Have you ever said the phrase “I can die happy now”? We have all, more than likely, said that phrase after something good has happened to us. This is sort of the theme for the scripture for today, Luke 2: 22-40. This is the story of when Mary and Joseph take Jesus to the temple for the first time and present him to the Lord and office a sacrifice. This was the law and had to be done for the first-born male in the family. There were at least two other people at the temple with Mary, Joseph and Jesus arrived for the presentation, Simeon and the prophet Anna. Simeon was a good man who followed the law, read his scriptures. He was righteous and devout and the Holy Spirit rested on him. While most people belied the Messiah was coming to save them from the Romans and would be a warrior, Simeon thought differently. Simeon also knew the law and knew there was no way for any person to follow it completely without making mistakes along the way. He probably believed, however, the two laws people needed to follow the strictest were to love and worship God and to treat our neighbors as we treat ourselves. These are the same laws that Jesus would later preach about. When Jesus was brought into the Temple, Simeon, who had been told he would not die until he had seen the Messiah, took Jesus and thanked the Lord saying basically, I can die happy now that I have seen the Messiah. The prophet Anna, we are told never left the temple but worshiped and fasted there every day. When Mary came in with Jesus, Anna began to praise God and speak about the child to all who were looking for forgiveness. Simeon and Anna had a few things in common. Neither would hear Jesus preach, neither would see a miracle performed and they didn’t witness his resurrection. Yet, they both had the great foresight that God’s plan was vastly different from what the religious establishment had at this time. Like Anna and Simeon, knowing Jesus the Christ should make you happy and peaceful. New Testament Reading: Galatians: 4: 4-7 Gospel Reading: 2: 22-40 Bethesda’s Praise Band Performing: Hope Is Born This Night – Sidewalk Prophets Born In Bethlehem – Third Day Mary Did You Know – Mark Lowry Emmanuel, God With Us – Jeremy Camp Silent Night - MercyMe

• published: 29 Dec 2014
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