My Eyes Have Seen Your Salvation

The Story

• Reading: Luke 2:22-40
• For younger children, retell the story or read Luke 2:25-33, 36-38
• Simeon and Anna Recognize Jesus Video
  The lovely video uses felt figures to illustrate the story of Jesus being presented in the temple.

Read more about this story:

• “Simeon and the Baby Lord” (ages 4-6)
  Simeon had waited every day in the temple, patiently, for many years, for he had been told that he would see the baby Lord before he died.
• “Anna and Simeon” by Frank S. Rose (ages 7-14)
  When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple, Anna and Simeon both knew that He was the Savior born into the world.
• “Those Who Saw the Lord” by Peter M. Buss, Sr. (ages 7-14)
  The people who recognized the Lord when He was born represent qualities of the kinds of people who will someday be able to see the Lord in heaven—people who do what is right.
• “Simeon: Just and Devout, Waiting” Michael D. Gladish (ages 18 and up)
  The story of Simeon, his praise of God and his prophetic blessing of Mary, all represent for us the story of our faithful obedience to the Lord in His Word.

Ideas for Discussion

1. Mary and Joseph brought baby Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem as was the custom. In those days, parents would bring their child to the temple to thank the Lord for giving the child into their care.
2. There were two people at the temple who knew that this baby was the Lord!
3. One was Simeon. Who was he? (Simeon was a very old man who longed to see the baby Lord. He had been told that he would not “see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.”)
4. What did Simeon do when he saw baby Jesus? (He took Him up in his arms and blessed God.)
5. Simeon is described as being “just and devout.” Being just means doing what is good and caring for the neighbor. To be devout is to look to the Lord and worship Him with one’s heart and with one’s life.
6. How can we be like Simeon? (By listening to the Lord and wanting to obey Him.)
7. Anna was an old woman who loved the Lord and came to the temple every day to worship Him. She knew right away that this baby was the Lord, and she told other people about Him.
8. The shepherds, the wisemen, Simeon and Anna—were all happy to see the Lord and worship Him. King Herod’s response was very different! Herod pictures the selfishness that can keep us from welcoming the Lord’s presence in our lives.
9. If you could go back in time and choose to join the shepherds, the wisemen, or Simeon and Anna at the temple, which would you choose? Why?
10. “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for Him; we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation” (Isaiah 25:9).

Projects and Activities for All Ages

• Simeon Holds the Infant Lord by Jacqueline S. Bostock
  Shows Mary and Joseph bringing Jesus to the temple where Simeon recognizes Him.
• Anna and Simeon Coloring Page by Robert G. Glenn (ages 7-14)
  Shows Anna and Simeon who give thanks to the Lord for being allowed to see baby Jesus, the Savior of the world.
• O Come Little Children
  Lovely Christmas song based on the story in Luke 2.
• Children’s Prayers for the Lord’s Birth in Our Hearts
• Prayers asking the Lord to be born in our hearts and help us learn to love what is right.
• How Did They Respond to the Lord’s Birth? (ages 10-up)
• Match people who saw the Lord—or who were looking for the Lord—to their words or actions.
• We Will Rejoice in His Salvation (teens and up)
  Selected quotations from the Word about giving thanks because the Lord came into the world as our Savior.
• Spectrum of Responses to the Lord’s Birth (for teens)
  Where you would put various people on a spectrum showing how they felt about the Lord’s birth? Think about which people best understood the Lord’s mission on earth and whether this deepened their joy in His advent.
• Looking for the Lord Journal Page (teens and up)
  Simeon was a wise man who had been looking for the Lord. Would he have recognized the Lord, if he not been looking for Him? What are some ways that we can look for the Lord?
• For Reflection: When Are We Like Herod? (teens and up)
  Reflect on ways that we are like Herod when we let selfish thoughts and feelings interrupt our celebration of the Lord's birth.
• Prayers for Teens on Receiving the Lord (teens and up)
  Four prayers to help us look to the Lord and receive Him into our hearts and minds.

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