“Anna’s Prophecy”

Scripture: Luke 2:36-40

Last week, we read of Simeon’s prophecy regarding Jesus. He loudly proclaimed to all who would hear that this Baby was the salvation for all the earth, but that many would still oppose his teachings. And his words would have caused no little consternation among the temple priests and the Pharisees. Simeon was a humble man, with few, if any commendations to his credit, and those in positions of authority would have some concerns that these new words regarding Messiah would come from someone like Simeon. What could he possibly be up to?
Even King Herod, as we read in Matthew’s Gospel (2:1-12), was out to squash any evidence of a new “King”. But the Lord would direct the Magi away from Jerusalem after they, too, had found and worshiped Jesus Messiah.

Even as a newly born infant, Jesus was already threatening the status quo of Israel. And today, we read of one more prophecy regarding the Child, and this, too, could be cause of some dismay among the temple hierarchy.

Read Luke 2:36-38

Anna was described as a prophetess who had been married for seven years, and then widowed for another 77 years. It may be interesting to note here that the number 7 had a very special connotation for Israel, as it implied “perfection” or “completion”. We are told that the process of Creation occurred over seven days, or periods (Genesis 1:1-2:3). In Genesis 7:1-10, we read that Noah was directed to take seven pairs of “clean” animals and birds into the ark, and only 1 pair of the unclean. Israel marched around the city of Jericho for seven days, and on the seventh day, they marched around the city seven times before the walls fell down. The Psalms and Proverbs have a number of references to seven days or seven items. And the examples go on and on.
And Anna had “seven’s” associated with her, too. And if that wasn’t enough, she met all the requirements to be considered “pious” by the standards of the day. She had been married once and then widowed, she was elderly, and she would be known for her good works and her fulfilling prayer life. It wasn’t unheard of that a woman would be given prophecy by God, but most prophets were men, and for women, this wasn’t an everyday thing. An elderly, pious widow would be exactly the person who the Lord would speak through.

And what does she tell the new parents about their child? Scripture doesn’t give us much detail, and certainly not as much as we have regarding Simeon, but we do know that she spoke of Jesus as the source of redemption for Jerusalem. There was nothing spoken of Jesus’ goodness, or directly of his Divinity, or specifically of his life, and there was definitely nothing about the glory that he would bring, but they both spoke of his righteous nature, and the redemption that would be his, and the salvation that only God in Messiah could accomplish.

Joseph and Mary had not only heard from God and his angels that his Son would be placed on earth to accomplish the Heavenly will, but they would also hear the same message from several other sources – from shepherds from the fields of Bethlehem, Magi from the eastern reaches of the known world, and now two prophets in the temple – the word and plan of God was beginning to spread across the face of the earth.

Why would the Lord send so many messages to these new parents? Could it actually be that they needed to be told over and over so that they would continue to believe? Perhaps, but more likely, it was just God’s way of affirming his plan for the people of earth. But we have to ask, couldn’t they have missed it all in their attentiveness over the child? Yes, if they hadn’t been so intentional and focused on the initial proclamations that they had received from Jehovah’s messengers! When we get a message from God, and when we listen to it and receive it and begin to act upon it, for some reason the Lord also continues to give us affirmations along the way. In addition to all that the Lord is for us, he is also our “cheerleader” as we walk and serve him in faith! I truly believe that these prophecies and revelations aren’t so much to be seen as reminders, as they are to be encouragement. The couple treasured the words, and pondered their meaning, and they marveled at what they were hearing, and they were blessed by every word and syllable and breath that uttered them.

You see, Joseph and Mary were expectant in their relationship with God. They never stopped believing that they were part of a “new thing” that was being given to the people, but every time something unique happened, or someone offered a word of glory, or a blessing was given, or some other Godly gift came their way, they were being affirmed in their service to God. Simeon and Anna and the shepherds and the Magi weren’t just prophets or worshipers of the God Child – they were human messengers for the great I AM!

And the Lord will speak to each of us in the same way, and will use us to speak His words of encouragement to others, IF - IF we are open to his ways and expectant of his grace. Have you ever thought that our Lord God Almighty really wants to do this for you? To include you in his plan of salvation for the world? Not simply that he wants you to claim his redemptive act at Calvary for yourself and receive his eternal salvation, but to let him lead you to do his work right here and right now! Are each of us fully expectant of his active presence in our lives?
The shepherds were. The Magi were. Simeon and Anna were. Joseph and Mary were. Elizabeth and Zechariah were. Countless millions of people through the ages have been. But what about today? How many people today are anxious and eager to have the Lord work his way through their life?
The leper said to Jesus “If you choose, you can make me clean.” (Matthew 8:1-4) He was expectant.
The woman with the hemorrhage thought “If I only touch his cloak, I will be made well.” (Matthew 9:20-22) She was expectant.
Jesus tells us “I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask for anything, I will do it.” (John 14:13-14) You see, Jesus wants us to be expectant, too. Faith isn’t just about obligation and obedience – it is first and foremost about expectancy! We are to believe that God will do what he says he will do. We are to believe that God is who he says he is. We are to believe that the things he brings into our lives are for his divine purpose and reason.
Faith and trust in all we do. That is what he truly wants from us.

Read Luke 2:39-40

Luke and Matthew differ a little on what happened next for this young family. Matthew had them fleeing south to Egypt to escape Herod’s assassins before they could begin a normal life together, but Luke sends them directly north to begin making their new home in Nazareth. But these are just details that, while they would have significance in the salvation narrative, have little to do with Jesus’ divinity directly. Luke tells us that Jesus grew up as any child would and would become strong, but his strength would be different than that of other boys, as his would come from his being “filled with wisdom, and the grace of God” – the power of Almighty God would settle on the Boy, and he would grow in a Godly way.
Jesus, in his humanness, would be all that anyone might expect of a child. Jesus, in his Godliness, would be all that the world would ever need in a Savior.

In the next few verses of Luke (2:41-47), which we won’t get into today, we discover the impact of the prophecies and the wisdom that this human child would be exhibiting. He would amaze his parents, certainly, but he would also astonish the teachers and prophets of Israel. He would amaze the common folks, and infuriate the learned. He would heal those who believed in him, and he would challenge those who doubted. And in the final moment, he would accept the sentence of Imperial Rome’s sword and cross, so that he could be Life-Giver to all the earth.

To say that Jesus Christ would be an enigma to the people of this world would be an extreme understatement! He would speak in parables and analogies and allusions that even his closest followers had trouble making sense of, and yet, every single word of his teaching would reveal some great truth of God.

Anna and Simeon knew. The Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well would know (John 4:1-42). The demoniac who was infected with a “Legion” of demons would know. (Luke 8:26-39) Gentiles and Jews, men and women, adults and children, learned and illiterate – it has never made any difference. The salvation of Jesus Christ knows no bounds for those who come to him – expectantly!

Are we expectant, in the same way as Simeon and Anna were? They believed that Messiah would come, and they weren’t hung up on what he would look like. For them, an infant child was just as good as a mighty warrior king. They were more concerned with who he was and what he would do for them and for all, than they were over what he looked like.
That is their legacy for each of us – that we might believe and claim the glory of Jesus Christ for ourselves regardless of what we think he should be like, and then tells others what he can do for them.

Be a Simeon, be an Anna, and if just one person comes to believe for themselves, it will all be worthwhile.
Be blessed in him.