At least two people were paying attention. The prophets Simeon and Anna are mentioned in Luke as recognizing the Messiah’s visitation at a time when so many missed it. How did they manage to spot who that precious baby was? And what can we learn from their excellent example? “Hope deferred makes the heart sick,” we are told in Proverbs 13:12, “but longing fulfilled is a tree of life.” The Messiah had been a long time coming. A very, very long time. The Messiah was first mentioned in Genesis 3:15 when God promised that the woman’s seed would crush the head of the serpent, and the clues never stopped coming. Hints of sacrifice, parallels and parables, patterns and poetry, echoes and types are scattered throughout the Scriptures, along with some very blatant prophecies. God’s people had been waiting for thousands of years for the coming Savior. The awe and wonder expressed by both Simeon and Anna on holding the baby, the bundle of delight, testifies to the truth of Proverbs 13:12. What an intense experience of joy! When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” (Luke 2:27-32) The Scriptures foretold that the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2) to a virgin (Isaiah 7:14). He would come out of Egypt (Hosea 11:1), and be called a Nazarene (Isaiah 11:1). He would do miracles and wonders, like walking on water (Psalm 77:19, Proverbs 30:4). He would be the Son of God (Psalm 2:12, Proverbs 30:4) and yet God Himself (Isaiah 9:6-7, Jeremiah 23:5-6, Zechariah 2:10). He would heal lepers, open the eyes of the blind, and the lame would leap for joy (Isaiah 35:5-6). He would be ‘cut off’ before the second temple was destroyed (Daniel 9:26), his hands and feet would be pierced (Psalm 22:17), and he would be mocked and tortured before his execution (Isaiah 53:4-8). And that’s just for starters! Click here to read more! https://www.oneforisrael.org/bible-based-teaching-from-israel/simeon-and-anna-how-did-they-recongnize-the-messiah/