Technically, the WTS teaches that Jesus did not become Christ until his baptism. But what about the promise to Simeon to see the Christ before he died?
(Luke 2:25-35) 25 And, look! there was a man in Jerusalem named Sim´e·on, and this man was righteous and reverent, waiting for Israel’s consolation, and holy spirit was upon him. 26 Furthermore, it had been divinely revealed to him by the holy spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Christ of Jehovah. 27 Under the power of the spirit he now came into the temple; and as the parents brought the young child Jesus in to do for it according to the customary practice of the law, 28 he himself received it into his arms and blessed God and said: 29 "Now, Sovereign Lord, you are letting your slave go free in peace according to your declaration; 30 because my eyes have seen your means of saving 31 that you have made ready in the sight of all the peoples, 32 a light for removing the veil from the nations and a glory of your people Israel." 33 And its father and mother continued wondering at the things being spoken about it. 34 Also, Sim´e·on blessed them, but said to Mary its mother: "Look! This one is laid for the fall and the rising again of many in Israel and for a sign to be talked against 35 (yes, a long sword will be run through the soul of you yourself), in order that the reasonings of many hearts may be uncovered."
How the WTS dances around it:
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it-1 p. 438 Christ ***The coming of the Christ, the one whom Jehovah would anoint with his spirit to be the Messianic King, had been foretold centuries before Jesus’ birth. (Da 9:25, 26) However, at his birth, Jesus was not yet the Anointed One or Christ. In foretelling his birth, the angel instructed Joseph: "You must call his name Jesus." (Mt 1:21) But when the shepherds near Bethlehem were given the angelic announcement, in anticipation of Jesus’ future role they were told: "There was born to you today a Savior, who is Christ the Lord," that is, "who is to be Christ the Lord."—Lu 2:11, ftn.
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it-1 p. 438 Christ ***But when the shepherds near Bethlehem were given the angelic announcement, in anticipation of Jesus’ future role they were told: "There was born to you today a Savior, who is Christ the Lord," that is, "who is to be Christ the Lord."—Lu 2:11, ftn.
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w71 4/15 p. 241 How "Restoration of All Things" Is Made ***When God sent his only-begotten Son from heaven, he was born into the family of King David and was given the name Jesus, the name meaning "Jehovah Is Salvation." Thereby Jesus was an heir to the throne of King David. (Matthew 1:1 to 2:6; Luke 3:23-31) Even an angel from heaven declared that Jesus was the Christ or Messiah. On the night of his birth in Bethlehem, this angel from Jehovah said to God-fearing shepherds: "Have no fear, for, look! I am declaring to you good news of a great joy that all the people will have, because there was born to you today a Savior, who is Christ the Lord, in David’s city."—Luke 2:8-11.
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w70 10/15 p. 622 Saving the Human Race—in the Kingdom Way *** 21
"Have no fear, for, look! I am declaring to you good news of a great joy that all the people will have, because there was born to you today a Savior, who is Christ the Lord, in David’s city. And this is a sign for you: you will find an infant bound in cloth bands and lying in a manger."—Luke 2:1-12.
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There we have the statement of the divine purpose:
This newborn Jesus was to become the Messiah or Christ, One anointed to the kingship just as his forefather David had been anointed to the kingship over God’s chosen people.
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w65 10/15 p. 618 World Government on the Shoulder of the Prince of Peace ***The angel identified who the child really was and told what his future was to be by saying: "For, this day, is born to you a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David.
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it-2 p. 59 Jesus Christ ***The outpouring of holy spirit at the time of Jesus’ baptism marked the time of his becoming in actual fact the Messiah, or Christ, God’s Anointed One (the use of this title by angels when announcing his birth evidently being in a prophetic sense; Lu 2:9-11, note also vss 25, 26).
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it-2 p. 440 Moses ***According to the angel’s announcement at his birth in Bethlehem, he was to become "a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." He became Christ, or Anointed One, after the prophet John baptized him in the Jordan River. (Lu 2:10, 11; 3:21-23; 4:16-21) Thereafter he acknowledged that he was "the Christ," or Messiah. (Mt 16:16, 17; Mr 14:61, 62; Joh 4:25, 26)
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w52 8/1 p. 466 The Miracle of the Transfiguration ***At the actual time of the birth of the son, Jehovah’s angel was sent to announce it to the country shepherds. "And suddenly Jehovah’s angel stood by them and Jehovah’s glory gleamed around them, and they became very fearful. But the angel said to them: ‘Have no fear, for, look! I am declaring to you good news of a great joy that all the people will have, because there was born to you today a Savior, who is Christ the Lord, in David’s city.’" (Luke 2:9-11, NW) Then we have on record the testimony of Simeon: "He would not see death before he had seen the Christ of Jehovah. . . . ‘This one is laid for the fall and the rising again of many in Israel and for a sign to be talked against.’" (Luke 2:26, 34, NW)
