Monday, January 2, 2017

WOMEN OF CHRISTMAS - ANNA - INTERCESSOR, PROPHETESS, EVANGELIST

LUKE 2:25-40 – ANNA
INTERCESSOR, PROPHETESS, EVANGELIST

Simeon and Anna were elderly people who had anticipated the appearance of the Messiah for many years. Here are their stories.

Luke 2:25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.

John MacArthur Study Bible:
Consolation of Israel. A messianic title, evidently derived from verses like Is. 25:9; 40:1, 2; 66:1–11.

Isaiah 25:9 (ESV) It will be said on that day, “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us.
    This is the Lord; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”

Simeon means “obedient, listening” in Hebrew. Simeon definitely was an obedient listener, hearing the Holy Spirit. For us to be enabled to hear the Holy Spirit, we must be obedient listeners. We must listen intently and intentionally and be careful to obey all the Lord instructs us to do (Joshua 1:8). 

Luke 2:26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, 28 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,

Simeon heard the Spirit in his heart assuring him he would live to see the Messiah. Somehow the Spirit prompted him to go to the temple that very day and hour that Jesus was being dedicated.
There he saw baby Jesus in his parents’ arms and KNEW by the Spirit’s revelations this infant was the Son of GodHe was filled with hope, peace and comfort. Joy overwhelmed him as he took the Baby into his arms to bless him.

Luke 2:29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: 30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, 31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; 32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. 

Simeon now can rest because he not only believed that the Lord was in control, but he had seen that the Lord was in control.  He had been allowed to see the promised Hope, our freedom - the chain breaker, the One who delivers us from the prison of sin. He also acknowledged in his speech that Jesus was not for Israel alone. He was to make the message available to other nations, Gentiles included. Simeon referred to the Messiah as a light, and in the gospel of John, we saw that Jesus is The Light (John chapter 1). Jesus Himself said that He was The Light:

John 8:12 (ESV) Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 9:5 (ESV) As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

Simeon was serving the Lord as a prophet while holding the Son of God.

Luke 2:33 And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.

Mary and Joseph were receiving confirmation of all the angel had told them. Everything may have begun to make some semblance of sense. A total stranger had just come up to them praising God that he had now seen the Messiah, their baby!

Luke 2:34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; 35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

Jesus would have a polarizing effect on people. They would either recognize Him as the Messiah and be raised to walk with God, or they would reject Him and ultimately fall. That He would be a significant person, now seems to be a humongous understatement. Our entire western calendar revolves around Him. Granted, His life was unique, but one ordinary person can have a tremendous impact as well. I do not know how many days I have left, but I am determined to use my influence on behalf of God to the fullest extent of God’s ability within me. Exposing our secret thoughts is an intimidating and somewhat ominous proposition especially if we have not yet experienced God’s saving grace. Jesus makes our sin and failure apparent to us in order that we may see our need of Him and His availability to us when we surrender to Him.

Mary’s heart would be broken as she saw her innocent Son crucified. As the spear pierced the pericardium, her own heart would feel pierced as well because He was still her beloved Son even though He was the Messiah. However, we know the rest of the story, that she would see Him raised from the dead!

Luke 2:36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; 37 And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

Anna in Hebrew means “favor or grace, God has favored me”. God certainly favored Anna in allowing her to see the baby Savior. Anna’s husband died when they had been married only a brief timeWhat sustained Anna much of the time was not physical food, but prayer. She made the food for her spirit the priority rather than her physical appetite.
She served as an intercessor in the temple and had devoted her life to her Lord.

Luke 2:38 And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

At this point she was at least 84 years old. She, like Simeon, immediately knew that Jesus was the Messiah. Therefore, she must have been filled with the Holy Spirit as well. Her service in the temple was not out of duty, but out of love and relationship with the Lord.  Simeon was now ready to die and be with the Lord, but for Anna, it wasn’t time to go and rest even though she, too, was elderly. She now felt compelled to go and share the good news of this Messiah wrapped in the tender skin of a baby. At this point, she is an intercessor, prophetess, and evangelist!

Luke 2:39 And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth. 40 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him. 

After a brief sojourn in Egypt after the visit of the Magi (we will read about this in Matthew’s gospel), they returned to Nazareth where Joseph worked as a carpenter. Jesus had to grow up and get stronger just like any other child. He had to satiate His hunger, hydrate, and eliminate just like the rest of us. He had to obey His parents (those He created). He was fully human yet fully divine.

APPLY THIS TO YOUR LIFE:

1. Remember that Jesus came with the cross already in view. Incarnation is not only about a baby in a manger.

2. Are we expecting Jesus to break through the clouds as if it could be today? And are we excitedly anticipating His moving in our lives right now? Do we have the attitude of expectancy seen in Simeon and Anna?

3. No one knows how many days or years they have left to serve the Lord, but we can choose to live each moment with Jesus’ influence flowing through us in this life as Anna did.

4. Anna had lived with an appetite for the Lord. Once she met Him, she was rejuvenated to share about Him with everyone. This reminds us of many of the senior adults at the church we attend. Share the Good News today!

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