You don’t have to look very far before you find some scholar, somewhere, who has written, spoken of, or is providing evidence against the gospel account of Jesus’ life. They try very hard to disprove the even existence of Jesus. But if we look at the details of what the Bible says, and the specifics that are there, it doesn’t lend it self well to a made-up story.
If the gospels were invented, wouldn’t there be certain details that you would think they would use? When angels appear to announce the arrival of Jesus, who do they greet? Shepherds. That would be like the angels appeared to farmers in present day. They don’t have high standing in society. If you were making it up, wouldn’t you use kings, celebrities, or well established people?
When Jesus raised
We are going to look at two people who would not be chosen by us, but were chosen by God to do His will.
Simeon was a holy man. But unknown up to this passage and unspoken of after. But we are told that through the Holy Spirit he would not die before seeing the Messiah. So when Mary brought Jesus into the temple, Simeon knew who he was. He then blessed Jesus rejoicing that he has seen God’s salvation.
Anna was a very old woman and noted prophetess. We are told that she spent all her time in the temple where she prayed night and day. But she wasn’t in an official position because women could not hold any official positions. And she came upon Jesus in the temple and began to worship God for his redemption. And at the same time when others might say, “Its only a baby!” she knew that Jesus was the Messiah from God.
So when we read about Simeon and Anna, can we not see how God was working in a situation? If it were some invention, why these two people? Wouldn’t they have chosen the high priest instead of the widow who had no official role? Would they have chosen a well known pharisee instead of some guy in the temple we know nothing about?
We can take confidence in what God has provided. Jesus is our savior, he is our redeemer.
22 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
according to your word;
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation
31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel.”
33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” (ESV)
36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, (ESV)