A Prophetess Among Us (Luke #7) - Bible Baptist Church

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Text: Luke 2:36-38

I understand why the Bible is boring and doesn’t make sense to most people. Many things that are said have a context in a culture you’re not familiar with. Now, that’s not an excuse. It’s your job to get excited about the Bible and love the words of God however you need to do that. These are God’s words and it’s your job to esteem them more than your necessary food. That isn’t God’s job and He won’t do that for you. That said, I do understand the predicament people find themselves in sometimes when trying to read without any contextual understanding. The verses we’re looking at today are such verses. There are details pointed out that without some understanding of Hebrew context and culture, these details mean nothing to an American reader.

That said, at 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. We would do well to listen to who the LORD points out by name as a notable person in history.

Anna the prophetess

Israel had not had a prophet for 400 years. And the first prophet to speak in the New Testament is not a prophet, but a prophetess.
Anna was a prophetess. There was no exclusion of women being able to speak under inspiration. In fact, that’s preferable to spreading rumors or lies. There were several women called prophetesses who prophesied. Women like Miriam, Deborah, Huldah, Isaiah’s wife, Philipp’s four daughters, and Anna are all called prophetesses. Jezebel called herself a prophetess but was not. Anna was called a prophetess. According to the LORD, this was her occupation, and better yet, this was who she was.
Now, prophecy itself has a very narrow application in scripture. It is defined as the testimony of Jesus, this is the spirit of prophecy. Statements about Jesus Christ and his work are prophetic statements and no prophecy of scripture is of any private interpretation because these are pronouncements about Jesus Christ. So prophecy is not about the United States of America. Prophecy is not about end times. In fact, the only thing that makes the end times the end times is the fact that Jesus Christ is returning. That’s what makes it the end of the world and the beginning of something new. So when Anna was called a prophetess, it meant she spoke of the LORD Jesus Christ. That’s clear in verse 38.
This inspiration shouldn’t be unique with Anna though. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God. That’s an instruction for a Christian.
What is it that comes out of your mouth? It’s whatever is abundant in your heart. Some of you may say you don’t know enough to speak on Biblical matters. Let’s be honest. The issue isn’t that you don’t know, it’s that you don’t care enough about Biblical things to know them.
Anna is a prophetess because her heart desires the glory of God. She wasn’t born a prophetess. She became one because she cared about the things of God.

Anna of the tribe of Asher

Second point, as mentioned before, there are many things said in the Bible that a Jewish person would understand much better than an outsider like you and I.
Anna is the daughter of Phanuel who is of the tribe of Asher. It may not matter to you, but it matters to the LORD and someone who knows better. What makes this significant? Two things are significant here.
- First, Asher was a tribe in the northern part of Israel, in the region known as Galilee, which was considered a filthy place by Jewish leadership in Jerusalem. This leadership would ignorantly say there is no such thing as a prophet out of Galilee. Jonah was from Galilee. Many of the apostles would be from Galilee. Jesus himself would grow up in Galilee. And here, Anna, after 400 years of Israel being without a prophet, she is the prophetess from Galilee. Where you come from doesn’t determine who you are. Being raised in a Christian home doesn’t make you Christian, nor does being raised by godless people make you godless.
- Secondly, Anna is from the northern part of Israel as we said. Why is she living in Jerusalem, which is in the southern part of Israel? It means that she moved to Jerusalem for the purpose of religious reasons. Particularly waiting for the Messiah. Would you be willing to move just for the sake of staying close to the LORD? I notice Jesus saying this often to people. The invitation to follow him during his ministry was an invitation to uproot yourself from your plans and let him take the lead.

Anna loved the LORD’s house

…departed not from the temple…
Anna chose to be the keeper of the Lord’s house. She was there because it was God’s house. She attended to the things of the LORD because they belonged to the LORD.
Anna 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 under the judgment of God as Gentiles ruled the land. But she stayed in the temple because it was God’s house! She is consistent because she loves the LORD and His things. What’s caused you to depart from God’s house? Maybe you’re here this morning, but you’re not here. You made your appearance.
It’s time to take care of God’s house. When will you make God’s house your priority? Anna is remembered because she made God’s house her business.

Anna was a prayerful widow

How does Anna take care of God’s business? She lives a mortified life, a crucified life. She made her life a prayer to God.
Anna prays and fasts night and day. What a prayer warrior!
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.
It is very clear that as a saint gets older, prayer becomes the ministry that God has for them. She served God with prayer and fasting. This is what trusting in God looked like.
Do you know why you don’t pray? Because you don’t trust the LORD. If you believed the LORD would answer your prayers, you’d pray.

Anna preached Jesus

Notice she speaks of Christ to all who look for redemption in Jerusalem. She preaches redemption in Jesus Christ. Anna doesn’t preach Moses, she preached Jesus.
The Redeemer has a history
Job 19:25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
Psalms 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
Isaiah 47:4 As for our redeemer, the LORD of hosts is his name, the Holy One of Israel.
Jeremiah 50:34 Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is his name: he shall throughly plead their cause, that he may give rest to the land, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon.
Luke 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.