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Read Luke 2:21-38.
How do you feel about waiting? It seems to me that the characters in this portion of Scripture did a lot of that. Today we'll meet two important people in the story and life of Christ. Each of them is mentioned only in this passage, but the magnitude of their testimonies for Jesus is far greater than a few sentences on a page. Let's take a look at who they were and how they waited.
Simeon: The Wonder of the Spirit
In verses 25-35 we meet Simeon. Scripture describes him this way:
- Righteous and devout (v. 25)
- Waiting on the consolation of Israel (v. 25) (That means he was waiting for Israel to be restored through the Messiah as was prophesied in the Old Testament)
- The Holy Spirit was upon him (v. 25)
- The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not see death until he had seen the Christ (v. 26)
- He was led to the temple at the time of Jesus'coming by the Holy Spirit (v. 27)
- He held Jesus in his arms and said a blessing over Him, describing His life and death and the role Jesus would play in bringing salvation and peace to the Jews and Gentiles (vv. 28-32)
- He blessed Mary and Joseph (v. 34)
Simeon was waiting. He was waiting ... for the restoration of Israel that had been prophesied in the Old Testament. He was waiting ... for Jesus, the Messiah, the One who could bring peace and hope to the world.
Simeon was waiting, but here's another question to ponder: How was he waiting? Was he anxious as he waited? Did he go off and try to find what he was waiting for on his own? Did he get sidetracked or distracted by his circumstances as he waited? Did he get stressed out as he waited, thinking he must have misheard what had been spoken to him about seeing the Christ before his death?
Nothing in this passage indicates any of those things. From what we know, Simeon waited in hope by seeking the direction of the Holy Spirit, by being attentive to the Holy Spirit's leading, and by being directed by the Spirit as he prayed a blessing over the Christ-child.
Let's take a look at another prophet in this story, or should I say, prophetess?
Anna: The Wonder of Worship
Read Luke 2:36-38.
Though only mentioned for three verses, we learn a great deal about Anna. Here's what we learn:
- She was a prophetess. This means she was a woman God used to speak a message. She gave out the Word of God. She was, in essence, a spokesman for God. (v. 36)
- Daughter of Phanuel from the Tribe of Asher (v. 36)
- She was a widow and advanced in years (84 years old) (v. 37)
- She stayed at the temple worshiping, praying, and fasting, night and day (v. 37)
- Came through the temple court at the exact time Jesus was there to be presented (v. 38)
- When she saw Jesus, she gave thanks to God and testified about Him (v. 38)
I did a bit of research on Anna because I really love her! I mean, for all intents and purposes, she was in Women's Ministry! We know she worshiped, prayed, and fasted in the temple, so she was a devout woman of God. I found that as a widow these things would have been typical ministries for women in her time. I don't know this, but I would imagine she probably encouraged a lot of women along the way. She was bound to have encountered women on a daily basis in her comings and goings to and from the temple.
As Anna waited in hope for the redemption of Jerusalem, she spent her days in the abiding presence of the Father. She made the most of her time. She did some very practical things as she waited - worship, prayer, and fasting.
Anna's name means "grace," which is appropriate, as her purpose in life for over 60 years (this is the length of time she spent ministering in temple after her husband died) was to pray and wait for the One who would, through grace, usher in redemption for the world. (Research on Anna is from: Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers 2003.)
God: The Wonder of His Timing
I also love God's timing in all of this! God is over time. He is the author of time and the keeper of time. And in His perfect timing He placed Simeon and Anna in the exact place they needed to be, in the exact moment they needed to be there in order to have an encounter with the long-awaited Messiah! If that doesn't fill you with wonder, awe, and amazement, I don't know what will!
Now let's take this idea of waiting and apply it to our own lives for a moment.
Waiting in Wonder
How do you respond when waiting ...
- In a long line at the grocery store when you're in a hurry?
- For test results to come back from the doctor's office?
- Through a long-term illness or some other kind of suffering?
- For a prayer to be answered?
- For a loved one to be saved?
- For the arrival of a baby?
- For a job interview?
- For that long-anticipated vacation time to arrive?
Part of what diminishes our wonder is waiting. Because we spend much of our lives waiting, we often get more consumed by the waiting than by the One who controls that which we are waiting for - time, health, circumstances, answers to prayers, salvation, births, our welfare, and even times of fun and relaxation.
Shouldn't we make our waiting purposeful and filled with wonder? Shouldn't we spend our time waiting wisely, abiding in Jesus' presence? I'm not suggesting that many times the things we are waiting for are not difficult struggles that cause us pain, heartache, and sorrow. I know from experience what this type of waiting is like. What I am suggesting (also from personal experience) is that waiting can become a vessel that transports us into the abiding presence of God.
Here's that list again with ways to Wait in Wonder:
These suggestions are very practical and may seem odd, but I think you will find that they call you to a place of worship and ministry, just as the waiting did for Anna.
- When waiting in a long line at the grocery store when you're in a hurry ...
- Wait in Wonder by meditating on a verse or praying for the person in front of you.
- Wait in Wonder by talking to the person in front or behind you and offering some encouragement to them.
- When waiting for test results to come back from the doctor's office ...
- Wait in Wonder by doing something kind for someone else who needs to have their spirits lifted.
- When waiting through a long-term illness or some other kind of suffering ...
- Wait in Wonder by focusing your thoughts on Jesus in the midst of your pain.
- Wait in Wonder by writing an encouraging note or sending a card to someone who is struggling.
- When waiting for a prayer to be answered ...
- Wait in Wonder by calling a friend each day and praying with her over the phone about a need she has and asking her to pray for your prayer need.
- When waiting for a loved one to be saved ...
- Wait in wonder by going on a mission trip or praying for missionaries around the world who are being persecuted for sharing their faith.
- When waiting for the arrival of a baby or some other joyfully anticipated event ...
- Wait in Wonder by volunteering, setting aside one hour each day to specifically pray for the joyful occasion, or by memorizing a long passage of Scripture such as Psalm 139 or 40.
- When waiting for a job interview ...
- Wait in Wonder by displaying one random act of kindness each day.
- When waiting for that long-anticipated vacation time to arrive ...
- Wait in Wonder by completing the current tasks you have committed to with excellence.
- Wait in Wonder by blessing someone else with a surprise day of pampering or relaxation.
All of these "waiting in wonder" ideas move our focus from self to God and others. This helps us capture the wonder and remain in the abiding presence of Jesus.
Oh, how I have loved capturing the wonder with you during the Christmas season (and beyond!). Thank you for spending these six weeks with me. I pray that your year is filled with the joy, hope, and peace that comes only from the wonder and awe found in worshiping our wonderful Counselor, mighty God, ever-lasting Father, Prince of Peace!
Once more I'm going to ask you the same question I did on the video as we end our Wonder-Filled study together ...
Do you desire the sweet and delightful life found in Jesus' abiding presence? In the midst of all of life - the good times, the difficult times, the happy and sad times, in times filled with uncertainty and longing, in times of grief and despair, or in complete fulfillment and joy - is your desire to know and experience the sweet pleasantness of Jesus' presence and be completely Wonder-Filled? If so, my friend, I encourage you to continue capturing the wonder every day by spending "Wonder-Filled" time with Him!
Jacqueline is the Director of Women's Ministry, Prayer & Resource Specialist at Warren Baptist Church.
