Baby Jesus Meets Anna And Simeon
Hi ladies it's me again and happy Lord's day! I hope and pray that each of you ladies and your families are doing well. I'm happy to present another blog called "Baby Jesus Meets Anna And Simeon". I know right many Christians don't talk about this part of the story very often. It's mentioned in the gospel of Luke 2:21-38 where Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus went to the temple. (Side note there's another account where Jesus went to the temple when He was twelve years old mentioned in Luke 2:40-51 and He was about His Father's business!) This account took place after the account with the shepherds and the angels witnessing Jesus' birth before the account of the Magi mentioned in Matthew 2. (Side note I'll be sharing about the blog about the shepherds and Magi for another blog.) Anyhow Mary and Joseph brought pigeon sacrifices unto the Lord because they couldn't afford a lamb which shows how poor they were. They also brought Jesus and circumcised Him according to the law something that His cousin Baby John (later to be John the Baptist) went through several months earlier. As Mary and Joseph did their duties, an older godly man named Simeon just so happened to have been at the temple in Jerusalem as well too. God promised him that he wouldn't die until he saw Baby Jesus! Wow! This godly old man who also was led by the Spirit through discernment learned where Baby Jesus was. Simeon with the help of the Spirit was at the right place at the right time and he held Baby Jesus in his arms saying. "Now Lord You can dismiss Your servant in peace for my eyes have seen thy salvation." He also went on to say Jesus' life would impact both Jew and Gentile and a sword would pierce the Virgin Mary's heart! I believe that Simeon was prophesying about Jesus' crucifixion and did that moment pierce the Virgin Mary's heart! Then Anna the prophetess arrived and despite being a widow and her old age, she never departed the temple praying and fasting day and night. She's from the "Tribe Of Asher" and I find that very significant that she didn't stop seeking the Lord despite the hardships she went through. She kept on praying and pressing into God and like Simeon, she was awaiting the coming of the Messiah! When she saw Baby Jesus, she gave thanks to God and told others that Baby Jesus was the One the Jews had been waiting for! Do you ladies remember when I shared in a blog that the Jews had a "400 Years Of Silence?" The Jews had been waiting for the Messiah to come for such a long time and Simeon and Anna the prophetess had been waiting their entire lives to see Jesus! What's also touching is they didn't allow old age or delay stop them from praying and believing God's promises! What a lesson for us today! What promises are you ladies praying for and standing on today? Are you praying for a unsaved loved one to get saved or for a prodigal to come back to Christ? Are you praying for someone to be healed physically or mentally? Are you praying for God to be your Provider? Are you praying for a spouse or for a impossible situation to turn around? Are you like me praying for revival for our nation? We all know that waiting is never easy and Simeon and Anna the prophetess waited for a long time. But they didn't allow the waiting to cause their faith to wane or waver! They kept expecting to see the Messiah to come and in time it manifested! What I should say is Father God revealed His Son Baby Jesus at the right moment and the right time! As Mary and Joseph offered their sacrifice and circumcised Baby Jesus, they had no idea they'd be greeted by older people who had been waiting to see the Messiah! Some would say it was a "coincidence" but that was a divine moment! Baby Jesus birth brought hope to hearts that were longing for Him. Ladies I don't know what challenged y'all are facing in your day to day life much less the Christmas season I pray that the Lord brings you ladies hope during this time of year. Don't stop praying or standing on God's promises just because the answer didn't come right away. Don't throw in the towel or listen to mockers saying "It won't happen". That's what Simeon and Anna the prophetess could have thought because they waited so long but thank goodness they didn't think like that! I pray that their story will be an encouragement to you ladies as well as I for us to keep pressing in prayer and standing on Gods Word this Christmas and throughout the year. That's what I wanted to share with you ladies. I plan to share some more Christmas projects I'm working on and plan to share that soon. Blessings, happy Lord's day, and Merry Christmas!










