#1420. Luke 2:36-40 - Anna Praises the Redeemer (31/12/25)

Matt Beaney
3 minutes ago
3 min read

Welcome to this Come to Jesus Daily Devotional as we continue our Christmas series.

From Luke 2:36-40, let’s learn from the prophetess Anna to worship and pray faithfully, whatever challenges we face.

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1. God includes Anna in His Christmas story (2:36-37)

Our reading begins:

‘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.’ (Luke 2:36-37)

Luke presents Anna as another witness to Jesus’ identity. In this early chapter he gathers a chorus of voices:

Angels (2:10–11),
Shepherds (2:20),
Simeon (2:25–35),
And now Anna, the prophetess.

God, through these different eye-witnesses, is seeking to convince us of the identity of Jesus as divine, human and Saviour of the world.

Again, as with all of those who have played a human part in Luke’s account of the Christmas story so far, Anna is a humble and unassuming person. Anna is not the kind of person society would have considered impressive:

She is very old,
She is a widow,
And she is a woman - whose testimony would often have been dismissed in the first century.

On a human level, she is the kind of person that one may have overlooked. God, however, does not overlook her. He wants her involved because He wants all of us involved.

2. Tragedy transformed Anna (2:37)

Our reading continues:

‘She never left the temple but worshipped night and day, fasting and praying.’ (Luke 2:37)

Anna experienced deep tragedy when she lost her husband at a young age. Her story could have been defined by sorrow, bitterness, or withdrawal, but instead she chooses a path of devotion.

How has Anna chosen to use the tragedy of the loss of her husband at a young age? She chose to devote herself to worship, fasting and prayer. Tragedy and loss are turned into opportunity and gain.

She is an example to all of us. Anna teaches us that the faithful life is shaped not only by what happens to us, but by how we choose to respond.

3. Anna proclaims redemption in Christ (2:38)

Our reading continues:

‘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 2:38)

Anna’s devotion overflows in proclamation. When she sees Jesus, she recognises Him for who He is - God’s Redeemer - and she gives thanks and spoke to all who were listening.

Her message is shaped by gratitude (‘she gave thanks to God’) and by hope (‘redemption of Jerusalem’).

Like the shepherds and Simeon, Anna becomes a joyful witness.

Everyone who truly meets Jesus becomes a messenger of His saving work - they are filled with thanks and seek to help others to see who Jesus is - their redeemer!

4. Jesus grows in wisdom and grace (2:39-40

Our reading continues:

‘When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.’ (Luke 2:39–40)

Finally, so as to remain balanced in our view of Jesus divinity and humanity, we are brought down to earth with the report of them returning to Galilee and Jesus growing up. Jesus was not some sort of man-child. He grew physically and in wisdom over time. He was a sinless child but He still had to develop physically and mentally.

This closing verse is also a prayer for our children, and for ourselves: May we grow in strength, wisdom, and grace, just as Jesus did.

Response

Let’s learn from the prophetess Anna: