Just The Edge of God

Anna the Prophetess

In the grand scheme of the divine narrative, Anna was pivotal in announcing Jesus Christ. A poor woman, she prophesied the coming King of Kings. Her faith and devotion stood as a powerful symbol of hope, inspiring everyone who crossed her path. In Luke 2: 36-38, MSG, “Anna the prophetess was there, a daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher. She had become an aging woman, married for seven years and a widow for eighty-four. She never left the temple space, worshipping night and day with fasting and praying. When Simeon prayed in the temple, she showed up, broke into an anthem of praise to God, and spoke of the child to anyone waiting for Jerusalem’s freeing.” This outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Anna and Simeon was an everlasting testament to God’s love. She spoke and sang an anthem of praise to God, rejoicing in the privilege of witnessing the birth of the Messiah, the promised King. Simeon and Anna expected God to display something so big the Holy Spirit had to announce this monumental moment by stirring their spirits. Something incredible happened, and the saints proclaimed the coming. Yet, the announcement kept hidden until the exact time when Mary and Joseph appeared at the temple to celebrate Jesus’s circumcision (Bris in Hebrew).