The Mouth of Two Witnesses

We already heard Gabriel and then the multitude of the heavenly host bear witness to who exactly this baby is: Christ, the Lord, the Son of God. But now we hear from two additional witnesses, human witnesses. Notice as well that these witnesses form a third "couple" alongside Zachariah and Elizabeth and Joseph and Mary. Obviously Simeon and Anna are not actually romantically involved with each other. But the literary balance here is perfect: three men, three women, two sons. But notice: Zachariah and Elizabeth testify to the greatness of Jesus as Lord, and so do both Simeon and Anna. Gabriel announces John's birth but no human witnesses step forward at his circumcision to say "This is the Lord's Christ." In other words, we have one angelic witness for John compared to two different angelic witnesses and four human witnesses for Jesus. That's a five to one ratio. Again, Luke is simply making the point across a whole range of markers: Jesus is greater than John across the board; on all channels, in all ways, Jesus is greater. Let's listen to the testimony of Simeon and Anna who declare boldly that yes, Jesus is God's Anointed. Again, we can be sure of what we have been taught. A multitude both on earth and in heaven bear witness to the truth that Jesus is the one God Anointed as Savior.