Malcolm Cox

Introduction  Studying Anna for a sermon led me to some unexpected insights about her devotional life. It inspired me to put a multi-episode series together.    The Text   “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 NIV11)  How can we sum up Anna’s relationship with God?  Anna recognised Jesus as Messiah and it delighted her.   Mary the mother of Jesus was the first person to have the good news announced to her. Simeon recognises Jesus as the Messiah he was promised to see. But Anna is the first person to understand fully and proclaim the good news — and she is a woman. God chose the unexpected to see an