The Messiah Anna Longed For

Isaiah 25:6-10a The Lord of Hosts will prepare a feast
for all the peoples on this mountain—
a feast of aged wine, choice meat, finely aged wine.
⁷ On this mountain
He will destroy the burial shroud,
the shroud over all the peoples,
the sheet covering all the nations;
⁸ He will destroy death forever.
The Lord God will wipe away the tears
from every face
and remove His people’s disgrace
from the whole earth,
for the Lord has spoken.

⁹ On that day it will be said,
“Look, this is our God;
we have waited for Him, and He has saved us.
This is the Lord; we have waited for Him.
Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.”
¹⁰ For the Lord’s power will rest on this mountain.

As in many prophecies, the timing of this one is two-fold. Jesus conquered death and death’s power on that mountain, on Calvary, when he rose from the dead.

But the destruction of death comes at the end of time as we know it. Rather than simply conquered, death at that time will be eliminated from the life equation. No more will the pain of separation and loss color our days.

Especially in the early years, there had to be times that Anna sorely missed her husband. Yes, she had God and her faith. She even had people who looked out for her, respected her, and at best, actually liked her. But she no longer had another human being dedicated to her, linked to her welfare, or simply there. That empty space would not be filled in her lifetime.

But looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem meant looking to hers as well.

In the destruction of death, she would see her husband again. But even greater, she would live in the light and salvation of her God!