The fact of the matter is that women were devalued in Jesus’ day. The young men were taught to read so that they could read Torah. Women, well, women were not going to be discussing deep theological issues. They were going to be too busy preparing meals and having male children. Why would they need to learn to read. The courts in the temple were designed to keep women further from the presence of God than the men – a design that is not found in the Old Testament by the way. They could approach closer than Gentiles and that may have been some comfort. A male slave could not be forced to wash the feet of guests. But a wife or daughter? Why yes, any woman could be commanded to wash feet. And it is an understanding of this widespread attitude toward women that makes the story so amazing.
In Luke 2:36-38 we are introduced to the prophetess Anna. There are a handful of women who are called prophetesses in the Old Testament: Miriam (Exodus 15:20); Deborah (Judges 4:4 – she happened to also be a judge of Israel); Huldah (2 Kings 22:14); and Isaiah’s wife (Isaiah 8:3). The ministry of a prophetess would have been exactly the same as her male counterpart. She would have been someone who had the Spirit of God descend upon her so that she could proclaim a divine message. The existence of these women was most likely a source of consternation to many men. I mean you weren’t even supposed to talk to a woman in public. How could a woman then proclaim a divine message? Just as it was men who thought up the ridiculous court of women and not God, it was, and is mankind, who think women cannot be proclaimers of divine messages.
So, in the infant narrative you have Gabriel approaching Zacharias and Mary with good news of a miracle baby. And if you are one who finds it necessary to determine which is more important, would being the father of John or the mother of Jesus hold more weight? And as Jesus is being dedicated, in keeping with custom, you have Simeon and Anna. There is this gender balancing thing happening here. And this was written when gender equality was more likely to be laughed at than given serious consideration. But Luke apparently didn’t care because his God created men and women in the image of God. So, Anna was a prophetess blessed to witness the coming of the Messiah. Both were prophets, though Simeon is not labeled as such. Both were advanced in age. Both were waiting the consolation or redemption of Israel. Male and female proclaiming the divine message.
And this is what we know about Anna. She had been married seven years before her husband died. She lived as a widow either until the age of eighty four or for another eighty four years. If the latter, she would have been at least 104 years old. This is calculated with her being married at the age of twelve which was the earliest that a girl could be married. Either way – eighty four or over 104 – she was ancient by current standards and the number 84 may be a symbolic 12 times 7. She was also a very devout Jewess, worshiping in the temple night and day. The phrase “she never left the temple” does not necessitate that she slept in the temple. She never left when worship was being conducted. A similar statement is made in Luke 24:53 describing the disciples worshiping in the temple after Jesus had resurrected. She worshipped with fasting and prayers. We have a similar description in the Apocryphal book of Judith about Judith, who was also a widow and ancient.
“At that very moment” is literally “at the hour itself” and it may imply she arrived just as Simeon blessed God and the whole family. She bursts out with thankfulness to God. She continues to speak about Jesus to all those who were expecting the redemption of Jerusalem. The Septuagint (Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible) of Isaiah 59:9 combines the words consolation and redemption. In Isaiah the message is that consolation and redemption are far off. They hope for light but experience darkness; they long for brightness but walk in gloom. That consolation and redemption is no longer afar off. It has arrived and the prophetess Anna; the godly woman was proclaiming the divine message to all who wanted to hear.
God does not devalue women. Men do. When God designed the court of the temple there was only one – a place for all to gather as equals. When God chooses those who will speak his message, gender does not matter. What matters is devotion. What matters is a tenacious faith. And that has nothing to do with gender. In the kingdom of God devaluing is not a thing. Grace and peace brothers and sisters.