The Redemption of Jerusalem
Today’s Passage: Luke 2:36–38
Focus Verse: She gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. (Luke 2:38)
As Simeon concludes his praise, blessing, and prophecy, another witness arrives.
Her name is Anna. Luke refers to her as the daughter of Penuel, from the tribe of Asher. She’s also a widow—she had only been married for seven years when her husband died. That’s all we know about her.
Some translations of the Bible say she’s now eighty-four years old. Others say she’s been a widow for eighty-four years. This would make her over one hundred. But either way she’s old, very old as Luke writes.
While Luke applauds Simeon for his faith, he affirms Anna for her dedication. Both are noteworthy examples for us to follow.
Luke says that Anna never leaves the temple, worshiping God all day long and throughout the night. She spends all her time fasting and praying.
This, of course, is an overstatement that Luke gives to emphasize her devout character. She can’t always be at the temple, worshiping around the clock, and never eating or leaving to attend to other needs.
Luke exaggerates these characteristics to make a point. He wants to be sure we know Anna focuses her entire being on God.
She’s a devout woman who has dedicated her life to the Almighty, spending as much time as possible in the temple, fasting, praying, and worshiping.
That’s dedication.
Spiritually, Anna spends her time with Father God. And now, Anna physically sees Jesus and spends time with him. She recognizes him as the promised Savior the prophets spoke of and that the people have been expecting for centuries.
Like Simeon, Anna praises God that she’s lived long enough to see the Messiah, even though Jesus is an infant. And, like the shepherds eight days earlier, she shares her excitement with everyone.
After a lifetime of devotion to God, Anna receives an earthly reward by seeing Jesus. And her heavenly reward will be to live with him forever—along with the rest of his church (John 3:15).
Questions:
Like Anna, God invites us to focus on him, but do we?
Though we no longer need to look forward to Jesus coming to save us, do we look forward to living with Jesus forever after we die?
Prayer: Show us, Lord, how to live a life dedicated to you. May you receive all that we do as an act of worship. And may others see our words and actions as a witness that points them to you.
[This devotional is taken from the December 31 reading from The Advent of Jesus.]
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Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront a status quo faith and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
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