top of page

“Simeon and Anna” on Luke 2.22-40 by Joe Ellis - Feb. 2, 2025

In the catalogues of God’s faithful people, we have plenty of big names: Adam, Abraham, Moses and David. Mary, Peter, John and Paul. Reaching forward in history we have the stories of people like Augustine, Theresa of Avila, Martin Luther, and Billy Graham. These are just a few of the names of those whose story is well known, and whose devotion, action and thought has shaped generations to come.


Yet, I want to say that most of the time it's not the big names though whom God works. On the whole, He works through a multitude of smaller, forgotten names — names of those who have been faithful for a season, fading in and out of the Christian story without terribly much notice.


Luke introduces us to two of these unremarkable faithful — Simeon and Anna. They step into the spotlight for a moment in which they play a key role, they bless the holy family for a particular time, and then they step back out of the spot light and continue on living out their quiet, faithful lives.


Simeon and Anna step into a unique moment in the Christian story. They are like an isthmus, or a land bridge between the Old Testament World and the New Testament World. The Old Testament World was waiting for what was called the Consolation of Israel — they were waiting for God to make good on His word in Isaiah 40: “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.” The nation of Israel was waiting for consolation, that day when God would visit them as in the days of old, when He’d return to His temple, restore their fortune, and bring justice to the world. The Spirit of God had told Simeon that he would actually live to see the dawn of this day before he died. Simeon had grown old waiting for this consolation. Throughout his life, Simeon had been righteous and devout (as Luke tells us), faithfully walking with the Lord. Then the day he had been waiting for came, the day the Spirit moved him to go into the temple. He spots Mary and Joseph entering the temple and he knows this is it. He knows this is the moment he’s long waited for and in that moment he transforms. He transforms into a bridge, helping Mary and Joseph recognize they are crossing a bridge from the Old to the New. Of course, he’s not the only bridge God sends. Mary herself becomes a bridge, as well as her cousin Elizabeth, her husband Zechariah, and their son John (who would be known as the Baptizer), and then there are the nameless shepherds and, of course, Anna, the prophetess. These people, who God brought into the spotlight for a moment in time, help the people notice the bridge leading from the Old to the New — preparing the way for the Christ to lead them.


So, Simeon’s moment has come. He approaches Mary and Joseph, he holds the child in his arms, and raises his voice praising God, saying,


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.”


And we see Simeon’s bridge is not an only a bridge between the Old and New — but a bridge between people groups, pointing that this salvation God has prepared is a salvation for all people, that now God is doing a new thing, bringing together peoples who were at war but can be now brought together in peace and unity — one new humanity (as Paul would later say).


Then Simeon fixes his eyes on Mary and he speaks sobering words — that this child whom she’s holding, this child who will bring salvation to all, this child shall cost her dearly. This child shall cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, this child shall be a sign that is spoken against. This child shall reveal the heart of many — and then Simeon brings it home: On account of this child “a sword will pierce your own soul, too.” This child who shall be pierced for our transgressions, shall pierce your heart as well. This is the wound that comes with carrying the Messiah — the one who calls us all to take up His cross and participate in His sufferings. And then, after he’s stepped into the light, Simeon steps out of the spotlight, and he finishes living his life, righteous and devout.


Anna then briefly appears, who also helped Mary and Joseph recognize this bridge God has made in Jesus — moving from the Old to the New, and she also steps out of the picture and the story goes on. The story of Jesus is carried forward by many whose names are familiar to us, but mostly by the faithful unknown, whose names we will never know, their role of carrying the story forward into our hearts. Perhaps particular people come to your mind as some of these. Sometimes quietly, in many ways very ordinary, but faithful people whose prayers, generous actions and words at the right time have been a sign of God bridging His way into your heart. You yourself are very likely one of these people who God is using in many ways, perhaps even unknown to you — as a bridge into His kingdom through your secret prayers, your secret longings, your bold loving, your faithful living out the story — in ways both small and big.


I’d like to map our story, the story of Michelle and I, on top of Simeon and Anna’s stories. There are just a few points of contact between our story and theirs. I wonder if it might help make sense of this moment in our church’s life.


In 2012, both Michelle and I experienced a strong call to this congregation. We both knew that God was calling us to be pastors here. We gladly accepted the invitation of the Telkwa Christian Reformed Church, as it was known then. We drove into the valley with fear and trembling, but also hopes and a passion to serve. To this day we are so glad we took that leap of faith. Over the first seven years we partnered with so many in this congregation as we celebrated, grieved, worshipped and grew together. The congregation grew and changed greatly over these years — this was a time of excitement and dreaming, but always being vulnerable.


This church has always had a sense of being vulnerable — a gift from God to keep us leaning on Him for support and to keep us from getting too proud.


After seven years, the Covid years came, experienced by everyone as exceptionally difficult. In this time it felt as if the church were a ship being tossed about in a huge storm, and as the storm went on, it began pulling apart this ship in so many ways —we saw that which we’d built together quickly becoming undone. This was painful. As time went on, Michelle and I began to feel pulled apart from our roles here as well — a sense of dying in this role. Yet, we continued to feel a call to journey with this congregation. We did explore the idea of leaving after Covid. There were times where we felt we couldn’t go on, but we continued to experience a sense of call to be in and with this congregation… navigating this bridge between Covid time and whatever God would have next for this congregation. So, we continued to live into our call here, which really was only possible because of so many friends in this congregation faithfully living into their own call to this church. Many times we felt carried as we limped out our own calling.


Backing up a bit, one day towards the end of Covid time, Michelle received a Simeon-like-word from the Holy Spirit who said, “I’ll tell you when it's time to leave.” And so we held on to this word as we lived out our calling with you here at Telkwa Community Church. In the past few months, Michelle and I have had a deep sense that God has been saying, “It's time.” This has certainly been informed by recent events, but also from people we trust (both inside and outside of the church) who have been able to confirm a sense that it is time. The words, “It is time” also comes with a sense that God is inviting us into a new season with a different way of living into His calling on our life. For us, we are deeply grateful for what has been, what is sorrowful as our time is coming to a close, and a sense of wonder about what is next.


And so Simeon and Anna blessed the family, step out of the spotlight, and the Gospel story carries forward. God is faithful, always faithful to carry His story forward. After all, it is His story. We certainly don’t know how this Story will be carried forward in this congregation in the years to come. We have seen that God has consistently shown Himself faithful in the past — and I believe that God will show Himself faithful in the future. This is God’s story, and He will carry us all forward.

Comments


Featured Posts
Check back soon
Once posts are published, you’ll see them here.
Recent Posts
Archive
Search By Tags
Follow Us
  • Facebook Basic Square
  • Twitter Basic Square
  • Google+ Basic Square
bottom of page