And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, 28 he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: 29 “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word;…36 Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age…38 And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.” —Luke 2:25-29

Simeon and Anna were torches of

in Israel.

1. Hope sees

Reveal Answer

present circumstances and difficulties.

“And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.” —Luke 2:25-26

– the confident expectation of good; to anticipate with pleasure.

“What oxygen is for the lungs, such is hope for the meaning of human life. Take oxygen away and death occurs through suffocation, take hope away and humanity is constricted through lack of breath; despair and hopelessness set it.” —Dr. Emil Brunner

2. Hope has a name…

Reveal Answer

.

“And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.” —Luke 2:21

The name Jesus reminds us of the

, presence, and purpose of the risen Christ.

“There are no hopeless situations; there are only people who have grown hopeless about them.” —Clare Booth Luce

3. Our hope must be

Reveal Answer

in Jesus.

“This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, 20 where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” —Hebrews 6:19

“And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in You.” —Psalm 39:7