Jesus presented in the temple with the homage of Simeon and Anna — Luke 2:22-38
Thoughts about serving others
This link includes a list of posts about Serving the Least, the Lost, and the Lonely.
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Let the Word evoke words. May your life encourage lives.
The story of Simeon, one who heard from God and waited patiently for the word to be revealed, is amazing. Luke doesn’t tell us how long Simeon lived in the temple, but he believed God’s word and one day, he heard that which he longed for, “Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts” (Luke 2:27). Simeon’s words are added to many thoughts Mary and Joseph must have pondered as Jesus grew under their supervision:
I recognize the Bible is God’s story and I shouldn’t be tempted to wander from the main theme, but I’m moved by Mary and Joseph and wish I knew more about their lives, the daily activities, their words and deeds. It seems that they were the kinda of parents that we all should strive to be, but that’s a stretch of my imagination for there is little evidence to support that notion, only that we know Jesus and James grew up as honorable people. It’s the humanity that is inviting to consider. Rich Mullins, Boy Like Me/Man Like You, is a song that attempts to picture Jesus as a boy and offers hope that we could grow up to be a man like Jesus.
Just 40 days old, Mary and Joseph take the baby Jesus with them to the temple, the faithful couple are obedient to the Law. Anna, a prophet and widow, “never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying” (2:37). She approached Mary, Joseph and Jesus and “gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem” (2:38).
Jesus was a boy, a child. Just think about that for a minute or two. Understand that God’s redemptive story includes a couple of ordinary people doing the extraordinary with complete humility, knowing the story is not about them, it is about Christ. Lord, give me an ounce of their character, help me to be this obedient and faithful.