January 25 2025

Luke 2:21-39

As a result of this lesson, we hope that students will see the value of staying close to God even when it seems as if God is working too slowly.

Supplies: Paper and pencil might be useful

This is an activity I’ve used often in other settings, but I think it is perfect for this week’s lesson. It will work well with Zoom (use the breakout rooms) or in person if you are able to meet that way. Don’t tell the students the name of the game beforehand.

Download Handout

The debrief here is important. Ask the students:

This week’s lesson focuses on two people who had been waiting a long time for God to fulfill His promise to them. They had become professional waiters, not the kind at restaurants, but people who were literally waiting for God to fulfill a promise. As we dive into their story today, I pray that you find hope that God always delivers and that waiting for His plan provides a blessing not only for you but for others as well.

This is one of those Christmas stories that rarely gets put into the Christmas play at church. However, for some reason I’ve always been drawn to the stories of these two faithful Jews­—Simeon and Anna. Perhaps it is because I feel as if I’ve met them in my church, those older people who are so devout, who always know the names of the young people, and who are always looking out for them. Let’s take a moment right now to think about who those people are in your church.

Mary and Joseph have had some crazy things happen over the two weeks before this story takes place—all confirming that what the angel had told them months before was true. Jesus was a very special baby. So these simple country folk, wanting to do everything right from God’s law, make their way to Jerusalem!

Now, let’s jump into our text for today! Let’s read Luke 2:21-24.

21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

Jesus Presented in the Temple

22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”

I can tell you that being a first-time parent is super stressful. You have a new life in your care and you don’t know how to take care of it. You can read all the books you want but it’s nothing like the real thing.

Then something special happened. God sent someone to bring both confirmation and warning.

Read Luke 2:25.

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.

Read Luke 2:26-35.

26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”

33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

Read Luke 2:36-38.

36 There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

Anna, a female prophet, is another wonderful character in this story. We don’t learn much about what she says, but Luke, always including women and the marginalized in his gospel, makes sure that we get to meet Anna. Her voice in the temple is also interesting because, not only is she female, but she is also elderly and a widow. It is yet another witness confirming that Jesus will be who God has foretold.

      We began this lesson asking you to give some thought to the older, positive influencers in your church. Now let’s go the other direction.

Luke 2:21-39

LEADER’S NOTE

For a Relational Bible Study (RBS) you’ll want to get into the Scripture passage and encourage the youth to imagine participating in the story while it’s happening. Then you will be able to better apply it to your own situation today.

You will need to ask God for the Holy Spirit to be present as your small group discusses the questions (no more than 3-6 people in a group is recommended). Start with the opening question. It is a personal question and the answer is unique for each individual. There is no right answer and nobody is an expert here, so don’t be surprised when you hear different responses. You are depending on the Holy Spirit to be present and to speak through your group. Say what God prompts you to say, and listen to what others share.

Take turns reading the chapter out loud. Follow that with giving the students some time to individually mark their responses to the questions (a PDF version of the handout is available as a download). This gives each person a starting point for responding when you start to share as a group. Next, begin the discussion by asking the students to share what they marked and why on each question as you work your way through. Feel free to take more time on some questions than others as discussion warrants.

Encourage each person in the group to apply what is discussed to their personal lives and to share with the group what they believe God wants them to do. Then ask them to pray that God will help each of them to follow through in doing so. Remind them to expect that God will show them ways to live out the message of this passage in the coming week, and that they are free to ask others in the group to help hold them accountable.

Mary and Joseph obediently followed all the Jewish customs based on God’s Old Testament revelation (see Leviticus 2 for further details). And fulfilling the demands of Exodus 13:2, Mary and Joseph took Jesus to Jerusalem for the purification rites to officially dedicate him to God as their firstborn. They carefully followed the regulations of Exodus and particularly of Leviticus 12. Unable to offer a lamb, they presented birds as a poor person’s substitute (Leviticus 12:6, 8). The Son, with His parents, fulfilled all righteousness in fulfilling all the Law, as Luke repeatedly emphasizes.

Two persons—pious, devoted servants of God—met Jesus in the temple and explained His calling and ministry. Both explanations came through the Holy Spirit. Simeon appeared first. Like Zechariah and Elizabeth, he was righteous. He conformed to God’s expectations and lived in a right relationship with God. He was devout. He feared God and showed reverence for God. He took God’s promises seriously.

God had promised consolation for Israel, a time of comfort and renewed hope (see Isaiah 40:1; 49). Simeon expected that to happen any day. In his daily walk with God, Simeon had heard God’s Spirit speak. God’s personal word to Simeon guaranteed him that the Christ, God’s Comfort in person, would come before Simeon died. God kept His promise to a man known in history only because he waited obediently for God to keep His promise.

The Spirit controlled everything Simeon did. He spied Mary and Joseph, Jesus’ parents, as they entered the temple. They were simply obeying God’s law. Simeon intercepted them and took the child in his arms. He gave them a blessing they did not expect. Praising God, Simeon first claimed his dismissal from God’s army. His tour of duty was done. God had fulfilled His promise. Simeon could now die and claim His eternal peace. He had seen God’s salvation. Named Jesus, “Yahweh is salvation” (v. 21) and proclaimed by the angel as Savior (v. 11), Jesus was what Simeon had longed for and looked for all these years—the salvation, the deliverance of his people.

Such salvation is not a human act or human possession. It is God’s salvation. He prepared for it clearly on the stage of world history where all people could see.

God’s incarnate instrument of salvation would be sneered at, spoken against, rejected. True Israel will be revealed, for hearts and minds will become clearly visible. Those of faith and those without faith will be clearly distinguished.

Anna, a female prophet, one with great age and experience, apparently having been married seven years and widowed 84, was perhaps 105 or so as she stood in the temple. She made the temple her permanent home; worship, prayer, and fasting, were her occupation. Without invitation, she approached the baby Jesus just as Simeon returned Him to His parents. She recognized what God was doing in the person of this Baby, and gave thanks.

Anna then turned to other worshipers and spoke her prophetic words about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem (see Isaiah 52:9). Not all Jews rejected Jesus. Simeon waited for God to comfort Israel (Isaiah 52:25). Anna and the other worshipers looked to God for Jerusalem’s redemption.

Mission accomplished, census enrollment completed, miraculous baby birthed, circumcision performed, name given, purification carried out, firstborn presented and dedicated, blessings and prophecies heard and stored away in amazement—the new family eventually returned home to the obscurity of Nazareth.

If God granted you one thing on your bucket list before you die, what would it be? Why?

Read Luke 2:21-39.

21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

Jesus Presented in the Temple

22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.” 

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”

33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

36 There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.

1.  What laws were given by Moses concerning a male child’s birth?

2.  Why was Simeon so important in the story?

3.  Why was Simeon’s blessing so powerful?

4.  What did Simeon say to Joseph and Mary about Jesus?

5.  What does the passage reveal about Anna’s lifestyle?

6.  What was significant about what Anna did at Jesus’ blessing?

7.  How do you feel about the leadership of women such as Anna in God’s church?

8.  Describe what waiting on God is like in your own life.

Jesus’ birth took place in humble circumstances, but all the figures surrounding His birth were pious and responsive to the hope of God. But the word of Simeon, the prophet at the temple, gave Mary an ominous ring. The old man noted that Jesus would be a “light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to … Israel” (Luke 2:32). But he also prophesied that Jesus would be a cause of grief for Mary and division in Israel (Luke 2:34–35). Jesus is the “salvation” of God (Luke 2:30), but in the midst of hope is the reality that fulfillment comes mixed with pain and suffering.

Nevertheless, Anna was very responsive and enthusiastic in her praise of the Son of God. She recognized him as the one who is the redemption of Israel. This was shared out loud for all who were present in and around the temple. It is also an invitation to us to believe, and then to speak aloud of His salvation.

Have you ever anticipated something that promised to make your life easier—such as a new cellphone, car, medicine, etc.? How do you feel when you are awaiting the arrival of a celebrity at a concert or sporting event? Below, find some application activities. These are simply to provide ideas for your usage, or to invite you to imagine and create some of your own, as you impact lives for God’s glory.

1.      Celebrity Talk

Ask your pastor, youth pastor, or another adult you trust to…

     A.  Share one important person that they would like to meet and why they would like to meet this person.

    B.  Talk about the most famous person they have ever met and tell what that encounter was like.

    C.  Ask if they were to meet Jesus face to face, what do they think the encounter would be like?

    Record their answers and come prepared to share at class time about these conversations.

2.  Create a Virtual “Jesus Tour”

    A.  Start a livestream using  Zoom, Facebook, Instagram, or another platform  

    B.  Try to see how many people from different countries you can get to join in a conversation entitled: “Waiting on The Lord!” You may ask questions such as:

         1)  What does it mean to wait on God?

         2)  Why is it important to wait on Him?

         3)  What are some consequences that can come from not waiting on Him?

         4)  Can you share some pointers on being patient as you wait on Him?

    C.  Feel free to add to these questions as you build your tour.

    D.  ave a chat in your class about the tours you created, and how successful they have been.

3.  Bucket List

    A.  Create a bucket list that you would like to complete before you die.

    B.  Discuss your list with family and friends.

    C.  Ask how many of them will be willing to assist you in accomplishing the things on your bucket list.

    D.  If they are willing, be sure to ask how soon they would be willing to help you.

    E.  Talk about how God gave Simeon something that he truly was praying to have happen before he died.  

Quick Start Prayer Guide for Generation Z
By Kymone Hinds

It seems like such a simple request. It was a request made by the disciples to Jesus one day. They saw Him praying and were so impressed and impacted by His prayer that they wanted to learn to pray like Him.

Prayer can be one of the easiest things to do and one of the most difficult things at the same time. It’s like talking to a friend – that’s easy. It’s talking to a friend you can’t see or hear audibly – that’s hard. Let’s be honest, you look weird talking to someone that is invisible.

Even though God is unseen it does not mean that He is not accessible. He can be reached. He is just a prayer away. This guide will help you to connect with Him deeper and get more out of your time in prayer.

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