As Christians think about the second coming of Jesus, we are often confronted not only with the reality of his return but with the question of how we should prepare for it. Every Christian should consider how to wait for Jesus. As we approach Christmas, we are given two wonderful examples of saints who were waiting the Messiah – Simeon and Anna. They, like us, were waiting in expectancy for Jesus but they were anticipating the birth of their King while we are anticipating his return in final consummation. Even though we are waiting for different advents of Jesus, Simeon and Anna stand in history as examples to the church for how to wait well.
Luke 2:25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
Luke 2:36-38 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 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.
1. They were faithful.
Luke describes Simeon as a righteous and devout man and Anna as a woman who did not depart from the temple, worshipping and fasting and praying night and day. Both Simeon and Anna are now known in all of history as two people who were faithful in their life before God. The fact that they were so fervent in their faithfulness in waiting for Jesus indicates that they were aware of the promises of Scripture. They had great conviction in their waiting, and they did not seem to waste that conviction on frivolous debates. They prayed, they worshipped, they obviously studied, they fasted, and they were consistent in worshipping their God who would give them their King. If we are asked how we should wait for Jesus, the primary answer is….in faithfulness.
2. They were longing for comfort and redemption for God’s people.
While Luke says that Simeon was looking for the “consolation of Israel,” he also notes that Anna was looking for the “redemption of Israel.” Both of these phrases say the same thing. The consolation for Simeon would come in the Messiah bringing about the redemption of his people. In verse 30 Simeon says that his eyes have seen God’s salvation. Surely both Simeon and Anna knew the harsh life of living under the law. As they frequented the temple day in and day out, they knew the reality of their need for a sacrifice to end all sacrifice. They were acutely aware of their need for the Messianic hope as the Savior of the world. Simeon also knew that this great coming would sort out those who would believe and those who would not. Perhaps he knew from the prophets that this Messiah would be despised and rejected by many. Luke 2:34-35 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed."
Like Anna and Simeon, we await with a longing for the redemption of God’s people, but we await the final consummation on the day of salvation that has already been won for us in Jesus’ first coming and work on the cross.
3. They waited in the grace of God.
The description we are given about Simeon is that the Holy Spirit was upon him. It was by God’s grace that Simeon had such faithfulness in his wait and such wisdom in his expectation. Also by the grace of God, Anna was described as a prophetess. It seems that she was given a good sense of wisdom about the prophecies concerning the Messiah and would tell people of her expectations. When she saw Jesus, she abounded in gratitude having tasted God’s great grace in new measure. Either way, it seems that Simeon and Anna were waiting in the grace of God relying on his truth and the faithfulness of his promises.
It is also worth noting that Anna declared to all what she had seen. For us, when Jesus returns in his second coming, we will have no further opportunity to tell others about him. Our opportunity for that is right now.
Regardless of the differences of advents, Simeon and Anna instruct us unto faithfulness, expectancy, a desire to see the full consummation of salvation for the church, and a reliance on God’s grace. We should be thankful for their example and allow this Christmas season to drive our eagerness of Christ’s final return.