“Why now?” - Simeon and Anna
In this series, we take a closer look at the Nativity story through the lens of each character to see how God works in unexpected ways through unexpected circumstances.
Scripture: Luke 2:22-38
Have you ever waited for something, only to have the answer be different from what you were expecting? Have you ever given up during the waiting period, and anxiously tried to control the situation? Often a forgotten piece of the Christmas narrative, the story of Simeon and Anna teaches how we can find peace and joy during the unexpected. Like two sides of the same coin, each character represents a different way of handling the choice before us when God enters into the story after a period of waiting and things take a surprising turn.
Simeon’s story
Simeon was miraculously promised that he’d witness the arrival of the Christ. The author Luke even tells us specifically what he was waiting for: “the restoration of Israel.” This would have resonated with many of Luke’s readers, as they too were probably waiting for the same thing: freedom from their Roman oppressors. In Simeon’s mind, he was waiting for the Lord’s anointed one to come in all his glory to lead an army against the Roman Empire.
But one day, that very same Spirit that inspired this vision compelled him to go to the temple. Once there, he looks around, and there it is— he sees it. In the middle of a bustling crowd is a poor, unassuming family carrying an infant. At that moment, he realizes what God is doing. This unexpected revelation conjures conflicting emotions within him. He feels joy and peace that his promise has been fulfilled, but also confusion as he realizes what this means. If the God of the universe would act in this way to save not only his own people but also be a “light for revelation to the Gentiles” (Romans included), then there are going to be a lot of unhappy people — and this child is going to face a lot of opposition.
This startling revelation signifies for us the unexpected and often unwelcome nature of God’s plans. His ways are not our ways. In this way, Luke uses Simeon as an archetype for Israel as he prepares his readers for what is to come and essentially asks them, “Are you ready? I know you’ve been waiting for a long time, but here he is and this is what he is like.”
Anna’s story
Consider the story of Anna. She’d been waiting all her life, with no hope for a future beyond the walls of the temple. Luke tells us that she remained there all her life because she had no one else to care for her after her husband died early in their marriage. Yet despite all of life’s disappointments thrown her way, she still found joy in the presence of God as she worshipped and fasted daily. After witnessing Simeon’s prophetic words, Anna was inspired to do something she hadn’t had the courage to do in a long time — leave the temple. Even at the ripe age of 84, God uses her as his evangelist and proves to all of us how our lackluster excuses (e.g. age, finances, abilities, etc.) are no match for the Spirit of God when He chooses to use us.
What this means for us
Herein lies the greater challenge to us presented in each story: how will you respond when God brings the unexpected? Does he inspire your participation and involvement, or will you miss out on what he is doing because you were too caught up in your own disappointment? The arrival of Jesus signals a peace that triumphs over every other false peace that seeks to rule our lives. Simeon recognizes this, as he prophetically predicts Jesus’ suffering, which would be like a “sword piercing the soul” of Mary. Mary also needed to ready herself for where the story was heading. She too needed to find peace in the work that Jesus had come to do.
So what does peace look like for you? Is it found when your expectations are met in life and things are just as you planned it? Or is there a deeper peace that is found in the midst of the waiting, or the unexpected result? For both Simon and Anna, that certainly seems to be true. In a day and age where true peace is so scarce, this Christmas story is just as needed as ever.
Study questions:
What kind of person are you when it comes to waiting?
What are you currently praying for right now?
Has God worked in unexpected ways in your life? Tell someone about your experience.
What does peace look like for you?
What excuses prevent you from joining God like Anna did, rather than being stuck in your waiting?
