The Messiah Anna Longed For

Who Was Anna

In the gospel of Luke, she has three verses describing her. Only three verses, but through them and the Scriptures that describe what it meant to be a godly Jewish woman, we can get to know this beautiful woman after God’s own heart.

And through her, we can learn why she so longed to see her Messiah.

Luke 2:36-38 New King James Version

Anna Bears Witness to the Redeemer

Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

So what facts do these verses spell out about Anna?

  1. She was a prophetess.
  2. She was a widow.
  3. She was at least eighty-four years old.
  4. She came from the tribe of Asher.
  5. She lived in the temple.
  6. She was a prayer warrior.
  7. She fasted regularly.
  8. She was a woman of God.
  9. She descended from Abraham.
  10. She was a sinner in need of a Messiah.

Over the next sixty days, we will get to know Anna. May we love and long for Jesus as she did!

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