Do You Know Jesus?


There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.

Over the past couple of days, we have reflected upon Jesus being taken to the temple for consecration. One of the people who came to visit him was Simeon, whom Scripture describes as “righteous and devout,” with “the Holy Spirit on him” (see Luke 2:25). Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts when Jesus was brought in and took the child in his arms. “My eyes have seen your salvation,” he said, in recognition of who Jesus was — the savior of the world! Amazing, yes?

No sooner did he leave, another person came in. She was Anna, an 84-year-old widow. She was a prophetess who practically lived in the temple, worship God day and night. She began to praise God as she beheld the child, telling everyone that he was the redemption of Jerusalem. She, too, recognized who Jesus was. Again, amazing, yes? Now here’s a question that will really amaze you. Where were the religious leaders — the high priest and his priests, the Sanhedrin, the Pharisees, and the scribes? Why were they not there to receive the long-awaited Messiah?

The simple answer is that they didn’t know that the Messiah was in their midst? Which leads to another question? How could they not know? If Simeon and Anna could know, how couldn’t they? The answer to this lies in the descriptions of Simeon and Anna that we just read. They were both godly people who worshipped God in Spirit and in truth — although they may not have described the way they worshiped in these words. They had a connection with God based on a real relationship with him, not just a theoretical knowledge that came from studying about him.

This is a very real danger that we face even today. Learning about God through seminars, retreats, theological study, courses, and religious programs is not a bad thing. However, it becomes a really good thing if we use them to develop a relationship with God or to enhance an existing relationship with him. Without this, all the “education” we get is only “knowledge.” This only serves to make us believe we know something when in truth, we don’t. See, knowing ABOUT a person is not the same thing as KNOWING the person.

We need to know Christ. So let us ask the Holy Spirit to reveal him to us. Just like he did with Simeon and Anna.

Watch a video of this reflection by Aneel Aranha here:https://youtu.be/VK6S03YQ1Ak


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