The time came for Mary and Joseph to do what the Law of Moses says a mother is supposed to do after her baby is born. They took Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem and presented him to the Lord, 23just as the Law of the Lord says, "Each first-born baby boy belongs to the Lord." 24The Law of the Lord also says that parents have to offer a sacrifice, giving at least a pair of doves or two young pigeons. So that is what Mary and Joseph did. 25At this time a man named Simeon was living in Jerusalem. Simeon was a good man. He loved God and was waiting for God to save the people of Israel. God's Spirit came to him 26and told him that he would not die until he had seen Christ the Lord.
27When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple, the Spirit told Simeon to go into the temple. 28Simeon took the baby Jesus in his arms and praised God,
29"Lord, I am your servant, and now I can die in peace, because you have kept your promise to me. 30With my own eyes I have seen what you have done to save your people, 31and foreign nations will also see this. 32Your mighty power is a light
for all nations, and it will bring honor to your people Israel."
33Jesus' parents were surprised at what Simeon had said. 34Then he blessed them and told Mary, "This child of yours will cause many people in Israel to fall and others to stand. The child will be like a warning sign. Many people will reject him, 35and you, Mary, will suffer as though you had been stabbed by a dagger. But all this will show what people are really thinking."
36The prophet Anna was also there in the temple. In her youth she had been married for seven years, but her husband died. 37And now she was eighty-four years old. Night and day she served God in the temple by praying and often going without eating. 38At that time Anna came in and praised God. She spoke about the child Jesus to everyone who hoped for Jerusalem to be set free.
Luke 2:22-38 (CEV)
1. SIMEON WAS WAITING FOR GOD TO SAVE THE PEOPLE
Simeon was a good man. He loved God and was waiting for God to save the people of Israel. God's Spirit came to him 26and told him that he would not die until he had seen Christ the Lord.
Luke 2: 22-38 (NIV)
2. ANNA WAS WAITING FOR GOD TO SET THE PEOPLE FREE
She spoke about the child Jesus to everyone who hoped for Jerusalem to be set free.
3. BECOME A 3M BELIEVER
BECOME A MARVELER
The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him.
Luke 2:33 (NIV)
A marveler is to be filled with wonder, astonishment, and surprise.
BECOME A MOVER
Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required.
Luke 2:27 (NIV)
When the Holy Spirit prompted them to move, they didn’t sit still.
BECOME A MESSENGER
38At that time Anna came in and praised God. She spoke about the child Jesus to everyone who hoped for Jerusalem to be set free.
Luke 2:38 (CEV)
You don’t have to wait any longer because
JESUS is God’s gift for you!
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