And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. (Luke 2:38 ESV)
Right on the heels of the incredible blessing of Simeon who had long awaited the arrival of God’s promised Messiah, we meet a prophetess named Anna. As this faithful woman arrives in the Temple, it is clear that she is a woman who faithfully loved and served God. The Scripture tells us that “she did not depart from the temple, worshipping with fasting and prayer night and day” (see Luke 2:37). What an incredibly beautiful picture of love and devotion to God!
This woman who was “advanced in years,” begins to give thanks to God and to speak of him (Jesus) to everyone who had gathered in the Temple. I’d like to state the obvious: Christmas and the Biblical truth we find within the incarnation should lead to an attitude of gratitude, praise, thanks, and worship. If the birth of Jesus doesn’t get you excited, perhaps you’ve lost sight of this critical truth: Without the incarnation, all of us would still be dead in our sins, doomed to continue walking in spiritual darkness, and destined to be separated from our Creator for eternity.
If you go back and read through the first two chapters of Luke, a beautiful, eclectic picture begins to emerge. People of all ages, all walks of life, all experience levels, all backgrounds, and all religious journeys begin to flock to God’s Messiah. What Anna did was instructive to us, she began to “speak of him” to “all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.” Both Simeon and Anna, along with countless others of God’s faithful remnant, were longing for the fulfillment of God’s promises to Abraham, David, and to both Israel and the world.
Centuries of God’s promises through the prophets found their fulfillment in the birth of Jesus God’s Messiah. Anna couldn’t help but give thanks to God and to tell everyone about Jesus! We can only begin to imagine what this prophetess proclaimed that day at the Temple. We can only begin to imagine what Scriptures she must have joyfully proclaimed to the faithful who had been waiting for God’s promises to come to pass. I would remind you that all the Scripture is one long story that points to Jesus. As Paul proclaims it about Jesus: For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. (2 Corinthians 1:20 ESV)
Today we have the joy of living on the other side of the incarnation and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We have more to give thanks to God for than Simeon, Anna, or all those who had waited so long for the consolation of Israel. This Christmas season, I hope you’ll prayerfully and humbly examine your own heart. Do you have a heart filled with thanks because of the incredible gift of Jesus? Do you share your faith with others and proclaim the true reason for this season? If not, my prayer is that God would stir your heart so that you might stand in awe before Him because of the incredible story of redemption that only He could write.
Heavenly Father, thank You. Eternity won’t be long enough for us to properly give thanks for the incredible work You accomplished in the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Lord, help our hearts to be filled with thanks this Christmas season. Help us step into Your call on our lives in the Great Commission as we proclaim the hope we have in You. Hep us to worship you with fasting and prayer as we give thanks for Your incredible love and faithfulness. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.
