The Gospel writer, Luke, wrote that Joseph and Mary took the newly born Jesus to the temple to fulfil the righteous requirements of the law which were about purification and dedication of the first born son. They travel to Jerusalem and come to the temple. Here they are, brand new parents who have had a rollercoaster 9-10 months. So much has changed for them. So many direct encounters of God who encouraged them to trust Him. And now, here they are at the temple.
Unbeknown to them two elderly and faithful prophetics were there, too. Simeon had been expectantly waiting for the Messiah. God had promised him many years before that he would see Israel’s Messiah before he died, and so, he had waited and waited and with each passing year as he felt his body slowly losing strength and energy, that promise grew stronger and stronger … “any day, now, any day …”, he may have wondered. The other prophet was Anna. Luke says she was the daughter of Penuel of the tribe of Asher, and that she was now 84 having been widowed just seven years into her marriage. She virtually lived at the temple worshipping and praying day and night, ministering unto the Lord. She was well-known and respected in the temple by hundreds of people …
These two elderly “watchers” (think Habakkuk awaiting the Lord’s word in his prayer place) were there when Joseph and Mary arrived with baby Jesus. These faithful pray-ers and prophetic watchers were just two of the hundreds coming and going that day – the temple was always a very busy place. Simeon approaches Joseph and Mary in the crowd and suddenly sees the Christ child and instantly he knows. He knows! This is the promised One! The Messiah – God has been faithful to His promise. Who can know, but Simeon, himself, of the joy of that moment that was so rich and deep as to eclipse all the years of waiting in faith … Simeon takes Jesus in his arms and prophesies concerning the Messiah and His ministry to all – Jews and Gentiles …
Luke 2:34-35 (NIV)
"This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too."
And that prophecy has proven true millions of times since.
Mary and Joseph are astounded. Then Anna approaches. Is she, too, drawn by Holy Spirit “at that very moment”, notes Luke? I think so – this is no coincidence. Anna is special. First, she has the spirtual dignity of a great woman of God and Luke sees her as being in the tradition of the great spiritual women in Israel’s history - Miriam, Deborah, Huldah, and Isaiah's wife are all called prophetesses (Exod 15:20; Judg 4:4; 2 Kgs 22:14; Isa 8:3). In Luke’s carefully constucted gospel account (he has taken great pains here) he balances the spiritual contributions of both male and female – there are thirteen man-woman parellels in Luke’s gospel. It is also significant that Anna is from a tribe of the Northern Kingdom. Thus Luke sees the Messiah as rooted in the history of all God’s people, Israel – not just the southern Judean tribes. But there is more here.
Anna is the one who first openly proclaims Jesus as the Messiah to the passing crowds in the temple that day …
Luke 2:38 (NIV)
“Coming up to them [Joseph and Mary] at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke [began speaking] about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.”
Did you spot that? She starts telling her fellow Jews in the temple right there and then that this baby was the Messiah. She’s the first evangelist! Luke portrays a momentous and magnificent moment in his infancy narrative at the start of his Gospel. It is incredibly poignant and moving, incredibly personal …
Two elderly prophetics, from the southern and northern kingdoms of Israel – that is, God sees one people, not two – are the only ones who see who Jesus really is. No one else passing by that day could possibly guess that their King and Messiah, the Messenger of a New Covenant was in their very midst. The Messiah had suddenly come to His temple as had been prophesied by the prophet Malachi over 400 years previously …
Malachi 3:1-3 (NIV)
"I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to His temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come," says the LORD Almighty. 2 But who can endure the day of His coming? Who can stand when He appears? For He will be like a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, …”
The Messiah is come. Immanuel, God is with us. Don’t miss Him in the busy crowd. Don’t pass by oblivious to His presence. Slow down and soak yourself in the story again and listen to the voice of the Spirit who inspired Luke to write.
Think on these things, immerse yourself in worship and praise as you contemplate again the true account of that “first Christmas” and appreciate all the more how all-pervading, all-inclusive and all-embracing is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Be blessed by the real Gospel this Christmas season.
Share its hope with all who will listen like Anna did.
Ps Milton
[Sources: various New Testament commentaries; Commentary by Prof. F. B. Meyer]