"Bedtime Bible Stories"

From the Book of Luke,
Chapter 2, Verses 22-33

Mary and Joseph took little baby Jesus to the
Temple to offer a sacrifice. This was the
law for every newborn child.
As they came in, they saw an old
man praying there. The man was named

Simeon, and Mary and Joseph did not know him.
Simeon was a very good man, and followed the
laws of the Lord closely. He never prayed for anything for
himself except for one thing. He had asked the Lord to let
him see the Messiah once before he died.
That morning, something had made Simeon come
to the Temple. He didn't know why he was there, but
something inside him told him it was important for him to
go.

When he saw Joseph and Mary walk in with Jesus
he knew why he had been compelled to come. The Lord
had answered his prayers!
He walked up to Mary and asked if he could hold
the baby. Mary said he could. Simeon took the child in
his arms and praised the Lord.
He said, "Now I can die a happy man! I have seen
the Savior You have given the world! He is the Light that
will shine on every country in the world. He will be the
glory of Your people in Israel!"
Then Simeon carefully handed the baby back to
Mary, still praising God. Mary and Joseph just stood
there, amazed about what Simeon had said about their
son.
But then Simeon lowered his voice and gave a
warning to Mary.
"Your heart will ache for him," he said. "Your son
will be rejected by many people, which will be very bad
for them. But he will bring great joy to many other
people."
Anna, a prophetess had also come to the Temple
that day because of a feeling that something important
was going to happen. She overheard everything Simeon
had said about the baby of Mary and Joseph. She left the
Temple giving thanks to the Lord.
Anna went through the city, spreading the
wonderful news. She told everyone in Jerusalem who was
waiting for the Savior that the Messiah had finally come!