JOIN THE JOURNEY JR.
Families Abiding in Jesus together
With shorter reading assignments and kid-specific focus areas, Join The Journey Jr. is designed to help parents disciple their kids and engage with Scripture in the best ways for their age.
This month's memory verse
For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
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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.
22Then it was time for their purification offering, as required by the law of Moses after the birth of a child; so his parents took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. 23The law of the Lord says, “If a woman’s first child is a boy, he must be dedicated to the Lord.”*24So they offered the sacrifice required in the law of the Lord—“either a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”*
The Prophecy of Simeon
25At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him 26and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, 28Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying,
29“Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace,
as you have promised.
30I have seen your salvation,
31which you have prepared for all people.
32He is a light to reveal God to the nations,
and he is the glory of your people Israel!”
33Jesus’ parents were amazed at what was being said about him. 34Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, and many others to rise. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. 35As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.”
The Prophecy of Anna
36Anna, a prophet, was also there in the Temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. Her husband died when they had been married only seven years. 37Then she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four.* She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer. 38She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God. She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem.
In our passage we read today, we see a man named Simeon who was full of the Holy Spirit at the Temple. Even though Jesus was a young boy, the Holy Spirit showed Simeon that he was God’s son. Simeon blessed the Lord in thanks and prayer for Jesus who had come to earth.
In this story, the Holy Spirit showed Simeon (or revealed) who Jesus was, but that’s not all the Holy Spirit can do. He also guides, comforts, speaks, and so much more! Today, take some time to learn more about what the Holy Spirit does by completing the Spirit-Led Word Search!
After completing the Word Search, share a story from a time when you saw the Holy Spirit do one of these things in your own life. Tell a parent or a sibling about what happened, what the Holy Spirit did, and how you responded.
Then, finish your time by praying the way Simeon did—blessing and praising God! Thank him for being a God who is present and with us, who is always doing things in our lives.