Scripture Sisters: Anna by Katie

Scripture Sisters is an ongoing series about women in the Bible that you may or may not have learned about. To read past posts visit: Haggar, Miriam.

Who was she?

Tucked away in a few verses at the beginning of Luke’s Gospel, we find the short but beautiful story of Anna the Prophetess. Only three small but powerful verses tell us all the information we have about Anna:

“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, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 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.” [Luke 2: 36-38]

Here, the Bible provides a quick snapshot into a rich history that includes a woman in high religious standing who experiences grief, grace, and an encounter with God in human form.

How did the Lord use her?

Anna’s story is significant for many reasons, but I find it incredibly compelling that she is first identified by her role as a prophet. So often in the Bible, women - if they are named at all - are noted first (and sometimes only) by their relationship to a man. While this passage does tell us who Anna’s father is, that is not her primary function. Instead, she is identified first by her relationship with God and her role as a servant in His kingdom.

From that first identification marker, Anna’s story only serves to glorify God even more. She has been a widow for most of her life, and yet she never leaves the house of worship. Her whole life is dedicated to serving God -  fasting and praying and meeting with Him in the temple.

And now, she gets to meet Him face to face. While Jesus is still an infant, Anna has and seizes an opportunity to praise Him in person, giving Him thanks and then turning around to tell everyone else about Him as well.

While we don’t have any particular details about Anna’s ministry, these God-breathed Scriptures about her show that her steady and sure commitment to glorifying God did not go unnoticed by the King of Kings.

What can we learn from her?

If anything, I think Anna’s story teaches us what a quiet but committed life can do for the kingdom of God. We meet Anna in this story when she is already eighty-four years old. So many things must have happened in her life already. We know that she lost her husband just a few short years after they were married and we know that she delivers prophecies for the Lord. But Anna still has not stopped. Even in her old age, she is still committed to fasting, praying, and being in the temple to worship her Lord and Savior.

Beyond that, when Anna realizes her Savior is there in the flesh, she immediately goes to meet Him. And in that moment, when she is face to face with God as a baby and His earthly family, she does not petition Jesus for anything. She comes with no needs, only gratitude. All she wants is to give thanks to God. And after she does, she proceeds to tell everyone around her that the redemption of their land is coming, their Savior is here.

Anna’s life is a reminder of so much. She teaches that a life lived for God is never wasted. She shows us the importance of gratitude and stability. She lets us know that the work of glorifying God never ends, and that there are no barriers that prevent us from serving Him. Anna knows that life is not about making headlines, but rather, it is about being obedient.

Katie is a first year student from Mississippi and is currently studying Ministry Leadership. She is excited to see what God has to teach her during her time at Southeastern. Katie loves naps, cheese, and Captain America.