Sermons

December 15, 2019

Luke 2:36-40

These verses tell us Anna, a prophetess, was in the Temple—she was very old…she never left the Temple but stayed there night and day, worshiping God by praying and often fasting.  She came along as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph and began thanking God and telling everyone in Jerusalem who had been awaiting the coming of the Savior that the Messiah had finally arrived.  Prophets and prophetesses did not necessarily predict the future.  Their main role was to speak for God, proclaiming his truth.  Apparently there is a gap of several years between verses 38 and 40—ample time for Mary and Joseph to take a house in Bethlehem, flee to Egypt to escape Herod’s wrath, and return to Nazareth when it was safe to do so.  Verse 40 says:  there the child (Jesus) became a strong, robust lad, and was known for wisdom beyond his years; and God poured out his blessings on him.