Event 7: Jesus is Presented at the Temple
Our story today took place 40 days after Jesus was born. It was a part of the Law that each Hebrew baby boy had to be presented at the temple. Luke 2:22-38 tells us the story of the presentation of baby Jesus at the temple.
Let’s begin by summarizing them.
SUMMARY
When the time came for Mary and Joseph to complete the purification rites after Jesus’ birth, they brought him to the temple in Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. There they encountered Simeon and Anna, two devout older people who had been waiting to see the Messiah. Simeon praised God, prophesying that Jesus would be a light to the Gentiles. Anna gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to others who were awaiting Jerusalem’s redemption.
Our special observation for today revolves around the 84-year-old Anna. I call it:
Anna’s Life: Plan B.
Anna was once a young bride, married at a tender age. Her dreams were simple – to build a home and family with her beloved husband. But life had other plans. After just seven short years, Anna was made a widow, and her hopeful dreams suddenly shattered.
Certainly, Anna struggled to imagine a new future. In those times, opportunities for women were scarce. But Anna found her calling in the temple, drawing daily comfort and purpose from her faith. As the decades passed, she became a fixture among the holy walls, revered for her devotion.
On a fateful morning, more than 50 years later, Anna felt a long-awaited quickening in her spirit. A young couple, Mary and Joseph, had come to present their newborn son. One glimpse and Anna knew: this was the redemption her soul had thirsted for all these years. Overflowing with joy, she gave thanks to God and told all around that the Messiah had come at last.
Anna never fulfilled her girlish dreams of family. But God had a greater plan, writing Anna into the sacred story of Jesus. Her long-nurtured hope was rewarded in ways she never could have dreamed of in her little village long ago. However life may redirect us, faith and purpose can blossom still.
We sometimes ask children, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” What we’re really asking is, “What’s your first big plan for your life-your Plan A?” But, as many of us know, things don’t always go as planned. We might start with a ‘Plan A’, but often we end up following Plan B, Plan C, or Plan D.
The key to being happy in life is knowing when it’s time to switch to your next plan. This means being flexible and ready to change your plan when you need to.
Lonnie Davis