{"id":22345,"date":"2026-03-05T07:00:13","date_gmt":"2026-03-05T12:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/?p=22345"},"modified":"2026-03-06T09:34:24","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T14:34:24","slug":"mary-simeon-or-anna-who-first-recognized-jesus-as-messiah","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biblicalarchaeology.org\/daily\/biblical-topics\/new-testament\/mary-simeon-or-anna-who-first-recognized-jesus-as-messiah\/","title":{"rendered":"Mary, Simeon or Anna: Who First Recognized Jesus as Messiah?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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THE PRESENTATION IN THE TEMPLE. When Joseph (far left) and Mary (left of center) bring baby Jesus to the Jerusalem Temple, they are greeted by Simeon, who embraces the baby, and Anna, the New Testament\u2019s only prophetess, shown at right with a scroll, in this 1342 tempera painting by Ambrogio Lorenzetti. Simeon instantly and independently recognizes Jesus as messiah. Anna begins to preach: \u201cShe came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.\u201d Both are quicker than Mary to comprehend who Jesus is. Uffizi Gallery\/Public Domain<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Being first to hear doesn\u2019t always mean being first to understand. In Luke\u2019s birth narrative, Mary<\/a> is the first to be told that Jesus will be the messiah. Luke adds that she \u201ctreasures the words\u201d the angel Gabriel speaks to her. But Mary is also puzzled by the divine message; she is \u201cperplexed\u201d when the angel greets her and must \u201cponder\u201d the meaning of his words (Luke 1:29; see also 2:19). In this, Mary contrasts sharply with Simeon and Anna, two elderly individuals who happen to be in the Temple<\/a> when Joseph<\/a> and Mary bring the infant Jesus to Jerusalem for the first time.<\/p>\n

According to Luke 2:22\u201324, \u201c[Joseph and Mary] brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, \u2018Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord\u2019 [quoting Exodus 13:2, 12]) and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, \u2018a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons\u2019 [based on Leviticus 12:2\u20138].\u201d<\/p>\n

At the Temple, the family is approached by a man named Simeon, who has been told by the Holy Spirit that he will not die until he has seen the messiah. (The same Spirit told him to go to the Temple that day, too.) Simeon takes Jesus in his arms and praises God: \u201cMaster, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel\u201d (Luke 2:28\u201332). Having seen the messiah, Simeon is now prepared to die.<\/p>\n

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FREE ebook, Who Was Jesus? Exploring the History of Jesus\u2019 Life<\/strong>. Examine fundamental questions about Jesus of Nazareth.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t