Birth Of Christ Part 2

But we are not quite finished at the dedication yet there is still one who must enter the scene and here she comes.

Luke 2:36-38

“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.” (NIV)

Luke is noted for his detail (see Luke Chapter 3:1&2). And he gives us quite a lot in three verses.

Anna was a prophetess, one who exercised the prophetic gift. Prophets are used to reveal God’s will to men, foretelling the coming of Messiah, and predicting coming events. Note: As we have studied, a true prophet of God is 100% accurate in their predictions.

Anna is of the tribe of Asher, one of the lesser-known, less powerful tribes.

She was old, or very old. Two of the Bibles I checked have footnotes which say an alternate reading is that she was a widow for eighty-four years

Eighty four was very old in Biblical times. (And the alternate reading would make her 84+7 years married + at least 16 years old at time of wedding = 107.)

She never left the temple, she was devoted to worship, fasting and praying night and day. Today she would be called a fanatic. God would call her devoted.

She came up to them just at the minute Simeon had finished prophesying.

But did not prophesy herself, instead she praised God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Israel.

Can you just see her going around in the temple proclaiming that this child is Messiah, the promised One?

How this must have scared and at the same time encouraged Mary and Joseph. Such a big unexpected amount of attention at Jesus dedication.

We will conclude with verse 39

“When Joseph and Mary had done everything required of the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.”

So here we see that right from the very beginning everything concerning the Law was accomplished in Jesus life. And as He comes of age He will do what no other had ever done before—live a perfect life under the law, in full compliance with all of it, every jot and tittle. And thus we will see Him do that which He said he would do in Matthew 5:17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”

Living a perfect life under the Law makes Him the perfect one, and the only one able to sacrifice His life for us on the cross. Thank God Jesus fulfilled the Law.