( Log Out / . After some research, I discovered that such an incident was known as oracular literature, which is defined as “foretelling events as if by supernatural intervention.” This is very fitting for Simeon, because the book of Luke tells us that the Holy Spirit “had revealed to him that he would not die until he has seen him–God’s annointed King.” By having this message from the Holy Spirit, recognizing Jesus in the Temple, and praising God for the occurrence, he fulfills this oracular convention in heralding the destiny of Jesus. Simeon and Anna were two wonderfully wise saints who recognized the Christ when most only saw the infant as another Hebrew child born into poverty.
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In this way, she also acts as a herald of sorts, spreading word of the truth of Jesus’ heritage and his destiny as the Messiah. Anna does not have the same message from the Holy Spirit, but she is devout and never leaves the Temple, devoting night and day to worshiping God and praying. So while Simeon and Anna might seem insignificant at first glance, some research proved that they can actually be viewed as fulfilling that tradition of oracular literature. At the time of Jesus being dedicated to the Lord at the Temple and Mary and Joseph offering their sacrifice for purification, both Simeon and Anna recognized the infant Jesus as the Messiah and sang his praises to all around them. Like Simeon, Anna the prophetess was one of the faithful remnant in Israel who was waiting for the advent of the Messiah. These oracles also delivered messages to the populace that were believed to be granted through divine or supernatural intervention. Verse 38a says that she “gave thanks . Anna is the first in a line of prophetic disciples who will speak about Jesus to all who were looking for the redemption of Israel. ( Log Out / This concept of oracular figures is common throughout not only literature but history as well, such as with the oracles found in Greek mythology in places such as Delphi. ( Log Out / Change ). It struck me as strange that these two transient characters would receive a more detailed account, when much of Jesus’ own ministry was summed up in general terms at times throughout the book of Luke. 1 In this new era, the living voice of God will continue to speak about the messianic one. Then I stopped to consider that perhaps they were following a literary tradition in which certain characters foreshadow the destiny of a great figure. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. ( Log Out / unto the Lord” for the Christ Child. As I was reading through Luke, my attention was caught by the account of two seemingly minor characters in the passages Luke 2:25-38. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Yes, a messiah has arrived, as Simeon recognizes, but, as the prophetess Anna suggests, a new era, with a new and living voice of prophecy, has at the same time dawned.
At first glance, Simeon and Anna could be easily overlooked within the narrative. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. They still recognize the face of Christ in those they gently serve. . Upon Simeon’s recognition of Jesus, she also recognizes it as a divine sign and begins to tell people in Jerusalem that the prophesied Messiah and Savior has finally arrived. As I was reading through Luke, my attention was caught by the account of two seemingly minor characters in the passages Luke 2:25-38. Through Simeon and Anna we honor all those elderly trophies of God’s grace with the light of Jesus shining in their eyes. At the time of Jesus being dedicated to the Lord at the Temple and Mary and Joseph offering their sacrifice for purification, both Simeon and Anna recognized the infant Jesus … At first glance, Simeon and Anna could be easily overlooked within the narrative.