Watching for Jesus: Anna's Story

A man on a dark hillside pointing a flashlight up at the stars symbolic image of watching for Jesus. — I wonder as I wander out under the sky

I wonder as I wander

Shalom!

Welcome fellow ‘wonderers’.

If you’re the type that tends to wonder about things, you’re in the right place. For instance, I ‘wonder’ how long Anna waited to see the baby Jesus. I ‘wonder’ just how old Simeon was when he held the infant Messiah in his arms. I also ‘wonder’ what people thought of them and their sheer determination to see the Christ child, as elderly as they were.

Anna and Simeon are characters we hardly ever hear about. Yet the few sentences we have about them in scripture actually speak volumes about these two devout believers. If they were living today, they’d be the ones you would want to seek out for counsel in your Christian walk. Although they wouldn’t be particularly popular either, because of their deep reverence for God.

The following is part 1 of a 3-part series of little stories for thought and reflection on Christ and as we enter into the Christmas season. It also touches on His 2nd coming. The overarching theme is “Watching for Jesus”. I hope it will be a blessing to you.

The stage is set

Advent: (from Latin- adventus, which means “coming”)

This Christmas we celebrate the first advent of Christ while standing on the cusp of His second coming. Never have we been as close to the next stage of His marvelous plan.

Yet, for the most part, in that first nativity no one it would seem, was anticipating the Messiah. Ancient Palestine and most of the known world at that time was under the control of Rome. History records it as the “Pax Romana”, but in reality, it was peace by might. Bands of militant Jews called ‘zealots’ sought to overthrow the Romans and resisted their authority. So, there was a great deal of political tension.

All the while, at the temple in Jerusalem, an elderly widow is quietly watching for Jesus. Her name is Anna (Luke 2:36-38)—in Hebrew meaning “grace”.

Anna’s Story

Anna was a woman who had set her heart to know God and she lived righteously before Him. Like all her people, she watched the social and political developments of their day unfold; though Anna may have perceived them somewhat differently than most. God rewards faithfulness. As she reflected on the prophecies, He gave Anna the grace to know that His time was very near.

At some point, she showed up at the temple. From that moment on, the Bible says she never left, but stayed right there night and day worshipping with fasting and prayer. Remember, this is a woman in her 80’s.

How long had she lingered there? A whole year? Five months? A few weeks? She didn’t know the exact day or the hour, but in the deep recesses of her soul, she knew she had to be pretty close; so consumed with desire was she to see the infant Messiah.

And don’t you think people asked her what she was doing? Did they believe her or just write her off as ‘crazy’? The Jews had longed for the Messiah. It’s possible during the past couple hundred years (what theology calls “the silent years”) many had given up hope. A few generations had come and gone and now here was this old woman at the temple giving praise and glory to God.

Then, one day, Augustus Caesar ordered a census–for tax purposes– requiring everyone to travel to their hometown. Can’t you just hear the grumbling and complaining against Rome? For a newly married couple expecting a baby soon, it couldn’t have come at a worse time. Yet, it was because of Caesar’s decree that Joseph & Mary end up in Bethlehem, fulfilling Micah 5:2.

If you were Anna, you would have lived each day in anticipation. In accordance with the Jewish law, the parents of a male child–when he is 8 days old–are to bring him to the Temple to make purification and offering, and to dedicate him to the Lord. (Leviticus 12) So, if you were intent on seeing the baby Jesus, the temple was the place to be. And one day, that’s exactly what happened. When Mary and Joseph arrived at the temple, Anna was there!

And the Bible says “she spoke of Him to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem” (Luke 2:38) making her one of the first evangelists. So some people did get the message that the Messiah had come. Although it would still be another 30 years until Jesus would begin His ministry.