Luke 2 v 21 – 40

Lesson Aim

To understand that other people saw the birth of Jesus as special.

Hook 1: Baby doll, Simeon and Anna

Explain how the baby Jesus was taken to the temple as required under the law. You do not need to explain about the act of circumcision.

Have a leader dressed up to play the part of Simeon. It is important for the leader to shorten Simeon’s words. Simeon can say that God has given him a great promise, to see the Christ before he died. Then Simeon can hold the ‘baby’ and say “Lord… my eyes have seen your salvation.”

Anna can be an old woman (or someone dressed up as one) who comes up to the child and thanks God for a child who would redeem (save) his people.

Hook 2: TV interview

It is possible to tell this story in the form of two interviews. The presenter can ask Simeon and then Anna about what happened when Jesus came to the temple. The interviewer can give background information e.g. the age of Anna while Simeon and Anna can recall the words which they spoke over the baby.

The success of this type of interview is often related to how many times it has been rehearsed.

Hook 3: Questions

Who thought that when Jesus was born something special had happened? After the obvious answers of the shepherds and wise men say that in today’s story two other people recognised that Jesus’ birth was very special.

Application

Simeon and Anna both realised that the birth of Jesus was a very special event and that Jesus had come to be a saviour, a special one sent by God. Do you know Jesus as your saviour? Do you know that Jesus, a baby born 2000 years ago, actually came to save people from their sins and that is why his birth was so special.