Embedded Files
Anna
Faithful servant of God - Evangelist & Prophetess
In the gospel of Luke, in three small verses we learn of a lifetime of faithful dedication and prayer of Anna. Anna is the only prophetess mentioned by name in the New Testament and one of only a handful of female prophets in the entire Bible.
In today’s study, we will look at one of the moments we called out in our study of Mary, mother of Jesus. When Jesus was old enough to be taken to the temple for purification and dedication of the firstborn, Mary and Joseph are greeted by Simeon and also Anna. Simeon’s words are recorded, Anna’s are not. However, we are told about what she did.
Let’s Read;
Let’s Read;
36 There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four.[a] She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
Hebrew/Greek Word of Interest - Anna’s name
Hebrew/Greek Word of Interest - Anna’s name
1. Greek name Ἄννα (Anna), which is derived from the Hebrew name Hannah or Channah, meaning "grace" or "favor".
Let’s Discuss:
Let’s Discuss:
What was Anna like?
What was Anna like?
From the passage we know:
From the passage we know:
She was elderly (possibly 105)
She was widowed after 7 years of marriage, and never remarried.
She was a strong woman of faith who served God in the temple, praying and fasting - she lived at the temple or nearby to be in constant service.
Anna was led by the Holy Spirit.
God rewarded her by ensuring that she saw the redemption of humanity/the world.
What other characteristics can you ascribe to Anna?
Do you know someone who has been like Anna to you personally or to the church?
How did this person display characteristics of Anna? In what ways?
What did Anna do “at that very moment” in the text?
What was “that very moment”?
What was the first thing she did?
What was the next thing she did? Whom did she speak about Jesus to?
How is Anna an example for us?
How can we be like Anna?
Can we share her hope? We aren’t waiting for him…. (Jesus has come!)
How are we reminded through Anna’s story how God sees us, how God sees you?
Good to Know:
Anna was from a lost tribe of Asher. Why would this be an important detail?
After the reign of Solomon, son of David, the nation of Israel was divided into two kingdoms. The Judah, the tribe of Benjamin and Judah in the south, and Israel, ten tribes in the North. The Levites didn’t own land so are not mentioned in either South or North, but some would be preserved as they maintained the temple in Jerusalem.
Simeon was either one of the temple priests/Levite, or Simeon ben Hillel, from the tribe of Benjamin. He was from the Southern Kingdom.
Anna was from a lost tribe of Asher from the Northern Kingdom. The following quote highlights the significance of both Simeon and Anna acknowledging Jesus as the Messiah!
QUOTE:
“Luke thus presents … a moment of wholeness of the Jewish people, in which the Messiah is received and recognized by both sides of the divide that had occurred centuries before. In times when the pain of division, misunderstanding, and confusion seem so widespread, she (Anna) is a reminder to us that hope, healing, and reconciliation are possible.” Rev. Alisha Riepma, pastor of St. John’s Reformed Church in Red Hook, New York.
Resources on Anna:
Branch, Robin Gallaher, ‘Anna in the Bible: Luke reveals the prophetess as a Biblical model for aging’, Biblical Archaeology Society, Washington DC, BAS, 2020,
https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/people-cultures-in-the-bible/people-in-the-bible/anna-in-the bible/, (accessed January 26, 2021).
Why it was important that Anna was from the tribe of Asher. https://aleteia.org/2018/09/01/why-its-important-especially-today-that-anna-was-from-the-tribe-of-asher/
Israel divided. https://www.thechurchnews.com/1994/7/16/23256798/israel-divided-into-two-kingdoms
Prophetesses in the Bible: https://www.neverthirsty.org/bible-qa/qa-archives/question/prophetesses-in-the-bible/
To download a copy of this lesson: Click Here
Page updated
Report abuse