The Righteous Recognize...

There is no Visit of the Magi or Wise Men in the Gospel of Luke, but there is something similar: the presentation of Jesus in the Temple and the praise of him as the by two righteous elderly persons who see in him the fulfillment of God's promise to rescue His people, that is, who see him as the Christ, the Anointed One.

We know little about the historicity of this narrative, but it is likely to have taken place for the Law (Lev 12:2-5) required the purification of women after childhood, and the dedication of the firstborn son usually through the presentation of him in the Temple (Ex 13:2). As he did with the birth narrative, where Joseph and Mary travel to Bethlehem for the census, Luke continues to show the Gentiles (non-Jews) for whom he is presenting this "orderly account" that Jesus and his disciples were faithful to the law of Caesar and the Law of God. He does this, of course, to offset the image of Jesus as a crucified criminal executed for treason. The Torah required for the purification of a woman after childbirth the offering of a year old lamb, unless she was poor. Then it could be two doves. Mary and Joseph were poor, Luke is telling us here as he did in the Song of Mary heard earlier when Mary visited Elizabeth before either John or Jesus were born.

We know nothing about Simeon except what Luke tells us: he lived in Jerusalem, he was "righteous and devout," and he looked forward to the "consolation of Israel," i.e. the Day of the Lord when God would manifest his glory among his people. It seems Simeon also had a personal reassurance from God that he would not see death before he saw the Messiah. The other very strong emphasis which Luke presents here is an emphasis which he has throughout the Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles: i.e. the power of the Holy Spirit which would enable persons to act and to speak in God's name. Three times Luke tells us about the Holy Spirit at work in and through Simeon: the Holy Spirit rested upon him (and so he was able to look forward to the consolation of Israel), the Holy Spirit promised him he would see the Messiah before he died, and the Holy Spirit led him to visit the Temple on that day when Mary and Joseph came there. Perhaps he was a priest as the child to be dedicated would be presented to the priest; or else he was just an elderly man respected by visitors. Whatever the background, Simeon takes Jesus into his arms and praises God who has fulfilled his promise to Simeon. The prayer/song is called the "Nunc Dimittis" from the open Latin version of the phrase: "Now you have or are dimissing your servant...." Simeon then tells Mary that Jesus will be one whose words and deeds will either be accepted or rejected by many. He ends with the curious statement Mary " a sword will pierce your own soul also...." Mary, like any mother, will grieve over the way her son will ultimately be treated.

Enter Anna, a "prophet." Luke frequently balances a male parable/scene with a female one. It is again out of his vision of writing for Gentiles, who included the Greeks where women had a more dominant role than among patriarchal Israel. Once again we know almost nothing about Anna except that she was "a prophet," which means she is one through the Spirit of God would speak. Again she was elderly—the Jewish respect for the wisdom of the elders. She was also righteous and devout. She encounters the holy family and begins to praise God and "to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem" (symbol of the whole nation).

Finally we are told Jesus grew strong and wise and "the favor of God was upon him." That ought to ring a bell. Mary was addressed as "favored one." "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God...." When the chorus of angels sang to the shepherds, they sang of glory to God in the highest, and "on earth peace among those whom he favors." Have we found "favor" with God?

[This continues our teaching series on the Gospel of Luke. I trust you will learn something from these. Joseph+]