UFC Women

Those in the 1st century B.C. who realized Jesus was the Promised One must have relished that their season of waiting for Him had come to an end, just like we celebrate after traveling the Advent trail to arrive at Christmas morning. But Jesus’ birth was only the beginning of the story of His coming to earth.

Joseph didn’t sit long to ponder the many angelic messages he received over the years. He was a man of action, a man obedient to the call of God upon his life. When an angel told him to marry his betrothed, he rose and did it. When he was directed to travel to be counted with other Bethlehemites, he helped Mary pack up a few belongings, and they set out on a 90-mile pilgrimage.

When Herod learned from his informants that the wisemen had evaded him, he raged. No one would outwit him. No one would threaten his throne. No one. He ordered his soldiers to storm the town of Bethlehem just six miles south and hunt down and kill every boy child who had lived up to two years. No mercy. No exceptions. This so-called king of the Jews would not live.

Herod’s spies filled Jerusalem and the surrounding area, listening to conversations, eyeing suspicious-looking men and women, and carrying messages to the king, who lived in a constant state of fear that someone would usurp his throne.

After Simeon’s cautionary words to Mary, she might have been discouraged or afraid or even doubted that this old man was speaking on God’s behalf. But then, in His grace, God gave Mary encouragement from a faithful saint, an elderly prophetess named Anna.