"Anna, a prophetess, was also there in the temple that day. She never left the temple, but stayed there night and day, worshiping God by praying and fasting. She came along when Mary and Joseph were talking to Simeon, and she also began thanking God and telling everyone in Jerusalem who had been awaiting the coming of the savior that the messiah had finally arrived." Luke 2:36-38 (TLB)
Joseph and Mary had brought the baby Jesus to the Temple, to fulfill the laws of Moses which required every first born male to be dedicated to the Lord. They also came to make a purity offering, after Mary had delivered the baby Jesus. In part one, we read how simeon was allowed to see the savior before simeon died. His steadfastness and his patience, along with his godly lifestyle, were why god allowed him this very special wish to be granted.
As simeon, mary, and joesph were talking, while simeon prophesized over the tiny baby, Anna came over and joined the conversation. She was a godly woman, giving herself over to constant prayer and fasting. She, too, had been eagerly praying for the Messiah to arrive. She is what us modern Christians would call a prayer warrior. She had also studied all the prophecies and was eagerly awaiting the arrival of the messiah. When the holy spirit in her heart confirmed just who this tiny baby was, she rushed out into the dry, dusty streets of Jerusalem, telling everyone she saw that the Messiah had arrived, and was in Jerusalem.
Because of the 400 year gap between the last prophet, Malachi, and the birth of the messiah, Jesus Christ, it is likely that many Jews, including some of the priests, had basically stopped expecting Jesus to show up. But two people, who had done their best to be blameless before Jehovah, had never stopped looking for him, and their faith was rewarded in a truly incredible way. God still honors godly men and women, who seek to please him and try to walk in his ways. He will continue to do so throughout all eternity.
Copyright 2007 Timothy E. Davis