Sermon Listening Guide
Speaker: Rev. Wesley Burr
Scripture: Luke 2:21-38
Sermon Title: “Anna and Simeon”
Luke 2:21-38 (NIV)
21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.
22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord
23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”),
24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.
26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.
27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,
28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.”
33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
36 There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord
23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”),
24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.
26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.
27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,
28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.”
33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
36 There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
FIRST THOUGHTS
o Luke reminds us that the first Christmas was anything but impressive by worldly standards.
o No palace…No spotlight…No religious elite waiting with banners…No public party or celebration.
o Instead, we see a poor couple, an obedient act of the Law, and two elderly saints who had been waiting quietly on God.
THE SAVIOR SUBMITS TO THE LAW
o Partly because Jesus’ parents were faithful and obeyed the Law.
o Jesus is circumcised.
o Purification according to the Law
o Jesus is presented at the temple.
o Everything is done “according to the Law of the Lord.”
o This matters because Jesus didn’t come AROUND the law, He came UNDER the law.
UPSIDE DOWN TRUTH: The lawgiver submitted Himself to the Law in order to fulfill the law for us, because we never could.
o Before Jesus preaches a sermon…Before He tells a parable…Before he performs a miracle…Before He goes to the cross…JESUS OBEYS
o The Lamb of God is brought to the temple by parents who couldn’t afford a lamb. This truth amazes me.
UPSIDE DOWN TRUTH: Salvation doesn’t come through wealth, influence, or status. It comes through humility and obedience.
GOD REVEALS SALVATION TO THE FAITHFUL, NOT THE FAMOUS
o Who is Simeon?
o Simeon is not a priest…He’s not a ruler…He’s not a scholar
o Simeon was righteous, devout, and faithfully waiting on the Lord.
o Simeon had been waiting through Roman occupation, silence from God, and while others gave up hope.
UPSIDE DOWN TRUTH: The Savior is revealed to those who wait faithfully
THE SAVIOR WILL DIVIDE HEARTS
o CHRISTMAS IS NOT NEUTRAL
o Salvation demands a response, and the same Savior that brings peace also reveals hearts.
UPSIDE DOWN TRUTH: is that Jesus is not just comforting—He is confronting.
GOD HONORS FAITHFUL WORSHIP AND WITNESS
o Then Luke introduces Anna.
o An elderly widow…Married seven years, widowed for decades…described as faithful, praying, fasting
o Anna gave EVERYTHING she had to God, and God HONORS her faithfulness and her worship by allowing her to meet Jesus, the Savior, face to face.
o Anna, the first evangelist
The Upside Down Truth is that God uses faithful people, not famous people, to proclaim the greatest news of all.
FINAL THOUGHTS
o Luke 2 reminds us:
o God works through obedience, not spectacle
o God reveals Himself to the faithful, not the famous
o God uses the overlooked to proclaim the greatest news
o Jesus didn’t come loudly. He came faithfully.
o He didn’t arrive with power. He arrived with humility, submitting to the law.
THE UPSIDE DOWN CHRISTMAS reminds us that God works through humility, obedience, and faithful waiting. God’s plan of salvation often looks upside down to the
world, but He is always faithful to His promises.
o Luke reminds us that the first Christmas was anything but impressive by worldly standards.
o No palace…No spotlight…No religious elite waiting with banners…No public party or celebration.
o Instead, we see a poor couple, an obedient act of the Law, and two elderly saints who had been waiting quietly on God.
THE SAVIOR SUBMITS TO THE LAW
o Partly because Jesus’ parents were faithful and obeyed the Law.
o Jesus is circumcised.
o Purification according to the Law
o Jesus is presented at the temple.
o Everything is done “according to the Law of the Lord.”
o This matters because Jesus didn’t come AROUND the law, He came UNDER the law.
UPSIDE DOWN TRUTH: The lawgiver submitted Himself to the Law in order to fulfill the law for us, because we never could.
o Before Jesus preaches a sermon…Before He tells a parable…Before he performs a miracle…Before He goes to the cross…JESUS OBEYS
- Galatians 4:4-5
o The Lamb of God is brought to the temple by parents who couldn’t afford a lamb. This truth amazes me.
UPSIDE DOWN TRUTH: Salvation doesn’t come through wealth, influence, or status. It comes through humility and obedience.
GOD REVEALS SALVATION TO THE FAITHFUL, NOT THE FAMOUS
o Who is Simeon?
o Simeon is not a priest…He’s not a ruler…He’s not a scholar
o Simeon was righteous, devout, and faithfully waiting on the Lord.
o Simeon had been waiting through Roman occupation, silence from God, and while others gave up hope.
UPSIDE DOWN TRUTH: The Savior is revealed to those who wait faithfully
THE SAVIOR WILL DIVIDE HEARTS
o CHRISTMAS IS NOT NEUTRAL
o Salvation demands a response, and the same Savior that brings peace also reveals hearts.
UPSIDE DOWN TRUTH: is that Jesus is not just comforting—He is confronting.
GOD HONORS FAITHFUL WORSHIP AND WITNESS
o Then Luke introduces Anna.
o An elderly widow…Married seven years, widowed for decades…described as faithful, praying, fasting
o Anna gave EVERYTHING she had to God, and God HONORS her faithfulness and her worship by allowing her to meet Jesus, the Savior, face to face.
o Anna, the first evangelist
The Upside Down Truth is that God uses faithful people, not famous people, to proclaim the greatest news of all.
FINAL THOUGHTS
o Luke 2 reminds us:
o God works through obedience, not spectacle
o God reveals Himself to the faithful, not the famous
o God uses the overlooked to proclaim the greatest news
o Jesus didn’t come loudly. He came faithfully.
o He didn’t arrive with power. He arrived with humility, submitting to the law.
THE UPSIDE DOWN CHRISTMAS reminds us that God works through humility, obedience, and faithful waiting. God’s plan of salvation often looks upside down to the
world, but He is always faithful to His promises.
- Will you trust Christ’s obedience instead of your own effort?
- Will you wait faithfully even when God seems silent?
- Will you testify boldly, even if the world overlooks you?
- This Christmas, don’t miss Jesus because He didn’t come the way you expected. Will you trust Him today