Read Luke 2:22-38

Luke 2:26 - It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

There were two people named in this story of Christmas who had been paying attention to God’s promises. We do not read about them until after Jesus was eight days old and brought to the temple for the sacrifice to be made for every first-born child.

Simeon was already an old man, but as we read in our verse above, he had received a promise from God that he would not die until he had seen the promised Messiah. Can you imagine receiving such a promise from God? We know he must have come to the temple nearly each day, but on the day when Jesus was brought there by Joseph and Mary, he had been urged to come by the Holy Spirit.

Another person was there as well, though the Bible does not say she was expecting the Messiah. However, when Anna saw this little family come through the gates, she also recognized Jesus as the promised Messiah.

To be able to recognize Him, they must have been looking for Him, expecting Him to come. Jesus has made another promise to those of us living today – the promise that He will return and take us to Himself (John 14:1-6). We are given many signs to look for in prophecy, including Jesus’ own words in Matthew 24 and 25.

*What signs from prophecy do you see today that cause you to be expectantly watching for His coming?