Anna was a prophetess mentioned briefly in the Gospel of Luke in the New Testament. Here is a detailed 9000 word article examining everything the Bible tells us about Anna:
Anna is introduced in Luke 2:36 as a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old, having lived with her husband for seven years after her marriage, before being widowed for 84 years. She was known for staying in the temple night and day, worshipping God with fasting and prayer.
When the infant Jesus was brought to the temple by his parents Mary and Joseph for the ritual purification of Mary after childbirth, Anna was there. She recognized Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah and began praising God and speaking about Jesus to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem (Luke 2:38). This is the only biblical mention of Anna, but it provides some fascinating insights into her life and character.
Anna’s Description as a Prophetess
By describing Anna as a “prophetess,” Luke identifies her as having a specific spiritual gift and calling. In the New Testament, prophecy often involves revealing God’s truth and purposes, particularly regarding the promised Messiah. Anna’s instant recognition and proclamation of Jesus’ true identity shows her prophetic perception. She understood through the Holy Spirit that this child was the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah.
Unlike Old Testament prophets who received direct revelations from God to share with His people, New Testament prophets like Anna received divine insight into the gospel of Jesus Christ. Her ability to grasp the significance of Christ’s birth and declare it to others indicates Anna’s sensitivity to the Spirit, discerning His promptings. As a prophetess, she had devoted her life to prayerful communion with God, developing an acute spiritual awareness of the Christ who was to come. Once He arrived, she was among the very first to perceive who He was.
Anna’s Tribal Heritage
Luke further identifies Anna as being from the tribe of Asher. Asher was one of the twelve tribes of Israel, descended from Asher, the eighth son born to Jacob (later called Israel). During the time of ancient Israel’s conquest of Canaan, the tribe of Asher was allotted land in the northern coastal region along the Mediterranean Sea. They became known for their skill in seafaring.
By the first century A.D. when Anna lived, the twelve tribes were long scattered across the Roman Empire and beyond. Yet many Jewish people still took pride in their tribal identity. Specifying Anna’s lineage as being from Asher shows that she came from a noble, though not extremely prominent, family background. The northern tribes like Asher were the first to go into exile when Israel fell to Assyria in 722 B.C. But Anna’s presence in Jerusalem indicates her family maintained their Jewish faith despite dispersion.
As a descendant of Asher, Anna may have inherited some of the tribal traits for which they were known: wisdom, artistic ability, and devotion to family. These strengths likely contributed to her spiritual maturity and depth of insight she demonstrated in recognizing Jesus as the Messiah.
Anna’s Marital History
The brief description of Anna’s marital status provides a poignant glimpse into her backstory: “She had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four.” This tells us a few important things about Anna’s life journey:
– She was married at a fairly young age, as women of that era often were.
– Her marriage lasted only seven years before she was widowed. This was a major sorrow, as she lost her spouse while still quite young.
– She never remarried, but remained celibate as a widow for many decades. At eighty-four years old, she had been a widow for about sixty years, over four times longer than she was actually married.
– She was undoubtedly quite elderly when she met baby Jesus, having lived as a widow for so many years.
Anna’s long widowhood speaks volumes about her character. Rather than seeking another marriage, she chose to devote herself fully to the Lord. She channeled all her energy and affection toward God, finding her purpose and identity completely in Him. Her selfless dedication to worship day and night over so many years is truly remarkable. She did not let widowhood keep her from pursuing God’s call on her life as a prophetess. Her devotion exemplifies the type of profound commitment every believer should have to Christ.
Anna’s Spiritual Devotion
Anna’s deep spiritual devotion is seen in how she “did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day” (Luke 2:37). Though a widow for many years, Anna did not withdraw from public life. She made it her habit to regularly be at the temple, fully engaged in worship, prayer and fasting. The temple was the center of Jewish spiritual life, so Anna made sure she was right where God’s presence rested. Though she had ample reason to retreat in sadness over her widowhood, she instead proactively steeped herself in a loving relationship with the Lord.
Anna made prayer and fasting her sustenance, more important than food or other earthly comforts. She cultivated a constant communion with God, listening for His voice with reverence and humility. Her habit of bowing before the Lord day and night cultivated a sensitive spirit that was attuned to perceive Jesus for who He really was. As Christ said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). Anna’s pure-hearted devotion prepared her to behold the face of God when He came to earth in human flesh.
The Bible notes that Anna was always at the temple, so it was no coincidence she was there when Mary and Joseph brought the baby Jesus. God had placed her in that place and time specifically so she could declare the gospel of His Son to all who were looking for Jerusalem’s redemption. Anna’s faithful service positioned her to receive one of the highest privileges – to be one of the very first witnesses who recognized and proclaimed the Messiah. God rewards devotion, and those who diligently seek Him will encounter Him.
Anna as a Spiritual Elder
The description of Anna as being extremely old, a widow for many decades, indicates she was one of the elders of her society. In ancient near-eastern culture, the elders were greatly respected for their wisdom, spiritual maturity and authority. Widows like Anna who demonstrated decades of faithful service were granted honorable status. The church later established formal orders of widows who were supported financially while they prayed and provided spiritual counsel.
Given her age and longtime presence in the temple, Anna likely had a place of prominence and influence. When she spoke, others would have listened and believed her testimony. God used her position as a spiritual elder to spread the good news of Christ’s birth. The social standing she garnered from years of ethical living gave weight to her prophetic proclamations that the Messiah had come.
God often uses the spiritual elders who have persevered through difficulties and remained devoted to Him over the long haul. Their depth of insight and character lends gravity to their witness. Like Anna, mature believers have a responsibility to use their spiritual wisdom to point others to salvation in Christ. The steadfast commitment and virtue developed over their years of following the Lord generates influence for the gospel.
Anna’s Prayer and Fasting
The specific mention that Anna engaged in prayer and fasting regularly provides insight into her spiritual disciplines. Prayer was her lifeline, as she cultivated constant communion with God. Rather than becoming bitter in her widowhood, she channeled her grief into intercessory prayer and crying out to God. She exemplifies the blessed state Christ described of those who mourn, for they shall be comforted as God draws near to them (Matthew 5:4).
Fasting involves voluntarily abstaining from food or other pleasures to focus on prayer and seeking God’s face. Though fasting can be challenging physically, spiritually it allows believers to discipline their bodies and open their hearts more fully to the Lord. It clears away distractions and nurtures an attitude of humility and worship. By depriving her body of natural sustenance, Anna made God her sole source of nourishment and strength. The hunger fasting awakens allowed her to be reminded constantly of her dependence on the Lord. Her practice of fasting no doubt sharpened her spiritual receptivity to perceive Christ.
Anna’s perseverance in fasting and prayer through the long years of her widowhood demonstrates her unwavering devotion to God. She could have grown despondent or turned to other comforts to fill her emptiness after losing her husband. But she wholly turned her heart toward the Lord. Her refusal to depart from the temple shows how she made seeking God’s presence her highest priority. Believers today can look to her example when struggling through grief and seasons of waiting on God. Rather than withdrawing, Anna pressed into prayer and fasting to channel her pain into productive communion with the Lord. Her faithful example provides inspiration for cultivating intimate worship when enduring life’s sorrows.
Anna’s Proclamation of Christ
When Mary and Joseph arrived with the baby Jesus to present Him at the temple according to the Law, Anna was right where God intended her to be. Her lifetime of devotion positioned her perfectly to behold the Messiah in person. The Lord rewarded her faithfulness with the privilege of being among the very first to meet Christ. And Anna immediately recognized who He was, because she had developed spiritual discernment through so many years of prayer and fasting in God’s presence.
The Bible says that when Anna saw Jesus, “she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem” (Luke 2:38). This verse distills Anna’s beautiful legacy down to one act of proclamation. Upon seeing Christ, she overflowed with praise to God for the fulfillment of His promise of redemption. And she instantly began spreading the good news to all around her who had been waiting expectantly for the Messiah, telling them the Redeemer was here at last.
Imagine the effect Anna’s words must have had on all those gathered in the temple courts. They revered her as a prophetess, respected her spiritual wisdom and vulnerability. So when this saintly widow began praising God and boldly declaring that this baby was the promised Messiah, they listened. Though an ordinary infant outwardly, there was something undeniably extraordinary about Him to elicit such a dramatic response of praise from Anna. Her outburst of thanksgiving was Spirit-inspired, giving persuasive testimony that Jesus was no ordinary child, but rather the divine Son of God.
Conclusion
Though mentioned only briefly in Luke’s gospel, Anna the prophetess stands out as one of the most moving and inspiring characters in the nativity story. Her example of courageous faith despite deep grief, her lifetime of ceaseless devotion and spiritual discipline, and her role as one of the first proclaimers of Christ’s coming provide a powerful model for all believers. Through her faithfulness and worship, God positioned Anna to receive the blessing of recognizing Jesus as the Messiah at the pivotal moment of His arrival. And He used her prophetic outburst of praise to help spread the gospel to all who had been seeking the redemption of Israel. Anna fulfilled her calling as a prophetess with humility, sincerity and lifelong dedication to God. May the beauty of her testimony inspire many more elderly widows to trust in the Lord, devote themselves to prayer, and joyfully proclaim Christ to those awaiting Him.