Free Bible lesson for kids · Jesus Is Born
Simeon and Anna See the Baby
When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple, old Simeon took Him in his arms and praised God, and Anna the prophetess gave thanks and told others about Him.
- Bible passage
- Luke 2:21–38
- Big idea
- Jesus is the one God’s people were waiting for.
- Memory verse
For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
Luke 2:30 (KJV)- Ages
- Preschool to preteen (3 to 12), with tips for each age
- Time
- About 45 minutes
- Included, free
- Animated story film, coloring page, class sheet, teacher guide, questions and answers, a game
The story
When the baby was eight days old, He was named JESUS (Luke 2:21). Later Mary and Joseph brought Him to the temple in Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (Luke 2:22). A just and devout man named Simeon lived in Jerusalem. The Holy Ghost had shown him that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ (Luke 2:25–26).
Led by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple. He took Jesus in his arms and blessed God, saying, “For mine eyes have seen thy salvation” (Luke 2:27–30). This Child would be a light for the Gentiles and the glory of Israel (Luke 2:32). Anna, a very old prophetess, served God in the temple with fasting and prayer night and day (Luke 2:36–37). She gave thanks and told everyone who was waiting for redemption about Jesus (Luke 2:38).
Read it in the Bible: Luke 2:21–38 (KJV)
21And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. 22And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; 23(As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) 24And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons. 25And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. 26And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, 28Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, 29Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: 30For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, 31Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; 32A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. 33And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. 34And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; 35(Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. 36And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; 37And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. 38And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
Questions to ask
What had God promised Simeon?
That he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
What did Simeon do when he saw Jesus?
He took Him in his arms and blessed God.
What did Anna do?
She gave thanks and spoke of Him to all who looked for redemption.
What this story teaches
- God keeps His promises to those who wait for Him (Luke 2:26–30).
- Jesus is God’s salvation, prepared for all people (Luke 2:30–31).
- Jesus is a light for every nation in the world (Luke 2:32).
- The Holy Spirit leads God’s people where He wants them (Luke 2:27).
- People who know Jesus tell others about Him (Luke 2:38).
Jesus Is Our Salvation
Simeon held the baby and said he had seen God’s salvation. There is salvation in no one else but Jesus.
Acts 4:12
A 45-minute lesson plan
| 5 min | Welcome and pray. Greet each child by name and pray: Thank God for people who teach us about Jesus. |
|---|---|
| 10 min | The story. Play the story film: each verse appears on screen in the King James Version while the scene plays. Pause to ask what happens next. |
| 10 min | Talk about it. Ask the three questions below. Then ask: “Jesus is the one God’s people were waiting for.” What does that mean for us? |
| 5 min | Memory verse. Say Luke 2:30 together, covering one word at a time until the children can say it alone. |
| 10 min | Activity. Younger children color the coloring page while you retell the story; older children do the class sheet (memory-verse fill-in, word search and questions). |
| 5 min | Pray and send home. Pray together and send the sheet home so families can talk about the first question this week. |
- Preschool: keep it short and physical. Act out the story, use a simple prop, and repeat the big idea in one sentence.
- Elementary: let children find the passage in their own Bibles. Ask “who, what, where” questions first, then “why.”
- Preteens: read the verses before and after the passage, and ask how this story fits the whole story of the Bible.
Game time
For kids · game · indoors or out · about 8 minutes
Wait for It
You need: Nothing
- Everyone stands on a line. The leader counts down slowly: “Three… two… two and a half… two and three quarters…”
- Only on “Go!” do the kids race to the far wall. Anyone who starts early goes back.
- Try silly tricks: “Gooo…ldfish!”
Simeon waited many years for the Saviour, and God kept His promise. Waiting on God is always worth it.
For youth group · game · indoors · about 15 minutes
Telephone Pictionary
You need: A small stack of paper and a pen for each person
- Everyone writes a sentence from the story on the top sheet, such as “Anna gave thanks in the temple.”
- Pass it on. The next person draws the sentence, folds the words away and passes it. The next writes what the drawing shows, and so on.
- Reveal each stack from start to finish and laugh at how the message changed.
Anna told everyone about Jesus. Let’s keep the message clear when we pass it on.
Pray
Thank God for people who teach us about Jesus.