Have you ever thought it would be nice to see something you have never seen before? Would you like to see someone more powerful than you can imagine? How does the idea of prophecy sound to you? Can you imagine how Anna felt when she saw the Messiah?
It is likely we all have dreamt of seeing something no one else has seen at some point in our lives. There is something exhilarating about it. We dream of it anxiously and with trepidation. We think it will be exciting and a bit frightening.
Some people spend their whole lives looking for something no one else has seen. Some look for it through science, attempting to discover something new about the human body or animal life or the earth. Some look toward the stars, hoping to discover a new star or comet or maybe even a new galaxy.
The prophet Anna was not necessarily looking for something new, but she saw something new anyway. As a prophet, she had prophesied about God’s plan—even if we are not told what her prophecies were. She did not expect to see God right in front of her. But that day in the temple she saw him as a babe in Mary’s arms. She knew exactly who she was looking at when she saw him and immediately told those around her who he was.
She also knew what it meant for him to be in the world. He was bringing redemption to Jerusalem, Israel, and the entire world. He had come to take away our sins. He came to call all people to himself. And Anna knew all of it the very moment she laid eyes on him.
I pray we all see Jesus as Anna saw Him. I pray we see Him as our Lord and Savior. I pray each one of us tell everyone in our sphere of influence who Jesus is and what He means to the world. See Jesus as Lord and Savior. See Jesus as God. Tell others about Jesus. Tell them He will redeem them.
Luke 2:36a, 38 There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old;… 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.
Marty Pressey 