Luke 2:36-40 (NIV) There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, 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.
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 upon him.
Anna was another person who was completely devoted to the Lord, and had been since her youth, even before her husband died when she was in her very early twenties. She spent her days in prayer and contemplation in the temple complex, also listening to such teaching as she could hear going on around her in the temple or in the synagogue services she attended on the Sabbath. Women in those days did not generally have an opportunity to read the Scriptures for themselves or to take classes like the men did. But every word she heard she treasured in her heart.
That morning God alerted Anna that the Messiah would be at the temple, so she went with great expectancy. When she heard the song that Simeon was chanting and the words that he spoke to Mary and Joseph, she knew that this child was the One. That started her own prayers of thanksgiving to the Lord, and then she started speaking to all of those passing by, pointing out the child to them as the Messiah. And, as usual, Mary and Joseph took careful note of all that was said about Jesus.
Mary and Joseph did not immediately return to Nazareth, although Luke does point out that they didn’t head back home until after they had completely fulfilled all of the requirements of the law of God. The wise men would soon show up, and immediately after that they would have to escape Herod’s clutches by fleeing to Egypt for a few months (Matthew 2:1-18). But when they came back to the land after Herod’s death, they went back to Nazareth and resettled there among their family and friends.
Jesus grew into a young man who was full of wisdom and grace. He was a quick pupil, whether the subject was the Scriptures or carpentry. Despite the fact that He was in fact God in the flesh, He was humble and obedient to His parents, and kind and gracious to those He met.
Father, it would probably be understandable to us if Jesus was a bit haughty from time to time, especially as He grew and became more and more aware of Who He was. But the fact is, You are not haughty or overbearing, but kind, gracious, loving, and forgiving to all who love You and want to know You. So we shouldn’t be surprised to see all of those positive traits beginning to show up in Jesus as He grew older. Help each of us to also reflect those traits in our own lives, so that we, too, can bring honor and glory to Your name. Amen.