Key Passage: Luke 2:36-40

Topic: Joy; Hope; Jesus; Bible Characters

And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. (Luke 2:38, ESV)

The wait is over! That’s what Anna told people.

She must’ve been quite a sight–an elderly lady, trembling with excitement, eager to tell everyone she met that God’s promise of a Messiah and king was about to be fulfilled.

Anna was about 84 years old. During those years, she’d seen it all–joy and sorrow, blessing and tragedy, loneliness, heartache, loss. She knew about injustice and compassion, the terrible things people suffered and what they inflicted on others.

She also knew God had promised One who would take care of the problems. And she chose to live her days in God’s house, worshiping Him, fasting and praying, waiting for His solution.

Then one day, Anna picked up a new task. A new message to give to everyone she met. To tell people that hope and help were on the way. All the years of waiting were over because Jesus had come!

That day, hope and salvation looked like a baby in his mother’s arms. But Anna recognized this baby was sent by God to rescue His people. And she couldn’t keep the news to herself!

Have you seen God’s faithfulness in your life? Have you seen Him keep His promises?

The pages of the Bible are full of God’s fulfilled promises. And it’s up to us to tell the world. To let the people we meet know that God rescues us. That Jesus has come to take up residence in our lives. That the wait is over!