December 6 | Bible in a Year: Daniel 3–4; 1 John 5

Great Expectations

She . . . spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. Luke 2:38

READ Luke 2:25–32, 36–38

On a busy day before Christmas, an aged woman approached the counter at my crowded neighbourhood post office. Watching her slow pace, the patient postal clerk greeted her, “Well hello, young lady!” His words were friendly, but some might think he was suggesting that younger is better.

The Bible inspires us to see that advanced age can motivate our hope. As the infant Jesus is brought to the temple by Joseph and Mary to be consecrated (Luke 2:23; see Exodus 13:2, 12), two elderly believers suddenly take centre stage.

Firstly, Simeon—who’d been waiting for years to see the Messiah—“took [Jesus] in his arms and praised 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’ ” (Luke 2:28–31).

Then Anna, a “very old” prophet (v. 36), came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph. A widow who’d been married only seven years, she’d lived in the temple until she was eighty-four. Never leaving, she “worshipped night and day, fasting and praying.” When she saw Jesus, she began praising God, explaining about “the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem” (vv. 37–38).

These two hopeful servants remind us to never stop waiting on God—no matter our age—with great expectations.

By Patricia Raybon

What lessons have you learned from elderly believers about God’s faithfulness? How does their hopefulness inspire you?

Dear faithful Father, when I lose hope, remind me to wait expectantly for You.

SCRIPTURE INSIGHT

Most Israelites were anticipating the arrival of Messiah, and one might expect that the religious leaders would have been among them. Yet they seemed to miss Him despite the signs and prophecy (see Matthew 2:1–6). In contrast, Luke 2 informs us of Simeon and Anna, who recognised Him at once. What made the difference? In the case of Simeon and Anna, they actively sought out a close relationship with God. The text says of Simeon, “Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts” (v. 27 ), indicating that he was customarily sensitive to God’s leading. As for Anna, it appears she literally lived at the temple (v. 37). Both Simeon and Anna knew what the arrival of the Christ child meant.