In the sixth century AD the year AD 0 was intentionally set to start from the exact date of this child’s birth. Early on in that first year, the parents brought this firstborn baby “Jesus” “to set him in place to the Lord”. Such deeds of dedication started around BC 1400 following the release from slavery in Egypt of the whole family of descendants of the patriarch Israel. They were released because of the overnight death of all the firstborn in Egypt. The Lord God had saved from death all their own firstborn – those for whom a lamb was slain as a substitute for them. In remembrance and thanksgiving each firstborn Israelite male – for centuries afterwards - was “set in place to the Lord.” They knew that, in fact, the Lord had set in place a substitute for them. That day the parents also gave a thank offering to the Lord.
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And, look and see, a man was in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, welcoming the calling-out of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been advised to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he saw the Christ of the Lord. And he came in the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the child Jesus himself, to do concerning him according to the custom of the Law, he himself received him into his arms and praised God and said, “Overlord, now you set free your slave according to your message, in peace, because my eyes have seen your salvation which you have made ready across the face of all peoples, a light into revelation for the nations, and into glory for your people Israel.”
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This was an amazing event. The “Holy Spirit” is mentioned three times as being upon “Simeon”. His prayer to the Lord is remarkable inasmuch as he identifies himself as “your slave”, calling the Lord “Overlord”, and thanking him for being “set free”. What had he seen in this child? Was he set free from slavery by knowing that this child would be his substitute?
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Simeon saw that “many in Israel” would “fall” because “this child” had been “set in place”. Yes, he would be crucified by the Israel leadership. Hated, he would be “a sign that is condemned”. His crucifixion would be, for Mary, “a sword [coming] through [her] own soul”. But that would be the way in which “the inner deliberations of many hearts” would “be revealed.” What are your heart’s “inner deliberations” about Jesus?
And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, she herself advanced in many days, having lived with her male seven years from when a virgin. And she, a widow until she was eighty-four years, was not leaving the temple, worshiping in fastings and prayers night and day. And she, standing up at that same hour, was being thankful to God and was speaking about him to all those welcoming the redemption of Jerusalem.
“At that same hour”, in that same Temple, early in AD 0, this religious Israeli lady “was being thankful to God”. She was continuing “speaking about him [God} to all those welcoming the redemption of Israel.” This dear lady was continuing to look for their Messiah promised to Israel. He was there. He was the one. And he would also be “a light into revelation for the Gentiles”. He would set free any who turned to him “set in place”.
And when they had accomplished everything according to the law of the Lord, they turned around into Galilee, into their own town of Nazareth.
In fact, the infant was growing and strengthening, being filled with wisdom and God’s favour was upon him.
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