Key Verses – Luke 2:25-26 “There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking forward to Israel’s consolation, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he saw the Lord’s Messiah.” 

Luke 2:36-37 “There was also a prophetess, Anna, a daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was well along in years, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and was a widow for eighty-four years. She did not leave the temple, serving God night and day with fasting and prayers.”

Simeon and Anna both were so connected to God that they knew upon seeing this baby that He was in fact the long awaited and promised Messiah. They both saw this baby as a fulfillment of a promise. Scripture only says that the Holy Spirit had revealed to Simeon, that he wouldn’t die before seeing the Messiah, not that this baby was the Messiah. As for Anna we only know that she had spent 84 years in the temple fasting and praying. It would appear from the little we read in scripture that these two righteous people somehow just knew that this baby was indeed special. How could this be? 

Think and journal about: 

• Do you have this kind of connection with God? Do you feel, hear and know when the Holy Spirit is speaking with you?
• What would it take for you to deepen your relationship with God? What is holding you back?

Deep dive scripture: Luke 2:25-38