Found notes….4…preparing for Christmas…7

Anna

 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”

Luke.2.22-24

Here is this young couple bringing their first child to the temple…and two people meet them, Simeon and Anna…

Mary and Joseph in obedience to the law given in the Old Testament…   

 “And when the days of her purifying are completed, whether for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the entrance of the tent of meeting a lamb a year old for a burnt offering, and a pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering, and he shall offer it before the Lord and make atonement for her. Then she shall be clean from the flow of her blood. This is the law for her who bears a child, either male or female. And if she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be clean.”

Lev.12.6-8

I have been a widow for 12 1/2 years now…I bring that up because another person prepared for Christmas was a long time widow, 60 plus years…from a young woman to her elder years…

Anna—

*We know her name means “ grace”…Grace was given her to see this baby, whom she recognized as the Messiah…

*She is from the tribe of Asher…

“The name Asher means “happy” or “blessed.” Scripture doesn’t tell us if Asher was a pleasant child or a troublesome child. With his name meaning “happy”, he may have been an easy going child. Our names don’t always fit with our personalities. However, we do learn in the Bible that Asher was known for his wisdom. Before Jacob died, he gave blessings to each of his twelve sons, with varying meanings.” Biblestudytools.com

*Her father’s name was Phanuel, which means ..

“Her father, Phan’u-el’s name, means ‘face of God.’ His name may be a foresight since Anna was among the first to recognize the face of God when she saw the infant, Jesus.

Anna, the prophetess, was among the first to bring honor to the infant Jesus born in a stable. Anna shared this good news with everyone who was anticipating the Messiah. The Redeemer had come, the prophecies were fulfilled, and Anna was blessed to see it happen.”

Anna In The Bible: 10 Lessons We Can Learn From Her, women ofnoblecharacter.com

*She was faithful….

 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. 

She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 

And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

Luke.2.36-38

*She was at the right place at the right time… “ at the very hour”

“Her recognition of Jesus’s significance comes just after Simeon’s and shortly after the spectacle displayed by God’s angel, who had appeared to shepherds in the fields near Bethlehem singing praises with God’s heavenly host about the birth of the promised Messiah (Luke 2:8-20).

These three back-to-back stories drive home the clear point: that Jesus was the Christ, conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, Word became flesh (John 1:14) sent by God to be the savior of the world.”  https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/who-was-anna-the-prophetess-and-how-does-she-fit-into-the-christmas-story.html#google_vignette

How was Anna prepared?

What was her relationship with God?

What is mine? Am I found faithful?

Thank YOU….

Find us faithful…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKT5BCmvmq0

“Her father, Phan’u-el’s name, means ‘face of God.’ His name may be a foresight since Anna was among the first to recognize the face of God when she saw the infant, Jesus.

Anna, the prophetess, was among the first to bring honor to the infant Jesus born in a stable. Anna shared this good news with everyone who was anticipating the Messiah. The Redeemer had come, the prophecies were fulfilled, and Anna was blessed to see it happen.”

Anna In The Bible: 10 Lessons We Can Learn From Her

Who was Anna in the Bible?…

https://www.christianity.com/wiki/people/who-was-anna-in-the-bible.html