Luke includes four Christmas carols in his account of Jesus’ birth. Traditionally, each song is named for its first words, as recorded in the Latin translation. Mary’s Magnificat comes first (“My soul magnifies,” 1:46-55), followed by Zechariah’s Benedictus (“Blessed be the LORD,” 1:68-79). This is followed by the angels’ Gloria in Excelsis Deo (“Glory to God in the highest,” 2:14), and Simeon’s Nunc Dimittis (“Now dismiss,” 2:29-32) completes the concert. In the second half of Luke 2, we’re back at the Jerusalem temple again, where an angel had announced that a child named John would be born to Zechariah and Elizabeth, though both were advanced in years (1:5-13). Now we meet two more elderly people, a man and a woman, and both are rejoicing in the birth of Christ, whose saving ways John had come to prepare (1:76). Both Simeon and Anna had been eagerly waiting for Christmas. As the text puts it, he was “waiting for the consolation of Israel” (v 25), and she was “waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem” (v 38). But their waiting is over! And their joy is just beginning, because God’s salvation has finally come. Simeon met baby Jesus when Mary and Joseph “brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord.” Four centuries earlier, Malachi prophesied that the LORD would suddenly come to His temple. But who would have guessed that He would come as a six-week old Baby, carried in the arms of His mother! In God’s perfect timing, Simeon was there, and Mary even allowed him to hold her Child. Having seen God’s salvation with his own eyes, Simeon’s life was complete; he could die in peace. But the old man knew God’s salvation would come at a high cost: opposition and suffering lie ahead. Only those who are humbled by their sin and see their need of grace will be drawn to this Jesus and love Him. Eternal destinies rise and fall accordingly (v 22-35). One person clearly rising to eternal life was Anna. She was an elderly widow and a prophetess, with single-hearted devotion to the LORD. Anna faithfully sought God’s face in private and public worship, so when her long-awaited Redeemer came into the temple, she didn’t miss Him! And she certainly couldn’t keep quiet about Him. Like the shepherds—who found Christ, told others, and glorified God—Anna became another of the first evangelists, a life given over to worship and witness (v 36-38). As a twelve-year old boy, Jesus is back at the temple again, amazing teachers and parents alike. Eager to learn God’s Word, He is committed to a unique mission, ready to do what the Father has sent Him to do (v 39-52). For further meditation: