Exceptional Devotion -
Exceptional Honor
A biblical biography of Anna the Prophetess
Gripped for Glory Series-Volume I
By Donna J. Farris
Smashwords Edition
Copyright 2011 Donna J. Farris
Ebook cover image of the Second Temple of Jerusalem Model- Copyright lawcain/Fotolia
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This book is dedicated to my maternal grandmother who lost the beloved husband of her youth in a tragic automobile accident. But instead of allowing grief to dominate her future, she chose to cling to the plans and promises of Jesus. And like Anna, she was able to impact her generation with the love of Jesus.
Chapter 1 - A Prophetess (Luke 2:36)
Chapter 2 - The Grieving Widow (Luke 2:37)
Chapter 3 - Just Another Day at the Temple (Luke 2:38)
Questions for Personal Reflection
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In three short verses found in the second chapter of Luke’s gospel, the author gives us a glimpse into the life of an extraordinarily devout Jewish woman named Anna. She was not a literary device or mere allegorical figure placed within the gospel records. Anna was a real woman who walked the earth at the dawn of man’s redemption. She lived and loved and laughed as women have done since time began. Anna had hopes and dreams similar to all women. And like many before her, Anna experienced grief and understood sorrow.
But when youthful dreams for happiness were shattered, Anna refused to allow self-pity or bitterness to pollute her character or dictate the course of her life. Instead she made the decision to pursue a most intimate relationship with the Holy One of Israel, serving day and night in His temple. God rewarded this aged widow’s exceptional devotion in a culturally uncommon manner. Anna was shown the identity of Israel's long-awaited Redeemer and she became the first woman missionary to the Jewish nation.
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Chapter 1 - A Prophetess (Luke 2:36)
In the year Jesus Christ was born, a prophetess lived in Jerusalem. A prophet or prophetess was given by God the gift of knowing events before they occurred. To such individuals God revealed His thoughts and feelings regarding individual, national, political, and spiritual matters. Curiously, Luke declares the ministry gift of this unique woman even before revealing her personal name. The Holy Spirit thereby gave prominence to her prophetic role over the actual storyline, emphasizing the divine fulfillment of the events about to unfold.
Whether or not this woman displayed the gift of prophecy as a young girl or such ability was revealed over the course of her life is not known. However, the gospel writer securely places her in the long line of prophets and prophetesses who for centuries had heralded the coming of Israel’s Messiah.
Not much is known about this curious woman as her biography is one of the briefest in Bible history. Her name was “Anna,” meaning, “grace or favor.” Her name appears in scripture only twice, both times in this particular event.
She is identified as the daughter of Phanuel, whose name means, “the face or appearance of God.” His name implies the hope of Phanuel’s parents that Messiah would come in the lifetime of their son. About Phanuel, nothing is known except he was a descendant of the tribe of Asher. Asher, meaning “blessed,” was the eighth son of the Hebrew Patriarch Jacob and is mentioned only three times in the Bible. Anna is the only noteworthy person from the tribe of Asher mentioned in all of scripture.
Asher was a small, relatively insignificant tribe situated on the western hills of Galilee, adjoining the Phoenician coast with the tribal territories of Naphtali and Zebulun to the east and southeast. Beginning in 732b.c. most of the ten northern tribes of Israel, to which Asher is identified, were gradually deported to Assyria over a period of about 150 years. Whether or not Anna’s tribal ancestors were completely removed from the Galilean area or a remnant was allowed to remain is hard to determine. Most likely the entire tribe was deported.