By Nicole McLeod
This time of year, many of us like to re-read the familiar Christmas story as told by Luke’s gospel in chapter 2. And we look around us and see the story pictured in Nativity scenes, in Christmas plays, we even hear it in the Christmas songs.
We know the “important” people of the Christmas story, like Jesus, Mary, Jospeh, the angel Gabriel, the shepherds…I don’t know who appeals to you most in the story, but for me, this Christmas, it’s a very minor character, one who is sometimes overlooked, and has only a 3-verse mention… would anyone like to guess who I am speaking about? Anna, and her story is found in (Luke 2:36-38).
In vs 36, Luke tells us some remarkable things about Anna. She was an elderly and devout widow who had dedicated her 84 years as a widow to serving God at the temple in Jerusalem, while awaiting the Messiah’s promised arrival.
She was a “prophetess.” A prophetess is someone who speaks messages for God. (In the OT there were 5 women prophets (Miriam, Deborah, Huldah, Noadiah, and Isaiah's wife. In the NT, there is Anna and Phillip the evangelist’s 4 daughters.)
Luke tells us in vs. 37, that “She did not depart from the temple, but served God with fasting and prayer night and day.”
This is a beautiful description of a woman who has a close walk with God. In her life of hardship, she grew closer and more devoted to God, not turning away from Him. Her life of constant prayer and fasting shows she was intently and actively seeking God, day and night, interceding for others and speaking also as the Lord led. She had found her life purpose there in the temple, with God and with God’s people. She was provided for and belonged there.
Luke 2:38 tells us that the Lord led her to Jesus, just as Mary and Jospeh brought Him into the temple to present him to God with two turtledoves (or young pigeons), to fulfill Jewish law. (Luke 2:22-23) First, Mary and Jospeh met a man named Simeon.
Luke 2:25-26 tells us that he was “righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.”
When Mary and Jospeh brought Jesus to him, Simen took Jesus up in his arms, blessed God and thanked God for providing the Savior for all peoples. Simeon then prophesied and blessed Mary and Joseph also, Luke 2:27-37.
Luke 2:38, “And coming in that instant she (Anna- joined them and) gave thanks to the Lord (also) and (she) spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.”
God led her to this moment, to her Savior. She gave thanks to God and God used her voice to speak for Him, and to announce to others, there in the temple in Jerusalem, the arrival of the Messiah, to all who were waiting for “redemption in Jerusalem.” What an announcement!
She was used by God, to validate that Jesus' was indeed the One who brings redemption to God's people. I can imagine a joyous wonder and celebration among those who believed that day.
Anna’s story inspires our own devotion. Her name Anna means grace.
- By grace, she turned her life over to the Lord. She is an example of faithful waiting on God, waiting at the throne of grace, for her Savior. She held tight to God’s promise to send a Savior. The Bible tells us that those who seek Him will find Him.
- By grace she found her purpose in life. She is an example of persistent prayer and devotion. Purpose can unfold at any age. She was actively seeking God daily, with prayers and fasting, interceding for others and speaking for God to them. Prayer is a powerful ministry and God’s throne of grace is open to us all day and night.
- By grace, Anna met Jesus, and she thanked God when she saw Him. That was her response to Him. People respond to Jesus in various ways, and not everyone has this response to Him. But this shows her heart to receive and believe in Jesus, the Savior. May this be our heart’s response to Him this Christmas. May we thank God for loving this world so much, and for sending His Son, Jesus, to save and redeem us, and for His promise that who-soever should believe in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.
- Lastly, by grace, Anna became an amazing witness of God’s salvation to those around her. Her joy overflowed as she told others about Jesus. This is the joyful message of Christmas, “Joy to the World the Lord has come, let earth receive her King”.
I hope you will take time this busy season to read the Christmas Story in Luke 2 and appreciate Anna’s small but great part in it, because, by grace God often uses ordinary and overlooked people to share in His great plans. May His grace be with you today.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for grace, and for beautiful Anna, and for her life of faith, prayer, and devotion. Thank you for Your great love and compassion, and for your powerful redeeming love. Please bless each woman here today, and give us grace to rejoice in the Savior, and grace to believe and trust in you. In Jesus Name, amen.