Have you ever wondered how Simeon and Anna recognized Jesus? The story appears in Luke 2:22-38. Mary and Joseph have taken Jesus to the Temple in accordance with Jewish law. They are not there for Jesus. Instead, they are there to offer two pigeons for the purification of Mary after childbirth. Leviticus 12 explains the law, and the purification would have taken place 40 days after the birth of Jesus.
Forty days after the birth, Mary and Joseph go to the temple and buy two pigeons for the sacrifice because they can’t afford a lamb. While they are in the Temple, Simeon and Anna both come forward and prophesy about Jesus.
Simeon was an old man, righteous and devout. The Holy Spirit had promised him that he would not die before he saw the Messiah. On the day that Mary and Joseph went to the Temple, the Holy Spirit led Simeon to the Temple as well. When he arrived, he was drawn to the baby Jesus.
Simeon took Jesus in his arms and said, “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” Simeon continues, “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.” Luke 2:29-35.
Anna was a prophet, a widow, and 84 years old. Luke says she “never left the Temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.” In this way she got to know God intimately and she recognized Jesus when she saw him.
Simeon and Anna didn’t recognize Jesus by his appearance. Contrary to the paintings we see of the Holy Family, they didn’t have haloes around their heads as they entered the Temple. They weren’t wearing the clothing of royalty of even of wealth. Instead, Simeon and Anna recognized Jesus because they recognized God. Both of them were filled with the Holy Spirit who led them to their most sacred hope: the Messiah of Israel, for whom they had watched and waited all their lives.
Simeon and Anna recognized Jesus because they were looking for him.
I have had people ask me, “How can I see Jesus? How do I know when he is calling me? How can I recognize what God wants in my life?”
The simple answer is that we need to be looking for him. And, with all the things that distract us every day, that is also the difficult answer. By prayer, by Bible Study, by worship, we learn to recognize Jesus in our lives. But we also have to be looking for him.
Matthew 7:7 tells us “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” You cannot find Jesus, recognize Jesus, unless you are looking for him. And when we look, we will find. It might not be right away. Simeon and Anna had both been looking for Jesus all their very long lives. At the end of those lives, they found him. And, if we seek, we can find him too.