Articles
The Wait is Over
Have you ever expected something and was so excited about its arrival that every day you checked the tracking hoping it had arrived? Imagine the anticipation Simeon felt about having to wait regarding the best gift mankind has ever been given with no other indication as to when it would arrive before he died. Luke 2:25-26 reads, “Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.” Simeon potentially waited his whole life keeping up his faith that God would keep this promise He made to him.
Simeon wasn’t alone in his faith and desire for a redeemer for Israel. Luke 2:36-38 says, “And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four…And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.” The Bible does not say why Anna was a prophetess, but God left His son Jesus a remarkable witness to the beginning of His journey here on Earth.
How did Anna keep her faith so strong after facing such tragedy and waiting for so long? Luke 2:37 also says, “She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.” While waiting, she wasn’t sitting around twiddling her thumbs. She actively sought a relationship with God—her redeemer. While we aren’t told what Simeon specifically did to have and develop his relationship with God, we are told that he was “righteous and devout”. Thus he must have acted similarly to Anna, his fellow sister in the faith. After Jesus their redeemer arrived, they also didn’t pat themselves on the back and let it be a job well done. Simeon blessed the Lord (Luke 2:29-32) and Anna gave thanks to God and spoke about the savior to everyone else who was waiting for His arrival (Luke 2:38). As Christians who are patiently waiting for the second coming of our Savior, we have one question to ask ourselves. Are we active in our relationship with God like Anna and Simeon?
