was looking at a helpless baby. Somehow this child would save not only Israel but the Gentiles too (v32). Simeon didn’t trust his piety to save him, nor the strength of man, he trusted that salvation belonged to the Lord. That’s what allowed him to “depart in peace.”

What about you? Have you laid down all your attempts to save yourself? Salvation belongs to the Lord. Christ has saved you through his life, death, and resurrection and your only requirement is simply to come to him. It doesn’t matter if you messed up again. It doesn’t matter if you mess up a thousand more times. You can have peace knowing that Christ has saved you through his works, not yours.

“All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” John 6:37

Finally, Anna trusted God enough to proclaim Jesus. “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” (v38). How many people in your life are waiting for redemption? The question is, do you truly believe that Christ will save any who come to him? If so, then we need to imitate Anna - whose faith led her to proclaim Jesus to all the people around her. If God can use an 84-year-old widow, then he can use you and me to share the gospel with a world that is desperate for redemption.

Family Discussion
1. Why is waiting so hard to do?
2. How would you define “Faith”
3. Who are two friends that you can share Jesus with? What’s stopping you from sharing?

By: Joe Weaver

1 Comment


Lindsay - May 14th, 2022 at 9:46am

Actually, Anna was more like 100; she had been a widow for 84 years after living with her husband for 7.

I always appreciate the reminders that our salvation has nothing to do with what we do, and everything to do with what God does. Good post Joe!

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