Lk 2:22-24, 36-38 – Anna’s story (sermon notes)
(This is a slightly revised version of a short talk that was first drafted many years ago)
Text: Luke 2:22-24, 36-38
Some 80 years before a certain baby boy was cradled in a manger in Bethlehem, a little girl was born just a few miles away. No doubt she was her parent’s pride and joy. And no doubt she was strong, active and healthy. Anyway, in due course, she grew up and fell in love with the man of her dreams. They married, and she must have thought that they would live happily ever after. But within a few short years, her husband died. She was left, bereaved, lonely, poverty-stricken.
Anna never did marry again. But in her loneliness and sadness she had learned to trust God. He would sometimes speak to her in special ways, and she would tell other people what the Lord had said to her. Especially, he told her about the One who was to come; a Rescuer, a Redeemer, a Messiah. And every day, you would find her in the temple in Jerusalem, worshiping, fasting, praying, waiting.
The years rolled by. As Anna grew older and frailer, you might have thought that would have given up hope. But she never did.
Then, one day, when she was in the temple as usual, she spotted a little family of three: a mother, a father, and their new-born son. They had brought him up to Jerusalem to dedicate him to the Lord, and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with the law. Nothing unusual about that. But when Anna saw the baby, the Holy Spirit whispered in her ear:
It’s him! It’s him! It’s him!
She almost jumped and danced for joy. In that moment, her prayers of longing were turned to songs of thankfulness: “Thankyou for sending the Saviour; thankyou for letting me see him; thankyou for answering my prayers; thankyou for keeping your promises, even though I have had to wait so long.”
Of course, she couldn’t keep it to herself. Some she spoke to rejoiced with her. Like her, they had been waiting for the kingdom of God, for the consolation of Israel, for the redemption of Jerusalem.
And that’s all we know about Anna. Or is it? To be sure, this dear woman soon reached the end of her life and was laid to rest. And the baby she had joyfully greeted became a child, and the child became a man. And those who hated the light tortured him and put him to death. And it stands written that as he died, a supernatural darkness covered the land; and the curtain of the temple was ripped in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook, and the rocks split, and the tombs were also opened. And many bodies of holy people who had fallen asleep were raised, and they came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection, entered the holy city, and appeared to many.
And I wonder – could it be? That Anna herself was given one more opportunity to witness to the Redeemer who had now completed his work; to the Messiah for whom she had waited so long; to the One who had finally conquered death itself.
We can’t know for sure. But we do know…
…that Anna’s joy can be our joy, as we join with her in heralding his coming.
…that Anna’s faith can be our faith, as like her we trust in God, who keeps all his promises!
…that Anna’s hope can be our hope, as we eagerly anticipate our Lord’s return, not as a child cradled in a manger, but as King of kings and Lord of lords!