“The grace of God was upon him”

Read Luke 2:36-40

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Organised religion can be the enemy of godly spirituality, as Jesus often found in his dealings with religious people (Matt.9:10-13; 12:1-4; 23:1f). But when religious practice is a sincere response to God from the heart, it prepares us to receive more of the grace which is in Jesus.

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So it was for Anna. Like Simeon, she was one of the faithful ones waiting for the coming of the Messiah. A prophetess (Ex.15:20; Jdg.4:4), despite long years of sorrow she had not grown bitter but “worshipped night and day, fasting and praying” (36-37). She too, like Simeon, was in the right place to meet with Jesus, and to recognise him as the promised redeemer (38; Luke 1:68; 24:21; Eph.1:7). The name Anna means grace and clearly God’s grace was upon her.

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And the grace of God was upon Jesus too, as he grew to manhood and maturity in Nazareth (39-40). Wisdom is a supreme characteristic of true spirituality (Jas.3:17) and “in Christ are all the treasures of wisdom”, very different from the wisdom of rule-based religion (Col.2:3,20-23). From his grace we too receive grace (John 1:16), “the surpassing grace of God” which overflows to others in thankful witness (38; 2 Cor.8:9; 9:14-15).