Mine eyes have seen thy salvation

We can compare the two main incidents in today’s passage. In both, Joseph and Mary go up to Jerusalem with Jesus, vv. 22, 42, in order to carry out rituals commanded in the Old Testament, vv. 23, 42. In both cases, the action is in the temple, vv. 27, 46, and the Lord Jesus is the focus of attention, vv. 28, 46.

The first event occurs when the Lord is just beginning His childhood; the second is as He is nearing the end of it. On the first occasion, Joseph and Mary enter the temple with the child; on the second, they enter without Him but both arrivals are due to parental care. In both cases, mature people come into contact with the child, and react very positively to Him. However, there is a big difference. Simeon, vv. 25-35 and Anna, vv. 36-38 are godly, devoted believers, who are in touch with God, are in the temple under divine direction, appreciate the enormous significance of what is taking place, speak wonderful words concerning Him, and tell others of Him. By contrast, the teachers in the second incident do not have this spiritual insight, and thus are ‘astonished at his understanding and answers’, v. 47.

In both instances, significant statements are made concerning the Lord: in the first, by Simeon; in the second, by the Lord Himself. Simeon emphasizes His salvation, ‘mine eyes have seen thy salvation’, v. 30, which will be for both Israel and the Gentiles, vv. 31, 32, and His sufferings, vv. 34, 35; the Lord Jesus emphasizes His sonship and His service, ‘I must be about my Father’s business’, v. 49 - a gentle reminder to His mother that, while she spoke of ‘thy father’, v. 48, Joseph was in fact only His ‘supposed’ father, 3. 23, and that, while He was exemplary in His subjection to them, v. 51, yet His responsibility to do His Father’s work was paramount.

There are also parallels in the closing of the two events: in both, Joseph and Mary return to Nazareth with the child, vv. 39, 51, and we are told of His godly development, vv. 40, 52. Also,in both cases we are told of His mother’s response to the great words that had been said, vv. 33, 51. These words were certainly worthy of her contemplation - and they are worthy of ours, too.