Anna (Christmas Devotion) - Bible Baptist Church

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Anna’s devotion

Text: Luke 2:36-38

In the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ we are probably familiar with the shepherds, the wise men, Mary, and Joseph, but Anna is a lady that doesn’t make it in the manger scene. She is there when Jesus Christ is a baby and brought to the temple. There’s not a lot written about Anna, but there is much said about Anna in what is written.

Anna devotes herself to the Lord (vs 36)

Anna married very early in her life, but her husband died after 7 years of marriage. She has probably been a widow for 60 years.
Widowed early but never gave into temptation to hurry into another relationship. She learned to love the Lord first
1 Timothy 5:11-13

Anna’s devotion to the house of the Lord (vs 37)

…departed not from the temple…
Anna chooses to be the keeper of the Lord’s house instead of keeper of another man’s house. She treats the Lord like He is her husband.
She was there because it was God’s house. If you love God, you love the things of God.
She knew the old testament, the scriptures. She knew the religious leadership in Israel was apostate. She knew the Pharisees were a bunch of hypocrites. She knew Israel was was under the judgment of God as Gentiles ruled the land. But she stayed in the temple because it was God’s house.

Anna devotes her time (vs 37)

Fastings and prayer day and night
1 Timothy 5:5 Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.

Anna devotes her conversation to the Lord (vs 38)

Anna is a prophetess. That means she had a reputation for giving good godly counsel like Deborah who is a prophetess in the old testament.
Notice she speaks of Christ to all who look for redemption in Jerusalem
Job 19:25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
Psalm 49:1-15
Isaiah 47:4 As for our redeemer, the LORD of hosts is his name, the Holy One of Israel. The book of Isaiah is full of verses that describe the Lord Jesus Christ as the redeemer.
Hosea 13:14 I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes. Cited by Paul in Corinthians, O death where is thy sting? O grave where is thy victory? Death is swallowed up in victory.
Romans 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. Saved souls have the spirit of adoption, but not the body of adoption.
Galatians 4:5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.