"And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth."
It is very important to note that, within today's quote, we learn the high priest of the temple did not perform the Jewish ritual of Mosiac law for baby Jesus, as was standard for all Jews of that day, instead, a devout man of God, called Simeon, who had been promised by the Holy Ghost, that he would not die before seeing the Messiah, was taken by the Holy Ghost to the temple where he performed the naming ritual according to the law of Moses.
After holding the baby Jesus Simeon said, "For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel."
It is worthy to note that Simeon, for the first time among the Jews, acknowledged Jesus as the Savior of the Gentiles as well.
Simeon, knowing that Jesus would suffer and die, warned Mary of the heartbreak she would endure because of the eventual death of Jesus on the cross. Simeon said, "Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." This meant that the hypocrisy of the Jewish nation, through the misdeeds and unbelief of their leadership, would be exposed and that the chosen status of the Jews would be taken away and awarded to those who would believe in Jesus, both Jews and Gentiles.
The latter portion of the lesson tells us how Anna, also devout in her belief in God and who served at the temple daily, assisted Simeon in performing the Mosaic ritual for the baby Jesus.~
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