Jaw-dropping Jewels about Jesus
Rarely does Jesus, God the Son, do exactly what we expect of Him. It seems odd that He so frequently surprises us, given that He never changes. Hebrews 13:8 makes this absolute statement: “Jesus the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” Still, though He is blessedly consistent in His goodness, Jesus does unforeseen things. Even when He does what is expected, He does not always do it in the way that we anticipate. Let us join with Jesus on a jaw-dropping journey. (I will be using this opening paragraph for each of the brief messages in this series. The following material will change daily.)
Immediately following Simeon’s prophecy, Joseph, Mary, and the baby Jesus met a remarkable lady: “And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser [Asher]: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; and she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, [who] departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. 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” (Luke 2:36-38). The biographical information reminds us of the historical accuracy of God’s Word, and Anna’s status as a widow recalls the Biblical imperative to protect widows (Deuteronomy 14:29; I Timothy 5:3; James 1:27). In both large and small ways, my appreciation for God’s solicitous and intense commands on this subject have increased with time; for I have seen how many people have tried to take advantage of my widowed mother. What stands out about Anna’s widowhood is her staunch and steady service to God. In the midst of Israel’s tumultuous political trouble and her own personal trauma, Anna chose the path of faith rather than of fretting and fear. Her life demonstrated a genuine commitment. Let each of us remember that “commitment” cannot be spelled without “I” or “me.” May each of us choose to walk the way of loyalty to the Lord Jesus Christ.