The Witness of Anna: Luke 2:36-38
“36) And there was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years and had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37) and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers. 38) At that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.” Luke 2:36-38
The prophetess Anna had become a fixture in the temple. After seven years of marriage her husband died. There is no telling how old she was at the time. She was most likely in her early twenties.
At the time of this incident, she was 84 years old. It is safe to assume she had spent the past 60 years in the temple seeking God, praying, often fasting and serving wherever she could. Undoubtedly, she was highly respected and walked with God. Her life had not been wasted.
At the very moment that Jesus was being dedicated in the Temple, Anna approached and began praising God for the baby. She began proclaiming openly that the redeemer had come.
This was an example of Amos 3:7; “Surely the Lord God does nothing unless He reveals His secret counsel to His servants the prophets.” So it was in this case, Anna knew exactly what was unfolding that day in the temple.
Once again, more evidence and confirmation of the identity and mission of this child was piling up. The witness of Anna was so significant, that the historian Luke found record of it over 35 years later as he did his research for the Gospel of Luke. He is the only writer that included this story.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone
“36) And there was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years and had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37) and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers. 38) At that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.” Luke 2:36-38
The prophetess Anna had become a fixture in the temple. After seven years of marriage her husband died. There is no telling how old she was at the time. She was most likely in her early twenties.
At the time of this incident, she was 84 years old. It is safe to assume she had spent the past 60 years in the temple seeking God, praying, often fasting and serving wherever she could. Undoubtedly, she was highly respected and walked with God. Her life had not been wasted.
At the very moment that Jesus was being dedicated in the Temple, Anna approached and began praising God for the baby. She began proclaiming openly that the redeemer had come.
This was an example of Amos 3:7; “Surely the Lord God does nothing unless He reveals His secret counsel to His servants the prophets.” So it was in this case, Anna knew exactly what was unfolding that day in the temple.
Once again, more evidence and confirmation of the identity and mission of this child was piling up. The witness of Anna was so significant, that the historian Luke found record of it over 35 years later as he did his research for the Gospel of Luke. He is the only writer that included this story.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone
