Let Down | Telling Others

There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, who belonged to the tribe of Asher. She was very old. After she married, she lived with her husband for seven years. She was now an 84-year-old widow. She never left the temple area but worshiped God with fasting and prayer night and day. She approached at that very moment and began to praise God and to speak about Jesus to everyone who was looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. (Luke 2:36-38 CEB)

Happy New Year! Today is January 1st, 2026. A new year. A fresh start. A blank page waiting to be written.

And I want us to spend today thinking about Anna, the second person who recognized who Jesus was when Mary and Joseph brought him to the temple.

Luke tells us that Anna was 84 years old. She'd been married for seven years before her husband died, which means she'd been a widow for most of her life. Instead of remarrying or trying to rebuild the life she'd lost, Anna devoted herself completely to God. She never left the temple. She spent her days and nights worshiping God, fasting, and praying.

Some people might look at Anna's life and see it as a waste. She didn't remarry. She didn't have children. She didn't build a career, accumulate wealth, or make a name for herself. She just spent her time in the temple, praying and waiting for God to fulfill his promises.

But Luke calls her a prophet. And when she saw baby Jesus, she did something remarkable: she started telling everyone about him. She spoke about Jesus to everyone who was looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

Anna understood that seeing Jesus wasn't just about her. It wasn't just a personal experience that she should keep to herself. It was good news that needed to be shared. So she became a witness. She told people what she'd seen. She testified to the truth that the Messiah had finally come.

And that's what we're called to do, too. Not just to experience Jesus for ourselves, but to tell others about him. Not just to celebrate Christmas in our own homes and churches, but to share the good news of Christmas with everyone we meet.

But here's the thing: we can only do that if we've actually taken the time to recognize who Jesus is. That's why we needed to slow down. That's why we can't just rush past Christmas and get back to normal. Because if we're going to carry the truth of Christmas into this new year, if we're going to be witnesses like Anna, we have to take the time to really see Jesus for who he is.

So as we start this new year, I want to challenge you to be like Anna. Make 2026 a year when you tell others about Jesus. Not in a pushy or aggressive way. Not by trying to win arguments or prove people wrong. But simply by sharing what you've experienced. By testifying to what you've seen. By telling people about the difference Jesus has made in your life.

You don't need a theology degree. You don't need special training. You just need to share what you know – that God loves people so much that he sent his son. That Jesus came for all of us. That God is with us.

That's the message the world needs to hear. And it needs to hear it from you. So make this the year you become a witness. Make this the year you tell others about Jesus. Make this the year you share the good news of Christmas with everyone you meet.

Closing Prayer:

God, thank you for the example of Anna, who spent her life devoted to you and then became a witness when she saw Jesus. Give us that same devotion. Give us that same boldness. Help us to tell others about what we've seen and experienced. Use us to share the good news of Jesus with a world that desperately needs to hear it. Make this a year when we live as your witnesses. Amen.