Simeon and Anna:Discovering God in the Seemingly Insignificant

Today, folks watched Punxsutawney Phil emerge from his burrow in Pennsylvania. Since he saw his shadow this year, six more weeks of winter weather will supposedly linger across the United States. (Southerners prefer to let General Beauregard Lee prognosticate their weather from Stone Mountain, Georgia.)

However, February 2 is also a significant day for Christians—so important that earlier believers in some countries did not consider the Christmas Season concluded until this date.

Candlemas was listed on commercial calendars in my childhood, but I rarely see it noted these days. Candles are carried in procession before the service, blessed, and distributed as a symbol of the Church to go forth as the light of the world. It is the Christian's "Festival of Lights".  The observance is also known as Christ’s Presentation in the Temple and The Purification of Mary.

Jesus' ransom in the Temple beautifully foretold the imminent reality of humanity's long-awaited redemption, rise, and restoration in Christ to divine heirship. Today, it also challenges us to follow the examples of Spirit-filled Simeon and Anna, who were able to find God in the small and unassuming.

Rembrandt's Simeon and Anna

All first-born males were brought to the Temple for presentation according to the Law. So nothing appeared out of the ordinary that day to the priests, attendants, and scores of people flowing in and out of the Temple courts.

A few visitors probably nodded at Joseph and Mary as they passed--perhaps noting that the couple could only bring an offering permitted for the poor (two turtledoves or two young pigeons).

"And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

"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.

"So he came by 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, he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:

'Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; 

For my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.'

"And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” (Luke 2:25-35)

Based on a personal word from God, Simeon was assured that he would not die until he had seen the Messiah; consequently, he lived expectantly surrendered to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

The Spirit prompted Simeon to go to the Temple on this particular day where, with spiritual eyes, he was able to recognize that God was present in an unusual way. Through all the noise, converse, and rituals, he discerned the uncommon from the common, the divine swaddled in plain humanity. As a result, Simeon became a pivotal mouthpiece for God, whose prophecy concerning the ministry of Jesus continues to be proclaimed thousands of years later.

Anna had been a widow for eighty-four years. Instead of remarrying, she lived at the Temple and spent her days in prayers and fastings. Anna was also easily moved by the Spirit of God, and she walked by at the very moment Simeon was prophesying over the Savior.

"And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem."(Luke 2:38)

Notice she did not have to stop and ask, "What's going on?" She instantly received a Word of Knowledge and began to prophesy with Simeon.

Simeon's and Anna's prophetic words about Christ are significant; they are the last ones we hear from an old era of salvation by works until Jesus steps out of the Jordan to begin His ministry. What an honor to hold and bless God, the Son, and proclaim the arrival of His Kingdom.

Simeon and Anna are two of my favorite people in the Bible. Their lives give me hope that I, too, can find the divine in the everyday places and people of life.

As a whole, the Jewish nation missed their day of visitation because they had preconceived notions as to how the God-king and rescuer would arrive on earth…how he would look and live. The people were taken off guard and even offended at the lowliness, humility, and gentleness of Jesus.

I'm sure I've missed many days of visitation. That's why I pray for a heart like Simeon's--so surrendered to the Holy Spirit that I can spot God wrapped in the smallest and most unpretentious packaging.

I know I've passed up opportunities to be blessed because I didn't recognize him in that homeless guy that I use to pass on the way to work. I should have taken time to look a little closer into the eyes of the rude clerk at Wal-Mart. I would have seen Jesus through the fatigue of a single mom standing on her feet hour after hour, only to pick up a screaming child from the baby sitter's after work and silently wonder if she could put off her car payment one more time.

We cry, "God, where are you?" and then go blindly through the day. We look, as did Elijah, for the dramatic wind, earthquake, and fire for evidence. We miss Him because we forget that when God came to earth, He chose to do so incarnate in human flesh.

Nothing has changed. God continues to work in the world incarnationally--human to human. You see, the Church is the visible Body of Christ--His heart and His hands--the continuing ministry of Jesus on earth. And God is at work in the lives of the most unlikely, unfortunate, and unlovely of humanity. He challenges us to push past the "outer court" and look deeper.

"Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’

“Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’

And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ " Matthew 25:34-40

Did you know that the final covering used for the Tabernacle in the Wilderness was porpoise skin? To the undiscerning, it was just a large, dull-looking tent. However, the outer shell served an important purpose because it was resilient and waterproof--ideal to protect the treasure within.

"We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." (2 Corinthians 4:7)

Father, help us recognize you in the people we come across in our daily lives. They bear your image and likeness, though marred and muddied. Help us see past the unlovely skin to the treasure within.

Unlike Anna, I do not physically reside at church twenty-four hours a day, but my heart is a home (temple) for the Holy Spirit; there I can continually commune with Him. I've been praying for some things for what seems like a lifetime, haven't you? However, we must draw encouragement from Simeon and Anna's "suddenlies". It's never too late and you're not too old.

What did Anna and Simeon have in common?

1) They were humble people with extraordinary commitments and sensitivities toward God.

2) They allowed the Holy Spirit to interrupt their day (even those noble, religious duties).

3) They had pushed aside fleshly expectations and used their keenly exercised spiritual senses.

No wonder Christians included Simeon and Anna in the Christmas Story!

Much Ado About Christmas: Inappropriate for Christians in a Greedy, Commercialized Culture?

Critics of the celebration of Christmas within the Church find the holiday offensively wrapped in earthy materialism.

They claim Resurrection Sunday should be the primary focus of Christians.

I say the birth of Christ—even amid the tinsel and excesses—deserves to be gloriously celebrated with His Resurrection. We cannot separate the Manger from the Cross.


What should Christians shout from their decorated housetops this season? The beloved Christmas carol says it best: "Joy to the World, the Lord is come!"

To help us better appreciate what this phrase means, grab your favorite brew and sit down with me for a little informal, coffee shop theology.

During a probationary period between the fall of humanity’s representative on earth (Adam) and the arrival of humanity’s redeeming representative (Christ), innocent animals bore the penalty of humanity's sins. Their blood provided a temporary covering, but not a final remedy.

When God determined the time was right, His Son assumed human flesh and stepped into the limitations of our time and space. He was given the earthly name Jesus. He allowed His humanity to be tempted in every way so that He could identify with our needs and struggles. Yet, He remained sinless--qualifying Him as the final, innocent sacrifice to bear the sins of all people. The remedy had come!

The humanity that tragically broke fellowship with God was reconciled through the redeeming work of Christ. The estranged children were brought home through the perfect obedience of another. Salvation is a done deal for everyone. It is universally offered, but its benefits are limited to those who embrace Jesus and the work He accomplished at the Cross for them. No one is coerced. God created us with one of His greatest attributes--free will.

Once someone receives this gift, they are instantly regenerated and justified. Regeneration means that by grace—undeserved favor--a person becomes alive unto God for the first time by the power of the Holy Spirit. He or she is able to contain God’s indwelling presence for the first time.

Justification means that although clearly guilty, the person has been legally cleared of all charges before God in the highest of courts. The condemning record of wrongdoings is permanently wiped clean. (Jesus took the place of the guilty party and fully bore the consequences unto death as forensic evidence that justice had not been thwarted.)

Both the Father's holiness that could not wink at wrongdoing and His extravagant love met at the two beams of the Cross. Justice AND mercy were satisfied as the Son willingly stood in humanity's stead.

Therefore, I fully understand why the Church was compelled to set a date to call Christians throughout history --in one voice and mind--to honor a yearly, renewed proclamation of the Good News that the all-powerful, transcendent God of the cosmos is also intimately available to human hearts.

There's been a great deal of controversy surrounding the December 25 observance of the birth of Christ because it coincides with a pagan feast. Truth is, early church documents reveal that the birth of Christ was already being observed on various dates by Christians as early as 200 A.D.

I'd like to quote from "Christmas Is NOT Pagan"--a very thorough and scholarly work from Dr. Richard P. Bucher, former pastor at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Lexington, KY:

"The Romans, like many other cultures at the time of the winter solstice, had various festivals. Saturnalia, was a festival that honored Saturn, the god of agriculture, from Dec. 17-24. It was the most popular festival of the year and did involve merrymaking, gift-giving, relaxed morality, and temporary freedom for slaves, who were allowed to do and speak whatever they wanted.

"But not unlike many of our Christmas feasts today, by the early Fourth Century, the religious aspect of Saturnalia had faded, and the secular merrymaking had come to the fore. It is not likely, however, that Christians chose Dec. 25 to celebrate Christ's birth on the basis of Saturnalia.

"By the time that Chrysostom was Bishop of Constantinople (398-404), Christ's birth was being observed on Dec. 25 throughout Christendom, though the Church in Armenia observed it on January 6.

"But how did it happen that the early Christians began observing Christmas on December 25? Why this date? There are two theories about why December 25 was chosen:

" (1) The first theory holds that after careful research, Julius (337-352), Bishop of Rome, determined that Christ had been born on December 25; or at least he determined that December 25 was the best authenticated date in the Tradition. John Chrystostom states this in one of his writings (John Chrysostom, Homil. Diem Natal., 2; PL, 49, 552ff.).

"Chrysostom claims that Julius, after he had been requested by Cyril of Jerusalem, had the official records of the Roman census examined and determined that December 25 was the correct date. As Weiser points out, however, there is no evidence to back this up; in fact, "it was expressly stated in Rome that the actual date of the Saviour's birth was unknown and that different traditions prevailed in different parts of the world" (F. Weiser, Handbook of Christian Feasts and Customs - New York: Harcourt, Brace, and Company, 1958, 61.).

"The second theory states that the Church of Rome deliberately chose December 25 as the date of Christ's birth to turn people away from a pagan feast that was observed at the same time. Since the time of the Roman emperor Elagabulus (218-222), the god Sol Invictus (he Unconquered Sun god), had been one of the chief deities worshiped by the Romans.

"When emperor Aurelian (270-275) came to power, he sought to restore the worship of the Sun god to prominence and make him the chief deity. In the last years of his reign, Sol was hailed as "The Lord of the Roman Empire." Sol, along, with Jupiter, appeared on the coins Aurelian had minted. In 274, the emperor built a magnificent temple to Sun god, and established a new college of senators which he named "the priests of the Sun god." Finally, December 25 was observed as "the birthday of the Sun god" (natalis solis invicti).

"Because the Sun god was identified with Mithra, a popular Persian god that also was viewed as the Sun god, pagan celebrations occurred throughout the empire on Dec. 25 (see Clement A. Miles, Christmas, New York: Frederick A. Stokes Company, 1912, 23).

"The Church at Rome seems to have chosen this date to counteract this pagan feast of the sun god and turn people instead to the "Sun of Righteousness with healing in His wings" (Malachi 4:2; Luke 1:78). Or put another way, Julius chose December 25 so that the Son of God rather than the Sun god would be worshiped.

"Though there no direct evidence that proves that the Church of Rome deliberately chose December 25 so that Christ's birth would replace "the birthday of the sun," we do have sermons from fathers of the church who soon after this used this line of reasoning. For example, Augustine (354-430) in his sermon 202 and Leo the Great (440-461 -- PL 54 Sources chrtiennes 22) gives this line of reasoning."

A pagan-inspired conspiracy to corrupt the faithful? Hardly! Many churches in America offer alternatives to Halloween, such as Harvest or Hallelujah events on October 31. Will Christians years from now seek to ban these church celebrations are being rooted in evil paganism, using the same points as their unskilled predecessors?

In my opinion, getting the EXACT date right is not as important as choosing to set aside a time to ponder the wonders of the birth of Christ. In America, we've moved observances of several historical dates to coincide with weekends, making participation easier for working families. The meanings of these events have not diminished. Why the fuss about the accuracy of the Nativity?

Our calendars are full of activities, but I don't mind a symbolic reminder on March 25 (the Feast of the Annunciation) to halt my busy schedule and examine my heart for a suppleness like that of a young teen named Mary. She dared to trust God at the risk of being ostracized and even stoned.

Nine months later, on December 25, I love the idea of ending my year by celebrating what gives me hope for the new one--"Christ in me the hope of glory!" (Colossians 1:27)
 

The word "Christmas" is really two words put together: Cristes Maesse--the "Mass of Christ". It was not a day, but something you attended on the 25th. That day was known as The Feast of the Nativity.

On this holy day, Christians would traditionally attend one of three masses, attesting in a very tangible way to the truth of the Incarnation: "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us..." (John 1:14)

Mensa is the Latin word for 'table', and the word Mass denotes a 'sending forth" from the Lord's table to serve the world as the visible Body of Christ. Another closely related word is the Spanish MESA, also meaning "table".

The first Mass was observed at midnight on Christmas Eve. Called "The Angels' Mass", it focused on divinity taking the initiative to reach down to redeem man in an extraordinary act of love. (Other religions focus on man striving to reach God.)

"The Shepherds' Mass" was celebrated at dawn. Its purpose was to honor Christ's willingness to be exposed to human needs and suffering from the womb to the grave in order to fulfill the Father's redemptive plan. His arrival was announced to ordinary men at work whose names we do not know--men of no import to the wealthy or noble. It pleased God to invite them first to see the Christ Child!

The final service on the Feast of The Nativity was usually held during the day and was known as "The Mass of the Divine Word". Christians worshiped the eternal God/Man Jesus Christ--fully God and fully man--a faithful, compassionate High Priest who is acquainted with our infirmities AND the King of Kings who reigns forevermore.

Many churches do not schedule Christmas Eve or Day services, preferring to let their congregants celebrate with family and friends. Although historic churches may have multiple masses on the 25th, they are often scheduled to accommodate larger crowds rather than designed to present the three-fold revelation of the Incarnation.

Does this mean that Christians who go to church on Christmas are holier than those who don't? No, far from it! Saints and sinners gather alike in a building and go through the motions, but only God knows who is really His. Again, it's not about how many times you go to church, what church you attend at Christmas or that you even go to church on December 25! It's about the receptivity of your heart toward the Incarnate Christ and how that affects you the other 364 days of the year.

If, after immersing yourself in holiday shopping, decorations, presents, and all that delightful food, you still find yourself secretly asking at the end of another Christmas Day, "Is this it?"

And...if you have an unexplainable emptiness in spite of the family and material blessings of the season, then I encourage you to explore beyond just knowing it's Jesus' birthday.

Delve deeper to understand what it cost God to come to earth to be sacrificed for people who did not know, much less love Him. Yet, rejoice in a Love so strong that it would spill its blood for the redemption of the whole world--past, present and future.

As we approach The Feast of the Nativity, I plan to re-post a series of articles on The Incarnation of Christ. These insights began as teaching notes for folks at my church who missed crucial foundation blocks in their faith. However, you must know that these truths have changed MY life as well!

In these articles, I try to explain, in easy language, concepts that puzzle many people—even Christians—when they hear the phrase “God with Us”:

How can Jesus be God when the Bible calls Him God’s Son?

How can Jesus be both God AND human at the same time?

If Jesus is God, then who was in Heaven while He was on earth?

We’ll start with a basic apprehension of the Trinity. One doesn't have to have full comprehension of God in order to apprehend Him. Whew! Aren't we thankful?

In another informal, coffeeshop-like setting, we'll take a closer look at God who wholly and simultaneously presents Himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, yet meets us in human history as Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier. (As Sanctifier, the Holy Spirit makes hearts ready for God through revelation and conviction, equips and matures Christians for better service in the world, and prepares them to meet Christ.)

Simeon and Anna:Discovering God in the Seemingly Insignificant

Today, folks watched Punxsutawney Phil emerge from his burrow in Pennsylvania. Since he saw his shadow this year, six more weeks of winter weather will supposedly linger across the United States. (Southerners prefer to let General Beauregard Lee prognosticate their weather from Stone Mountain, Georgia.)

However, February 2 is also a significant day for Christians—so important that earlier believers in some countries did not consider the Christmas Season concluded until this date.



Candlemas was listed on commercial calendars in my childhood, but I rarely see it noted these days. Candles are carried in procession before the service, blessed, and distributed as a symbol of the Church to go forth as the light of the world. It is the Christian's "Festival of Lights".  The observance is also known as Christ’s Presentation in the Temple and The Purification of Mary.
Jesus' ransom in the Temple beautifully foretold the imminent reality of humanity's long-awaited redemption, rise, and restoration in Christ to divine heirship. Today, it also challenges us to follow the examples of Spirit-filled Simeon and Anna, who were able to find God in the small and unassuming.

Rembrandt's Simeon and Anna

All first-born males were brought to the Temple for presentation according to the Law. So nothing appeared out of the ordinary that day to the priests, attendants, and scores of people flowing in and out of the Temple courts.

A few visitors probably nodded at Joseph and Mary as they passed--perhaps noting that the couple could only bring an offering permitted for the poor (two turtledoves or two young pigeons).

"And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

"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.

"""So he came by 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, he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:

'Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; 

For my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.'

"And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” (Luke 2:25-35)

Based on a personal word from God, Simeon was assured that he would not die until he had seen the Messiah; consequently, he lived expectantly surrendered to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

The Spirit prompted Simeon to go to the Temple on this particular day where, with spiritual eyes, he was able to recognize that God was present in an unusual way. Through all the noise, converse, and rituals, he discerned the uncommon from the common, the divine swaddled in plain humanity. As a result, Simeon became a pivotal mouthpiece for God, whose prophecy concerning the ministry of Jesus continues to be proclaimed thousands of years later.

Anna had been a widow for eighty-four years. Instead of remarrying, she lived at the Temple and spent her days in prayers and fastings. Anna was also easily moved by the Spirit of God, and she walked by at the very moment Simeon was prophesying over the Savior.

"And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem."(Luke 2:38)

Notice she did not have to stop and ask, "What's going on?" She instantly received a Word of Knowledge and began to prophesy with Simeon.

Simeon's and Anna's prophetic words about Christ are significant; they are the last ones we hear from an old era of salvation by works until Jesus steps out of the Jordan to begin His ministry. What an honor to hold and bless God, the Son, and proclaim the arrival of His Kingdom.

Simeon and Anna are two of my favorite people in the Bible. Their lives give me hope that I, too, can find the divine in the everyday places and people of life.

As a whole, the Jewish nation missed their day of visitation because they had preconceived notions as to how the God-king and rescuer would arrive on earth…how he would look and live. The people were taken off guard and even offended at the lowliness, humility, and gentleness of Jesus.

I'm sure I've missed many days of visitation. That's why I pray for a heart like Simeon's--so surrendered to the Holy Spirit that I can spot God wrapped in the smallest and most unpretentious packaging.

I know I've passed up opportunities to be blessed because I didn't recognize him in that homeless guy that I use to pass on the way to work. I should have taken time to look a little closer into the eyes of the rude clerk at Wal-Mart. I would have seen Jesus through the fatigue of a single mom standing on her feet hour after hour, only to pick up a screaming child from the baby sitter's after work and silently wonder if she could put off her car payment one more time.

We cry, "God, where are you?" and then go blindly through the day. We look, as did Elijah, for the dramatic wind, earthquake, and fire for evidence. We miss Him because we forget that when God came to earth, He chose to do so incarnate in human flesh.

Nothing has changed. God continues to work in the world incarnationally--human to human. You see, the Church is the visible Body of Christ--His heart and His hands--the continuing ministry of Jesus on earth. And God is at work in the lives of the most unlikely, unfortunate, and unlovely of humanity. He challenges us to push past the "outer court" and look deeper.

"Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’

“Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’

And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ " Matthew 25:34-40

Did you know that the final covering used for the Tabernacle in the Wilderness was porpoise skin? To the undiscerning, it was just a large, dull-looking tent. However, the outer shell served an important purpose because it was resilient and waterproof--ideal to protect the treasure within.

"We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." (2 Corinthians 4:7)

Father, help us recognize you in the people we come across in our daily lives. They bear your image and likeness, though marred and muddied. Help us see past the unlovely skin to the treasure within.

Unlike Anna, I do not physically reside at church twenty-four hours a day, but my heart is a home (temple) for the Holy Spirit; there I can continually commune with Him. I've been praying for some things for what seems like a lifetime, haven't you? However, we must draw encouragement from Simeon and Anna's "suddenlies". It's never too late and you're not too old.

What did Anna and Simeon have in common?

1) They were humble people with extraordinary commitments and sensitivities toward God.

2) They allowed the Holy Spirit to interrupt their day (even those noble, religious duties).

3) They had pushed aside fleshly expectations and used their keenly exercised spiritual senses.

No wonder Christians included Simeon and Anna in the Christmas Story!