Luke 2:36-38 (ESV)
[36] And there was a prophetess,
Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. . . . She did not depart
from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. [38] And . .
. began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for
the redemption of Jerusalem.
At least three things are significant
about this passage. The first is that she was a woman. In her day, women were
not allowed to testify in court. They were not considered reliable, yet Jesus
valued and exalted women. Women were the first to testify of Jesus’ resurrection
in Luke 24. Anna is one of the first witnesses to the identity of Jesus in his
birth. The religious system may not have valued women, but God does.
Second, the very description of
this woman defies the health and wealth prosperity gospel. Here is a woman widowed
for most of her life, yet she is described as a prophetess who is “worshiping
with fasting and prayer night and day.” In her world God’s blessing would have
meant a husband and children. She was widowed early on, and apparently had no
children, yet she was devoted to God and recognized Messiah even as a child. Devotion
to God is not a means of acquiring health and wealth.
Third, Anna told everyone who was
“waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.” It doesn’t say that she told
everyone. She told everyone who was ready to hear the news. She was wise, but she
was not afraid to speak the truth when people were ready to hear it.
Three insights from these three
verses. It makes me wonder about my own life. Do I give women the respect and
honor God does? Have I sometimes bought into the “If God loves me, he will make
my life comfortable” mentality? Am I sensitive to the Spirit’s leading and am I
ready and willing to speak the truth of the gospel to those he has prepared to
hear?
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