Waiting for Your Miracle: The Untold Secrets of Simeon and Anna’s Faith

In Luke’s account, we discover that at the time of Jesus’ baby dedication, there were two other servants of God who were waiting for the Messiah’s appearance.

The names of those faithful servants were Simeon and Anna.

Both of these people were at the Temple in Jerusalem on the day Jesus was brought to be dedicated to the Lord. And the moment their eyes beheld Him, they inwardly and supernaturally knew they were witnessing the long-awaited Messiah. By studying the examples of Simeon and Anna as they waited for the first coming of the Lord, we can learn what we need to do to prepare our hearts for Jesus’ next coming.

Who Was Simeon?

When Joseph and Mary arrived at the Temple to present Jesus to the Lord as required by the Old Testament Law, Luke 2:25,26 tells us, “And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.”

Those who are well-versed in Jewish history have importantly pointed out that when Jesus was presented by His parents, at exactly that time, there was a religious leader in Jerusalem named Simeon who was revered for his spiritual and theological acuity. Simeon was furthermore viewed as one who operated under a spirit of prophecy. This respected, historical figure named Simeon was the son of Hillel, the prominent founder of a major Jewish theological circle. Eventually Simeon became so revered that he replaced his legendary father Hillel as the eminent leader of the Hillel theological group. Because he was honored as the greatest scholar and theologian of his time, some regarded Simeon as the most respected leader in the Jewish Sanhedrin.

Jerusalem was the largest city in Israel, and scholars generally believe its resident population was about 100,000. By today’s standards, that sounds small, but in the ancient world, Jerusalem was a rather large city. Some suggest its population was between 600,000 and 1,000,000, but historical records do not bear this out.

However, Jerusalem could swell to 1,000,000 people when Jewish pilgrims came to Jerusalem three times a year for holy days, as was required by the Law of God. The reason I mention this is, many famous personalities we read about in the Bible were familiar with each other due to the small size of Jerusalem. Simeon is an example of one with a celebrity-type status who was well known at the time Jesus was presented in the Temple.

The Jewish leadership in Jerusalem at the time of Jesus’ birth generally accepted that Simeon — this powerful, celebrity-like theologian in Jerusalem — was endued with a supernatural spirit of prophecy and had a unique God-given gift to discern the times. In Luke 2:25, we are told that Simeon was waiting for the consolation of Israel — that is, for the coming of the Messiah. Because Israel had been harassed and oppressed by Rome for many years, the coming of the Messiah would be a consolation to the Jews. And the spiritual leadership in Jerusalem was aware that Simeon prophetically noised it abroad that God promised that before Simeon died, he would see the Messiah’s appearance in the earth with his own eyes.

When writing about Simeon, Luke said, “And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem…whose name was Simeon…” (Luke 2:25). The word “behold” in this verse is a translation of a word that describes bewilderment, shock, amazement, and wonder. The use of this word tells us that even as Luke was recalling this event and writing about it, he was still astonished by the event he was about to describe. It was as if he was saying, “Wow…can you imagine it?” Then with a sense of total amazement at what he was about to describe, Luke proceeded to tell us the shocking events that occurred when this renowned Simeon came into the Temple in Jerusalem on the day Jesus was dedicated.

The Bible states that Simeon was “waiting” for the consolation of Israel. The word “waiting” is from a Greek word that pictures a hope or an expectation. It portrays one who is ready to embrace, to gladly welcome, or to fully and completely take something without reservation or hesitation. Because this particular word is used, we know that Simeon was earnestly anticipating the “consolation of Israel.”

The word “consolation” describes comfort, encouragement, support, or solace. Simeon had a prophetic expectation that, at any moment, the long-awaited Messiah would appear to free the nation of Israel from its Roman oppressors. And because the word “waiting” is used, it means Simeon’s faith was engaged and he believed what God had prophetically communicated to him.

The Spirit of Prophecy Was Upon Simeon

Luke 2:25 also tells us about Simeon that “...the Holy Ghost was upon him.” This statement is intended to depict Simeon as having a unique anointing of the Spirit “upon” his life. The word “upon” is a translation of a word that literally means on or upon. As already noted, the leadership in Jerusalem regarded Simeon as one who operated with a spirit of prophecy that rested “upon” him, and they held him in esteem due to his prophetic inclination. Simeon was reputedly a reliable prophetic voice. Luke confirmed what was generally believed about Simeon — that is, that the gift of prophecy operated “upon” Simeon’s life.

Luke 2:26 goes on to tell us, “And it was revealed unto him [Simeon] by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.” The word “revealed” and “by” are very important. First, the word “revealed” demonstrates the divine interactions that occurred between Simeon and God, and it lets us know that Simeon and the Holy Spirit were regularly interacting and conducting prophetic transactions with each other.

The word “revealed” was used to depict a business transaction between two people. This means God expected Simeon to communicate what the Holy Spirit had divinely communicated with Him — in this case, that they would see the Messiah in their own lifetimes. God entrusted this revelation to Simeon, so God expected Simeon to be a divine mouthpiece to prophetically declare that the coming of the Messiah was upon them. Whether others believed him or not, what Simeon believed about this event was well-known in Jerusalem because of his renowned status in the city.

Again, Luke 2:26 says, “And it was revealed unto him [Simeon] by the Holy Ghost….” The word “by” is from a Greek word that means under, under the direction, under the guidance, or under the influence of the Holy Spirit. Because Simeon was a man in submission to the Holy Spirit, the Spirit prophetically revealed information to him.

Luke 2:27 gives us a snapshot of Simeon’s prophetic sensitivity when it says, “And he came by the Spirit into the temple....” This instance of the word “by” has changed from the Greek word in verse 26, meaning under the guidance of, to another Greek word, which unquestionably means Simeon came in the control of the Spirit. It reinforces the knowledge that Simeon was operating in the control of the Holy Spirit, and he was being supernaturally — strongly — led by the Spirit to go to the Temple at that precise moment that day.

Luke 2:27-29 then tells us, “...And when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, then took he [Simeon] him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word.”

The word “blessed” is a Greek word which means to bless, to speak good words, to praise, or to celebrate. A blessing is always verbally expressed. Without spoken words, the blessing is incomplete. Thus, we know that Simeon began to verbally speak blessings over Jesus. Knowing the “celebrity-like” status of Simeon, this must have dumb- founded Mary and Joseph. In that holy moment, Simeon exclaimed, “For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel” (see Luke 2:30-32).

Some assume Simeon was an old man because he said, “Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word” (Luke 2:29). But nothing in this verse ever states that Simeon was elderly. In fact, history shows that he was not elderly at the time of this event. His words simply meant that now, even if he died at this point in his life, he would be satisfied to go because his eyes had seen what God promised he would see — the Messiah.

All of these events were so amazing that Luke 2:33 tells us, “And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.”

The word “marveled” means to wonder or to be at a loss of words and indicates shock, amazement, and bewilderment. To be sure, Mary and Joseph were stunned that this renowned prophetic individual was speaking such remarkable words over their newborn son. Indeed, these words from the mouth of Simeon must have been shocking to them. Simeon was perhaps the most highly respected theological leader in the Great Sanhedrin. He was known for a spirit of prophecy that operated upon him. And now Joseph and Mary marveled in a speechless state as this legendary man spoke such amazing words with such awe and unction over their remarkably born child.

Who Was Anna?

When Simeon finished speaking his prophetic words over Jesus, Anna entered the scene. We read about Anna in Luke 2:36, where the Bible says, “And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity.”

Luke identifies Anna as a prophetess. So in addition to the spirit of prophecy that operated upon Simeon, Anna was another prophetic individual through whom the spirit of prophecy was operating in the city of Jerusalem.

Luke 2:37 says, “She [Anna] was a widow of about fourscore and four years.  ” A score of years is 20 years, so fourscore and four years

would mean she was 84 years of age. The Greek text is not clear as to whether she was 84 years old or if she had been a widow for 84 years. Regardless, it is clear that Anna was elderly. If the latter is true, it means Anna was about 100 years old at the time of this event. Whatever the case, Anna was an older person who was recognized as an indisputable prophetess of God in the city of Jerusalem.

But Luke 2:37 goes on to tell us that Anna “. departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.” This seems to imply that Anna had living quarters somewhere on the Temple premises. The words “she prayed night and day” depicts a life of prayer and intercession. As a prophetess who knew the voice of the Holy Spirit, Anna kept her spiritual sails hoisted to catch the movement of the Spirit whenever He wanted to move upon her to speak. For years, Anna had prophetically heard and proclaimed that the coming of the Messiah was near. And in similar fashion to Simeon, she prophetically forecasted the Messiah would soon appear and bring redemption.

The words “departed not” demonstrate Anna’s devotion to be near where the Messiah would one day be manifested. The original text means she did not step away from the Temple grounds.

Think of it. Anna was so expectant to see the Messiah that she didn’t take one step away from the Temple grounds lest she miss that long-awaited moment. Out of deep devotion, she stayed on site at all times for decades as she waited with “fastings and prayers night and day.”

The Bible goes on to say, “And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem” (see Luke 2:38). In the ancient text, the phrase “in that instant” means in that very hour and is intended to show how she and Simeon were synchronized in the way they were so strongly led by the Spirit into the Temple, where Jesus was, at that very moment. Luke 2:38 says, that arising from her prophetic spirit, Anna “...spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.”

The word “looked” is the same word in Luke 2:25 used to depict Simeon “waiting” for the consolation of Israel. So just as Simeon’s faith was engaged for what he believed God had prophetically communicated to him, Anna was also filled with the same holy expectation. She embraced the divine revelation God had given her about the coming Messiah. And when Anna saw Jesus, she immediately perceived He was the Messiah and that what she’d heard, or saw, and knew had at last come into view.

With Joseph, Mary, the Christ Child, and Simeon watching, Anna prophetically welcomed the Messiah without hesitation or reservation. The Holy Spirit let Simeon and Anna know they would see the coming of the Messiah, and they embraced that divine revelation, released their faith for it, and experienced precisely what the Holy Spirit had communicated to them.