Presentation of Jesus in the Temple and the Prophecies of Simeon and Anna for JSS 1

The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple

Performance Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. explain how Jesus was presented in the temple;
2. discuss the prophecy of Simeon;
3. explain the prophecy of Anna;
4. state the significance of the prophecies by Simeon and Anna.

Memory Verse

“Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: 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.” (Luke 2:29-32 KJV)

Bible Reading

The principal Bible passages supporting this lesson are:

1. Luke 2:21-40

Jesus Presented in the Temple

After Jesus was born, His parents, Mary and Joseph, followed the Jewish laws and customs. These customs were important parts of their faith and showed their obedience to God.

One of these customs was circumcision. According to Jewish law, every male child was to be circumcised on the eighth day after birth. This was a sign of God’s covenant with Abraham and his descendants. Jesus was circumcised on the eighth day and was given the name Jesus, as the angel Gabriel had instructed Mary before His birth.

Another important custom was the purification of the mother and the dedication of the firstborn son to God. After a woman gave birth, she was considered ritually unclean for a certain period. For a male child, this period was 40 days. After these days, the mother was required to go to the Temple in Jerusalem to offer a sacrifice for her purification. Also, every firstborn son was considered holy to the Lord and had to be presented at the Temple.

When the 40 days of purification for Mary were completed, she and Joseph took baby Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem. They went there to present Jesus to the Lord and to offer the sacrifice required by the Law of Moses. The law stated that a lamb was to be offered for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering. However, if the parents were poor and could not afford a lamb, they could offer two turtledoves or two young pigeons instead. Mary and Joseph offered two turtledoves, which showed their humble financial status.

The Prophecy of Simeon

While Mary and Joseph were in the Temple, a man named Simeon was also there. Simeon was a righteous and devout man who lived in Jerusalem. He was eagerly waiting for the comfort of Israel, which meant he was waiting for the Messiah to come and bring salvation to God’s people. The Holy Spirit was upon Simeon, and it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Christ, the Messiah.

Guided by the Holy Spirit, Simeon came into the Temple courts at the exact time Mary and Joseph brought in the baby Jesus. When he saw Jesus, Simeon took Him into his arms. He then blessed God and spoke powerful words about Jesus. He said that now he could die in peace because his eyes had seen God’s salvation. He declared that Jesus was the salvation prepared by God for all people, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles (non-Jews), and the glory of God’s people Israel.

Mary and Joseph were amazed by Simeon’s words. Simeon then blessed them and spoke directly to Mary. He told her that Jesus was appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that would be spoken against. He also added a sorrowful prophecy for Mary, saying that a sword would pierce through her own soul. This part of the prophecy hinted at the future suffering Jesus would face and the deep sorrow Mary would experience as His mother.

The Prophecy of Anna

At that same moment, another remarkable person was in the Temple: a prophetess named Anna. She was the daughter of Phanuel, from the tribe of Asher. Anna was a very old woman. She had been married for only seven years before her husband died, and she had been a widow ever since, living to the age of eighty-four years. Her life was dedicated to God.

Anna never left the Temple. She worshipped God constantly with fasting and prayer, serving Him day and night. When she came up to Mary, Joseph, and Jesus at that very hour, she also gave thanks to God. Like Simeon, Anna recognised Jesus as the Messiah. She began to speak about Jesus to all the people in Jerusalem who were looking forward to the redemption of Israel. She shared the good news that the long-awaited Saviour had finally arrived.

Significance of the Prophecies of Simeon and Anna

The prophecies made by Simeon and Anna in the Temple are very important for several reasons:

1. Confirmation of Jesus’ Identity: Both Simeon and Anna, guided by the Holy Spirit, clearly identified baby Jesus as the Messiah, the Saviour of the world. Their prophecies confirmed that Jesus was indeed the one God had promised to send.
2. Fulfilment of Old Testament Prophecies: Their words showed that Jesus’ arrival was the fulfilment of many prophecies found in the Old Testament about the coming Messiah. This strengthened the belief that God keeps His promises.
3. Universal Salvation: Simeon’s prophecy specifically mentioned Jesus as “a light to lighten the Gentiles.” This was a significant statement because it showed that Jesus’ salvation was not just for the Jewish people, but for all nations and all people around the world.
4. Foreshadowing of Jesus’ Mission and Suffering: Simeon’s words about Jesus being appointed for the “fall and rising of many in Israel” and “a sign to be spoken against” hinted at the division Jesus would cause and the opposition He would face. His prophecy to Mary about a “sword piercing through her own soul” also foretold the pain and sorrow she would experience during Jesus’ crucifixion.
5. Examples of Faith and Devotion: Simeon and Anna serve as powerful examples of faithful people who waited patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled. Their lives of righteousness, prayer, and worship show the importance of being devoted to God and being ready to recognise His work.
6. God’s Faithfulness: The events in the Temple demonstrated God’s faithfulness in keeping His word. He had promised a Messiah, and through Simeon and Anna, He confirmed that the promise was being fulfilled in Jesus.