Luke 2:36-40

Luke 2:36 (KJB)
And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;

Anna the prophetess was also another witness to the messianic identity of the Lord Jesus. I am sure that Mary and Joseph were really overwhelmed by the amount of divine attestation the Jesus received. The name “Anna” was equivalent to the Hebrew name “Hannah.” She was a very old woman. She was married for seven years.

Luke 2:37 (KJB)
And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

Anna had lost her husband after seven years of marriage but she did not marry again. At the point Jesus came into the temple, she had been a widow for 84 years. Couple that with the seven years of marriage and the fact that many Jewish girls married in their teens, this would place Anna over the age of 100 years. Women who had chosen to stay celibate after the death of their husbands and then devoted themselves to God were held in high esteem in Israel and also among the early Christian church. Anna may have had a place to stay in the temple as she served the Lord for that period of time but even if she did not have a place there, she showed up at the temple every day to perform some type of service that was permissible for women. She no doubt had a great prayer ministry along with fasting.

Luke 2:38 (KJB)
And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

Anna had just come up to the temple when Joseph and Mary were dedicating Jesus. This shows another great timing of the Lord for another witness of the Messiahship of the Lord Jesus. She too like Simeon had given thanks unto the Lord for Him and she too also spoke of Jesus as the one the people will look to when desiring redemption. She rejoiced in the fact that she was holding God’s salvation plan. She knew that the redemption which was in view was that of a spiritual and eternal nature and not a political nature.

Luke 2:39 (KJB)
And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.

With the birth of Jesus and the dedication behind them, they now had ventured out of Jerusalem and started on the way back to Nazareth in Galilee which was about a 100 mile (162 km) trip. This time it would be a little bit easier and they did not have to rush. In Matthew 2:13-18, there was also a trip to Egypt that they had to make to protect the baby from the murderous onslaught of Herod who had killed all the male babies in Bethlehem and the coasts under 2 years of age.

Luke 2:40 (KJB)
And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.

The childhood of Jesus was like to that of His cousin John. As He was growing, He became strong in the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit was not only making Him strong in His walk but was also filling Him with wisdom. That wisdom would be used mightily in answering the foes which He would meet when His time of ministry would begin. He had the continuing favor of God His Father on Him during His entire earthly ministry. (Mat 3:17 KJV) And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. This was not the grace of God in reference to salvation but in favor with God. (Acts 4:33 KJV) And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

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