Simeon and Anna Bible story for kids

Do you remember the shepherds, hurrying through the night to find a baby lying in a manger?

A few weeks went by after that night. Jesus was still very small, just a few weeks old.

Imagine a great big building made of stone, high up on a hill. Crowds of people. Footsteps everywhere. Voices echoing.

And into all that bustle came the smallest visitor of the day. A tiny baby. And he had a name now. Mary and Joseph had named him Jesus, just as the angel said.

Now they were carrying him up to Jerusalem, to God's house, the temple. God's law said that a family's first baby boy belonged to God in a special way. So they had come to present him to the Lord.

They brought a gift for God, too. Two small birds. God's law said, "A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons." Turtledoves, little one. Not turtles! That was the gift God's law allowed from a family who couldn't afford a lamb. So maybe Mary and Joseph didn't have much money.

Now, in Jerusalem there lived a man named Simeon. The Bible says he was good, and he loved God, and he was longing for God to comfort His people. And the Holy Spirit was on him.

Some time before, the Holy Spirit had told Simeon something wonderful. Before his life was over, he would see God's promised one, the Rescuer, with his very own eyes.

So Simeon waited. Morning after morning. Not yet. Still not yet. The Bible doesn't say how long he waited, or how old he was, though people often picture him with a long white beard.

Then one day the Holy Spirit led Simeon into the temple. Maybe it felt like a quiet nudge. Go now. Today.

So he went. And there, in all that crowd, were Mary and Joseph and their tiny baby.

And Simeon knew. Just as the Holy Spirit had promised. This was the One.

He took the baby up in his arms. And out loud, he praised God.

"For my eyes have seen your salvation."

All that time, he had been hoping. And now he was looking right at God's promise. Holding him, even.

And Simeon said this baby would be a light for all the nations, and the glory of God's own people, Israel.

The nations. That means everybody, little one. People near and far. Even you.

Mary and Joseph were amazed at all the wonderful things Simeon said about their baby. And Simeon blessed them.

But God had one more friend in the temple that day.

Her name was Anna. She was very, very old, more than eighty. Anna was a prophetess, a woman who spoke messages from God. And she was always at the temple. Night and day she worshipped God and prayed. Sometimes she even went without her meals, so she could pray.

And at that very hour, Anna came up to them.

She saw the baby. And she gave thanks to God. And from that day on, she spoke about Jesus to everyone in Jerusalem who had been waiting for God's rescue.

Two friends of God who had been waiting and hoping. One tiny baby. And the same God who kept them both.

When everything God's law asked was done, the little family went on their way. And the little boy grew, and grew stronger, and wiser. The Bible says that "the grace of God was upon him."

And God was with him. God was with her. God is with you, too.

Rest now, little one. May the same God who let Simeon see His promise with his very own eyes... show you His goodness, too, one little day at a time.