Simeon and Anna

And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against.—Luke 2:34

By Michael Brann

The gospel of Luke favors us with the testimony of two special witnesses regarding the birth of the long promised Messiah. Their names are Simeon and Anna (2:21-38).

Israel had been without any noted true prophet among its people since the days of the great prophet Malachi, nearly four hundred years earlier. During those silent years the religious sects such as the Pharisees and Saducees began to take shape and dominated the nation and serve as the mouthpiece of God.

About the time of Simeon and Anna, many in Israel had begun to anticipate the coming of the promised Messiah which was to save them and appoint them an honored role in God’s kingdom (Luke 3:15). Apparently, their expectations were based upon the seventy weeks of Daniel 9:25. Many believed the indicated time was at hand.

Although their full expectations were not to be met until some thirty years later, these beginning expectations caused a heightened pitch of excitement in Israel. The LORD seemed to perpetuate this attitude by once again speaking to and through the medium of prophets and prophetesses.

The Witness of Simeon

The first to testify and prophesy is one called Simeon. In a few words, much is said about the character of this man. He was just and devout.

This elderly man was not merely seeking outwardly to be a man of God. His daily devotion at the temple demonstrated that he was one whose heart conformed to his actions.

It is stated that he waited for the consolation of Israel. That is to say, based upon the sure promises of God’s word, he looked for and fully expected the Messiah. Further, the record says that the holy spirit was upon him. The LORD had indicated to him that he would not see death until he had seen the Lord’s Anointed, that is, the one who was appointed to deliver Israel. Now the time had arrived. Simeon had faithfully waited for many years for the fulfillment of that unique promise made to him. What a fine example we have in Simeon to wait upon the Lord, always hopeful and full of expectation for the things promised to us by God! Even though the fulfillment may come many years later, perhaps more than we had hoped or expected, God has his own time schedule. It is pleasing to him that we wait upon him.

Simeon’s joy at the sight of this child who would deliver Israel was immeasurable. He immediately took him into his arms; and with great confidence he blessed God and proclaimed a message that the child eventually would have a great impact upon all the people of the earth. He further attested that, before these particular blessings are to go into operation, this Messiah will be the focal point of much trouble and conflict amongst his own people. Many in Israel stumbled over him, not recognizing who he was nor understanding the purpose of his first coming. The facts speak for themselves even today as we see how many Jews have not yet recognized him. Regardless of that, we are likewise certain that these same ones who have rejected him are also in line for the special promise to rise again. Once God has called out and prepared his bride for his Son, Israel will once again come into the picture and be blessed with certain privileges and opportunities. (See Romans 11 for more details on this subject.)

The Witness of Anna

Anna (or Hannah from the Hebrew) means favored. In the small glimpse into her character, briefly given us by Luke, we begin to see why she was favored of God. She is described as a prophetess, in the tradition of Miriam, Deborah, and Hulduh. She was from the tribe of Aser (Asher). Asher, a rather undistinguished tribe, failed to completely evict the Canaanites from their inherited portion of the land of Israel. It was one of the few tribes west of the Jordan (along with the tribe of Simeon) to produce no judge, hero, or heroine of faith to the nation. That is, until Anna!

Anna was at least eighty-four years old (possibly as old as about one hundred and three) but still actively serving the Lord. She attended the morning and evening worship services every day. She fasted according to the law and prayed without ceasing. No doubt, the burden of her prayers for the long promised Messiah to arrive was to establish his everlasting kingdom of peace and righteousness, and furthermore, to restore Israel to its promised prominence.

No wonder such a devoted and long-time faithful woman as Anna was favored of God to see the Messiah in the form of this small child; it thrilled her heart so much that she just had to go tell those far and near this good news! Imagine this elderly woman going from place to place preaching the birth of the Messiah, the Great Deliverer, the Lord’s Anointed One! She may have been the first door-to-door Christian witness!

Lessons from these Two Witnesses

Many lessons are given by these two witnesses. One is that the elderly have much to contribute to the younger ones as examples of constancy in meeting habits. Many have been faithfully attending Sunday and midweek meetings for several decades and can nearly count on one hand the number of missed meetings. What an example to those of us who might, over minor excuses, at times prefer to stay home from gatherings with the brethren.

Another lesson is that we need not be concerned with how many meetings we go to but with whether they are helping to make us just and right and good and holy in our everyday affairs, in matters of business, school, work, home.

In a personal way we, who have beheld in a spiritual manner the presence of the Messiah and understand the truths contained in his unfolding divine plan of the ages, are (like Simeon) prepared to die in peace knowing that the Lord is able to save us out of death by the power of resurrection.

As the Apostle Paul says, "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope" (1 Thess. 4:13).

Lastly, what an example Anna is to those who likewise witness our Lord’s second advent! Like Anna, they are first of all thankful for the privilege to see these things and secondly, to spread the good news of his fast approaching kingdom to all who have hearing ears and who may be looking for that blessed hope.

May this season of the year find us more and more filled with the spontaneous joy and peace which filled the hearts of Simeon and Anna as they beheld with their own eyes the beginning of the fulfillment of all of God’s plans and purposes.