ADVENT WEEK 3 ~ HOPE, PEACE, JOY, LOVE
Luke 2:36-40 "There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him."
41 days after Jesus was born in Bethlem- Joseph, Mary, and Jesus have come to the Temple in Jerusalem to present Jesus to the Lord and to offer the sacrifice required by the law. Jesus is among many children being offered. There are a large number of people making sacrifices for various reasons. Throngs of different spiritual traditions and rituals are being conducted. In the midst of the flurry of all this religious activity, Simeon - a man who knew God - who had heard God and understood what God was doing - came by the leading of the Holy Spirit - up to Joseph, Mary, and Jesus and declared that Mary’s child was the One he had been waiting for - the One through whom all peoples of the world were to blessed. The child born in Bethlehem - presented in the Temple - is the Savior of the world. Anna came up - undoubtedly led by God - and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
Anna understood Christmas - that Jesus has come - not just to fulfill prophecy - not just to open a door to heaven - but to change human hearts. That’s where God works - in our hearts - deep inside with who we really are. We find Anna - day and night - serving in the Temple. She’s fasting and praying - focused on deepening her relationship with God. She’s so in tune with who God is and what God is doing - that amidst all the crowding religious confusion of the Temple - only she and Simeon recognize Jesus for who He is ~ Savior ~ Emmanuel ~ God actually with us, both now and forever more. AMEN!
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