There are a number of women who came and went in the life of Jesus. Some of them we read very little about, others there is more. Elizabeth and Anna were women who appear right at the beginning of Jesus’ life.
We know from Luke 1 that Elizabeth was a godly woman, and the mother of John the Baptist. We know she was considered past child bearing and that John was a great delight and answer to prayer. Anna was also old, and had been widowed a long time. She lived in the Temple and was a prophetess.
What do we learn from these women?
1. They had a desire for God.
Anna had placed herself in the Temple (Luke 2) and worshipped God there. Elizabeth lived a godly life; her situation was different but she placed her herself to be used by God.
God speaks when we place ourselves in a position to hear. Anna was positioned in the Temple in a position that enabled her to hear from God and to act.
How are we placed? Are we in a place where we can hear God? How have we prepared ourselves to hear from God and respond to him?
Hebrews 10:19-20 tells us we can boldly enter into God’s presence because of the blood of Jesus. He has made a way and we can enter right into his presence. We can position ourselves to hear.
2. They had an expectant attitude
Both these women had an expectant attitude. Elizabeth was not only expecting her own baby, but she was also expectant about the Messiah. When Mary, expecting Jesus, visited Elizabeth we read that her baby leapt within her, and she said:
“What an honour this is that the mother of my Lord should come”.
She was expecting so much more than a physical baby. She was looking to and expecting the saviour of the world, and recognised him when Mary came.
I love the expectant attitude that Anna had, she was expecting to hear from God and she was expecting the Messiah, her saviour.
What attitude do we have? Are we living expectantly. Are we expecting amazing things to happen?
We have a God who makes the impossible possible. An expectant attitude is a faith attitude. It says that even when it seems impossible, God is able to make it possible.