FOR MY EYES HAVE SEEN YOUR SALVATION

Luke 2:22-40

Key verses 30-32

For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”

Introduction

“My eyes have seen your salvation.” Are we able to say the same things? In order to do so, we must prepare our hearts for an encounter with God. Simeon, prompted by the Holy Spirit, enters the Temple. He was so receptive to the stirring of God within his heart that he entered the Temple in the very moment he needed to. Both he and Anna were not in the Temple by accident. God had been preparing their hearts for years, and they had done everything in their power to cooperate with the Holy Spirit through their prayer, sacrifice, worship, and thanksgiving. May the Lord help us to follow their life of faith in our times so that we may experience the same meaningful encounter, especially this coming Xmas.

1. Read verses 22-27. Why did Joseph and Mary take the baby Jesus to Jerusalem? (22-24) What can we learn from them? Describe who Simeon was. (25) What had been revealed to Simeon by the Holy Spirit? (26) How did he meet Jesus? (27)

1-1, Read verses 22-27.

When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”[b]), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”[c]

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,

1-2, Why did Joseph and Mary take the baby Jesus to Jerusalem? (22-24)

When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”[b]), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”[c]

1-3, What can we learn from them?

• First of all, this was done so Jesus might fulfill every aspect of the law as commanded in Leviticus 12.

The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Say to the Israelites: ‘A woman who becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son will be ceremonially unclean for seven days, just as she is unclean during her monthly period. 3 On the eighth day the boy is to be circumcised. 4 Then the woman must wait thirty-three days to be purified from her bleeding. She must not touch anything sacred or go to the sanctuary until the days of her purification are over. 5 If she gives birth to a daughter, for two weeks the woman will be unclean, as during her period. Then she must wait sixty-six days to be purified from her bleeding.

6 “‘When the days of her purification for a son or daughter are over, she is to bring to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting a year-old lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or a dove for a sin offering.[a] 7 He shall offer them before the Lord to make atonement for her, and then she will be ceremonially clean from her flow of blood.

“‘These are the regulations for the woman who gives birth to a boy or a girl. 8 But if she cannot afford a lamb, she is to bring two doves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. In this way the priest will make atonement for her, and she will be clean.’”

• It also shows that Joseph and Mary were truly devout, obedient parents. They obeyed God’s command in Leviticus 12, so Jesus obeyed it also.

• The circumcision and purification ceremonies were necessary as a reminder that we are all born in sin (Psalm 51:5).

• Jesus could have been excused because He was not born in sin. Yet, we see Him even as a baby, identifying with sinners, even as a baby.

• The offering of the two pigeons instead of the lamb indicates that they were poor and this happened before the wise men visited them with expensive gifts.

1-4, Describe who Simeon was. (25)

Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.

1-5, What had been revealed to Simeon by the Holy Spirit? (26)

It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.

1-6, How did he meet Jesus? (27)

Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,

• Simeon was led by the Holy Spirit at each step of his life. It is very impressive for us to see his righteous and devout life.

• It was not wasted at all in the eyes of the Lord. Nothing is wasted when we follow the Holy Spirit in accordance with the word of truth.

• At God’s right time, God granted His blessing that he would see the baby Jesus who is the very consolation of Israel.

• Simeon may have known that there were rumors regarding the coming of the Messiah. The news of John the Baptist’s birth and its meaning was widely known.

• The shepherds who heard the angelic announcement may have reported good news of great joy about what happened among the people in Jerusalem.

• So he came by the Spirit into the temple. Yet it was not rumors or his own feelings, but the Spirit who led him into the temple on that day.

• Simeon was a man who knew how to be led by the Holy Spirit, both in hearing God’s promise to him and being prompted to go to the temple at the right time.

1. Read verses 28-35. What was Simeon’s praise? (28-32) What does this show about God? (Isaiah 49:5-6) What else did he say to Mary? (33-35) What does this reveal about Jesus?

2-1, Read verses 28-35.

Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

29

“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,

you may now dismiss[d] your servant in peace.

30

For my eyes have seen your salvation,

31

which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:

32

a light for revelation to the Gentiles,

and the glory of your people Israel.”

33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then 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, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

2-2, What was Simeon’s praise? (28-32)

Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: 29

“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,

you may now dismiss[d] your servant in peace. 30

For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31

which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: 32

a light for revelation to the Gentiles,

and the glory of your people Israel.”

• He took Him up in his arms: Simeon’s prophecy was filled with love for his Savior; and he hardly knew Jesus. (Thank God that we who know so much more about Him should love Him even more.)

• According to Your word: Simeon now had the peace of seeing God’s promise fulfilled in his life at last according to his long devotion and prayer life.

• You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation.

2-3, What does this show about God? (Isaiah 49:5-6)

And now the Lord says—

he who formed me in the womb to be his servant

to bring Jacob back to him

and gather Israel to himself,

for I am[a] honored in the eyes of the Lord

and my God has been my strength—

6 he says:

“It is too small a thing for you to be my servant

to restore the tribes of Jacob

and bring back those of Israel I have kept.

I will also make you a light for the Gentiles,

that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”

• A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles: The amazing thing about Simeon’s prophecy is that it shows that this light is for the Gentiles also.

• The salvation of Jesus began with Israel but was always to be extended beyond Israel. Simeon, who was led by the Spirit, must have been reminded of Isaiah 49.

• It is God who surely fulfills His promise in any situation. May the Lord help us to put trust in the Lord and live a life led by the Holy Spirit!

• Thanks to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we are able to get out of our narrow mind and see God’s great vision to reach all nations with the gospel truth!

2-4, What else did he say to Mary? (33-35)

The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then 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, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

2-5, What does this reveal about Jesus?

• For the fall and rising of many. Falling first and rising next. Jesus reveals our fallen condition of sins and rescues us and raises us from the dead.

• To be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.

• Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. Jesus is the light of the world. When Jesus speaks the truth, all darkness in the darkened thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. He is full of grace and truth!

• A sword will pierce your own soul too. Jesus’ life on the mission to deny himself and take up the cross meant a lot of pain to Mary too. But it was glorious pain from God’s perspective. God would surely provide her strength to endure it too!

1. Read verses 36-40. Describe who Anna was. (36-37) What did she say about the child as soon as she met Jesus? (38) What happened to Jesus when Joseph and Mary returned to Galilee? (39-40)

3-1, Read verses 36-40.

There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four.[e] She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. 39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.

3-2, Describe who Anna was. (36-37)

There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four.[e] She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.

3-3, What did she say about the child as soon as she met Jesus? (38)

38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

• Anna did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

• This godly woman served God with total devotion. Anna’s close walk with God was shown by her love for Jesus, and her desire to tell others about Jesus.

• She spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption. That was why she was called as a prophetess who knew Jesus in person thanks to her devotion.

• Anna was a remarkable woman. As a widow she knew pain and loss but had not become bitter. As an elderly woman she had not lost hope.

3-4, What happened to Jesus when Joseph and Mary returned to Galilee? (39-40)

39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.

• Luke emphasizes that Jesus was perfectly obedient to God, even as a child. The child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom.

• Jesus grew and developed as other children, yet His spiritual development is here first noted.

• The grace of God was upon Him. The goodness and favor of God was evident in His life, even as a child.

Conclusion

Today we had the praising words of both Simeon and the prophetess Anna. Years of fasting, offering sacrifice, going to the Temple, and forming a deep relationship with God in prayer all led to this pivotal moment of encounter with the Messiah, Jesus Christ in their lives. As we follow their good example in terms of seeking first God’s kingdom and His righteousness, then we will surely experience God’s encounter in our lives as well. May the Lord help us to never lose our hearts in this tedious pandemic time. In this unprecedented Christmas time, we may renew our faith like our ancestors of faith to be joyful and thankful for the glory of God!

One word: FOR MY EYES HAVE SEEN YOUR SALVATION!