What Child is this? - Part 2 (Luke 2:21-40)
INTRODUCTION:
Last Sunday we began to look at a passage in Luke 2 that I only got partially through and I promised that I would finish it up this morning. We began looking at an often-overlooked portion of the Christmas record, the circumcision and presentation of Jesus. Within this passage we have three human witness to confirm the truth of who Jesus is, that He is the promised Messiah, that He is the Savior, that He is the Son of God, that He is Immanuel, God with us.
Last week we looked at the first witness and it was the testimony of Joseph and Mary and they constituted one witness because their actions were combined. This morning we will look at the second two witnesses, we will look at the testimony of Simeon and then the testimony of the prophetess Anna.
As I said last week as we have gone through the events surrounding the incarnation and birth of Jesus Christ we have been several times left with a choice that we have to make, and the choice is voiced in the Christmas carol, “What Child is this?” We must each decide what our response to this question is, are we going to believe the record of Luke that this child is who the angels declared Him to be, or are these events just too fantastic for us to believe and therefore we are going to reject them as just that, fantasy. Our passage this morning contains a statement that I said last week is a defining statement and it is found in the end of verse 35, the statement is, “—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” (Luke 2:35, NASB95)[1] Your response to what we have written here by Luke will reveal the thoughts of your heart. So, as we come to the close of the Christmas season and the beginning of the New Year you must ask yourself the question, what child is this? But you must not only ask it, but you must also answer it for yourself. Let’s pray and then read our passage for this morning.
--PRAY--
SCRIPTURE:
Turn in your Bibles this morning to Luke 2:21-40. I know that we looked at the first four verses last week, but we will read the whole passage for the sake of context. Please stand if you are able in honor for the reading of God’s holy Word.
Luke 2:21-40,
“And when eight days had passed, before His circumcision, His name was then called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. And when the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, ‘Every firstborn male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord’), and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, ‘A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.’ And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking 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. And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said, ‘Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, According to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation, Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, A Light of revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.’ And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, ‘Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed— and a sword will pierce even your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.’ And there was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years and had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers. At that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. When they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city of Nazareth. The Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.” (Luke 2:21–40, NASB95)[2]
THE TESTIMONY OF JOSEPH AND MARY (Luke 2:21-24)
By way of review let me just recap the testimony of Joseph and Mary as the first human witnesses to what Child is this. We learned that Joseph and Mary were part of the small remnant of Israel that believed in God, that believed and hoped for the coming of the promised Messiah. This faith was credited to them as righteousness by God and they sought out of their love for God to keep the law, so we see that they were also sanctified, set apart for God and living godly lives. Their testimony concerning Jesus was two-fold, first it was in naming Him Jesus on the day of His circumcision, the name given to them by the angel before the child was conceived. They named Him after His Father in heaven, because the name Jesus means Jehovah (God) saves. His name reflected the nature of God as a Savior, the nature of His Father was His nature also, because He too was God. Second, their testimony was seen in the fact that they carried out the Law on Jesus’ behalf. They had Him circumcised on the eighth day as required by the Law, His mother Mary after the 40 days of her uncleanness went with Joseph and Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem to offer a sacrifice for her purification, and to present Jesus to God as the Law required and to pay the redemption price to redeem Him, 5 shekels of silver.
Joseph and Mary by naming the child Jesus, the name given by the angel, and by carrying out the Law concerning sons born into the nation of Israel, Joseph and Mary were confirming the this Child was the Son of God and that they had the privilege of being His earthly parents, and that everything the angel had said about Him was true. This child was God in the flesh, He was the Son of David, He was the Savior who would save His people from their sins.
THE TESTIMONY OF SIMEON (Luke 2:25-35)
Then we come to the second witness in this passage and we are given the testimony of Simeon. In this meeting of Simeon with Jesus and His parents we see the sovereignty of God, the temple was a busy place with possibly thousands of people milling around and God in His sovereignty brings Simeon to the child Jesus. Listen to verse 25, “And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him.” (Luke 2:25, NASB95)[3] Right away in our introduction to Simeon we learn some things about him. First, he lived in Jerusalem and he was righteous and devout. What does that mean? It means the same thing it always means. It means that by faith this person has believed in God and His promises to send the Messiah, the Savior and that faith was credited as righteousness, the person was justified by faith. Simeon was one of the small remnant of Israel that believed God and was hoping for the coming Messiah. Simeon was devout, he had given his life to serve God, he was sanctified in that he was set apart to God for His service. Then Luke writes that Simeon was looking for the consolation of Israel. From the word consolation we get the word console, to console someone is to comfort them. Simeon was looking for the comforter of Israel, this is another name for the Messiah, he was looking for the Messiah. The Messiah would be the One to comfort Israel. This name goes back to Isaiah 40 where the prophet writes in verse 1, “Comfort, O comfort My people,” says your God.” (Isaiah 40:1, NASB95)[4] This is in reference to the Messiah which will come that is prophesied in this chapter of Isaiah, the Messiah is the comforter, the One who will fulfill all the promises of the Abrahamic covenant, the Davidic covenant, and even the terms of the new covenant that is prophesied in Jeremiah 31:31-34 which speaks of the Messiah bringing personal and national salvation. So, this Simeon knows what the Old Testament says about the Messiah, he is familiar with the writings of Isaiah. He knows that the Messiah will comfort Israel by bringing an end to her woes, by destroying her enemies, fulfilling all of God’s promises to her, bringing about salvation and bringing in the kingdom. Here is a man that is justified, sanctified and waiting for the future arrival of the Messiah. He has true hope in his heart, he believes God’s promises.
Verse 25 ends by informing us that the Holy Spirit was upon him. The Holy Spirit was at work in the life of this righteous and devout man and the next verse tells us that Simeon had received a personal revelation from God through the Holy Spirit and that revelation was that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Christ, the Messiah, the Consolation of Israel. God had promised this to Simeon.
The Holy Spirit directs Simeon to the temple on the day that Joseph and Mary are there carrying out the demands of the Law to present Jesus and to offer the sacrifices for the purification of Mary. Thousands of people and the Holy Spirit guides Simeon to the right spot at the right time so that when Joseph and Mary with Jesus are in the temple courts they are met by Simeon.
In verse 28 we are told that Simeon took the child Jesus into his arms, just close your eyes and imagine as this elderly gentleman comes up to Mary and Joseph and asks if he can hold the baby for just a few minutes, he takes the baby and looks down at His face, and knew that he was looking into the human face of the eternal God. What did he think at that moment? He held Him in his arms, close to his heart; he knew exactly who He was because his immediate response was worship, he blessed God, Luke says. He worshiped and said, “Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, According to Your word;” (Luke 2:29, NASB95)[5] God has kept His promise to Simeon, Simeon says that he can now depart in peace, in other words, he can die, only believers in death depart this earth in peace. He has seen the promised Messiah, he held Him in his arms, the Savior of the world. He is now ready to depart this earth.
We do not know about this man before this, we do not know how long he lived after this or anything about his life besides what Luke has recorded for us by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, but it is enough. What a moment, here we have a righteous, justified, sanctified believing, hoping, trusting man, giving testimony that he has seen the Messiah. Listen to verse 30, the reason he can depart this world in peace, “For my eyes have seen Your salvation,” (Luke 2:30, NASB95)[6] I have seen the Savior, I have seen the One promised. The angels had announced to the shepherds on the night of Jesus’ birth that the Savior had been born. The remnant always understood that the Messiah would be a Savior, which means the remnant always understood that they were sinful and needed to be saved. The majority of the nation of Israel did not understand that they were sinners in need of a Savior, they thought they were righteous by keeping the Law. Simeon understood from the Old Testament what few people of his day understood, that the Holy One, the Messiah, was a Savior. And he even understood beyond that, not only was the Messiah a Savior for Israel, but for the world. Look at what he says in verse 31-32, “Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, A Light of revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.” (Luke 2:31–32, NASB95)[7] Simeon understood from the Old Testament that this Savior that he held in his arms was a light not just for Israel, but also for the Gentiles. How does he know this, again from the pages of Isaiah (Isaiah 42:6). The prophet declared that the glory of Israel, the Messiah would be a light of revelation to the Gentiles, He would be their Savior as well. Here was a man that lived for one purpose and that was to see the Savior come, he believed God and he trusted in His Word and His promises, and he testifies that He has seen the Savior, the Holy One promised in the Old Testament, the Son of God.
Luke tells us in verse 33 that Joseph and Mary were amazed at the things that Simeon was saying about Jesus. All that Simeon was saying was not new to them, but this is really the first time that they had heard it from someone besides angels. This was confirmation for Joseph and Mary of what they knew from a man who was under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the same Spirit who had conceived the child in Mary’s womb. And Simeon not only confirms what they knew but enlarges their understanding to include the world.
But Simeon was not done, we are told that Simeon blessed the parents of this child, and then turned to Mary and spoke to her, again under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Simeon said, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed— and a sword will pierce even your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” (Luke 2:34–35, NASB95)[8] Suddenly what is said about this child for the first time is negative. This was the part that as parents you would not want to hear, but they needed to hear it and they needed to hear it from a Spirit inspired source. Joseph and Mary needed to hear this so they would not think something had gone wrong when it began to hurt.
Simeon says that this child will cause the rise and fall of many in Israel, again this comes out of Isaiah. Isaiah 8 speaks of the Messiah being a sanctuary for some and they will be lifted up, but for others He will be a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense and will cause the fall of many. Those who believe in Jesus Christ, put their faith in Him for salvation will be lifted up, but those who refuse to believe and reject His offer of salvation they will fall, they will fall under judgment. This child is the divider that is why the end of verse 35 says that “to the end that thoughts from many hearts will be revealed.” How you respond to Jesus reveals the thoughts of your heart. All that needs to be said is, What do you believe about Jesus Christ? Whatever the answer is reveals the thoughts of your heart. If you say you do not believe or acknowledge Him as Savior and Lord, your heart is revealed. If you say you believe and acknowledge Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, your heart is revealed. I know the condition of your heart, I know that the person with the first response is headed for a fall, the person with the second response has risen already. I do not need to ask anything else, just this one question will reveal the thoughts of your heart.
Simeon also stated that this child would be a sign to be opposed, and that He was, violently opposed during His whole earthly ministry, opposed, rejected, executed. The rejection continues to go on today. All this was to be a sword that pierced Mary’s soul, I believe she felt it when she saw Him rejected, but when the sword was driven through her was when she stood at the cross and saw Him being murdered. She did not fully understand these words of Simeon and the pain that this piercing would cause until Jesus began His public ministry; and they just fought Him all the way, all the way to the cross. Simeon was saying that she would suffer pain, grief and hurt, deep pain that would grow at her Son’s rejection and murder.
As Mary had been prepared by the angel Gabriel for the birth of this child, she now has been prepared for her Son’s rejection and death by Simeon. Simeon’s testimony affirmed that this child was the Son of God that was promised to come as our Savior.
THE TESTIMONY OF ANNA (Luke 2:36-40)
We have one more testimony, our third witness is a lady by the name of Anna, she will give the third and final testimony and her testimony will speak of the hope in spite of the rejection. Luke writes, “And there was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years and had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers.” (Luke 2:36–37, NASB95)[9] We are told a few things about Anna, she is a prophetess, so she was one who spoke God’s Word, she is the daughter of Phanuel and she is of the tribe of Asher. We are told that she was advanced in years and had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, if she was 13 or 14 when she got married, which was the age that Israelite women were married then she would have been 20 or 21 when her husband died. Then as a widow to the age of 84. On first reading that would make her a widow of 63 or 64 years. But in the Greek, and some believe this is the correct reading, it can say she had been a widow for 84 years. If this is the correct reading, then she is 104 or 105 years old. Either way, we can agree, Anna was advanced in years.
Anna never left the temple, what does this mean? It means that when she became a widow, she devoted her life to God. There were apartments surrounding the temple courtyard where people could go and live and serve in the temple. She would serve the Levites and priests, she was a constant worshipper, she never left the temple and Luke says she served night and day, but along with the serving she was fasting and praying. Luke is describing for us another justified and sanctified saint who was living on the temple grounds set apart for God’s service, this woman gives us a third credible testimony.
Luke writes, “At that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.” (Luke 2:38, NASB95)[10] The moment was when Simeon was speaking, this woman comes out of the crowd that is milling around in the temple courtyards and what is her first response? The same as everyone who comes in contact with this child, she began to worship with thanksgiving to God for the child that Simeon is holding in his arms. Anna’s worship is added to that of the shepherds, the angels, Joseph, Mary, Elizabeth, and Simeon. This is the final person in Luke’s narrative to praise God for the birth of Christ. Then we are told that she continued to speak of Jesus to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
She was speaking to the remnant, that is who was looking for the redemption of Jerusalem, which means they were looking for a Redeemer. They knew that they were sinners in need of a Savior. These were the true Jews, the ones who knew they need salvation, this was the godly remnant. In this passage we have testimony from Joseph and Mary, a godly couple, testimony from Simeon, a godly man, and testimony from Anna, a godly woman. They all testified of the same thing, that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, that He was God in the flesh, that He was the Savior of the world and the Messiah of Israel.
Luke ends this passage with a final testimony in verses 39-40, “When they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city of Nazareth. The Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.” (Luke 2:39–40, NASB95)[11] In these verses we have the final word of testimony, it is the most important word of testimony, it is the testimony of God, “And the grace of God was upon Him.” The favor of God, Jesus does not need grace in the sense that we need God’s grace because He is sinless. The favor of God was upon Him, it is God’s testimony that is the greatest testimony. Later on, in the lifetime of Jesus twice God will speak testimony of Jesus, He will say, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.” (Matthew 3:17b, NASB95)[12] and “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!” (Matthew 17:5, NASB95)[13] Four testimonies—righteous testimonies of the Christ child.
CONCLUSION:
What child is this? You have heard the testimonies; you have heard Luke’s record of the incarnation and the birth of Jesus Christ. From the testimony that we have heard this child is the Word made flesh, the Christ (the Messiah), the Son of the Most High God, the holy Child, the holy One of God, God Incarnate, the Savior of the world. What do you believe about Jesus Christ? How do you answer the question, “What Child is this?” I believe the record written by Luke, I believe the testimonies of Joseph and Mary and Simeon and Anna. I believe that Jesus Christ is my Savior and Lord. I believe that He is coming back some day to take me home to be with Him forever, and I believe that He will return to the earth one day to fulfill all the promises of the Abrahamic, Davidic and new covenants. What about you? What Child is this?
[1]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[2]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[3]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[4]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[5]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[6]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[7]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[8]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[9]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[10]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[11]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[12]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[13]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.