Anna, the Prophetess of the Temple

Anna, The Prophetess of the Temple

Scene 1 – A Baby

On stage

Phanuel (Anna’s Father)
Anna’s Mother -
Baby

Stage design

Blank backdrop

SOUND – Shalom

[Phanual and Phanual’s wife are on stage holding the baby]

Narrator - Luke’s gospel tells us in Luke 2:36-37 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; ³⁷ And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

This is an imaginative retelling of her story, based on real history documented in the books of Maccabees, the works of Josephus, and Roman histories.

We begin in the year 108 BC – or as they might know it the 34^th year of independence. The Jewish people lived in their free kingdom, with priest kings under the line of the Hasmonian Dynasty.

First Maccabees, an important book that recorded this history says, “Also that the Jews and priests were well pleased that Simon should be their governor and high priest forever, until there should arise a faithful prophet;

Israel was a growing nation where people envisioned a new golden era of peace, reminiscent of Solomon's reign.

We begin with Phanuel and his wife, of the tribe of Asher. They had a child. They loved this precious daughter and named her Anna, after Hannah, the righteous mother of the great prophet Samuel.

[Phanual and Phanual’s wife exit stage right)

SCENE 2 – Marriage and Tragedy

MUSIC – Piano 281 – What Child is this? (Instrumental )

On Stage

Anna –
Phanuel –
Anna’s Husband –

Off Stage

Witness of marriage –

Stage

A Door center stage
Black shawl behind right pillar

Narrator – Anna is a beautiful 13-year-old and has sparked the interest of a young man. He is trying to muster up the courage to ask Anna’s Father Phanuel for her hand in Marriage.

[Anna’s Husband who is very nervous, goes back and forth as he is trying to muster the courage to knock on the door and ask Phanuel to marry Anna]

Phanuel – Yes?

Anna’s Husband – Hello Phaneul, I have come to your house today. [stutters and cannot speak due to fear]

Phanuel – do you need some water?

Anna’s Husband – (Still nervous, but pulls out a note and reads quickly without looking up) I came to your house for you to give me your daughter Anna to be my wife from this day forth and forever.

Phanuel – (laughing they embrace and dance around) Yes, my new son – but what are your terms

Anna’s Husband (nervous and reads again) – I give mohar of 5 Shekels for a bride price, and for your daughter 65 shekels

Phanuel – Blessed be the LORD! – Here is your wife (he pushes Anna out the door to him)

[Phanuel leaves the stage, and Anna and Anna’s Husband join hands in the center. The witnesses stand beside them]

Narrator – And so Anna left her father and mother and was joined to her husband they were married.

Witness(s) of marriage - We are witnesses. May the LORD make the woman, who is coming into your house, like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel.[1]

SONG – Piano – Come though long expected Jesus #244 (Verses 1 and 4)

[Witnesses leave. Anna and her husband hold hands]

STAGE CREW – Take the door off the stage

Narration – And so they were married. Those short years were mostly bliss and joy. But the name of Anna turned out to be prophetic, for the Lord closed her womb.

Anna (Kneels to pray)- O LORD of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son?[2]

Narrator - Year after year she earnestly sought the Lord at his temple, in prayer and worship. Then calamity was added to tragedy, as her beloved husband died.

(Anna’s husband falls down dead and then leaves the stage)

[Anna puts on black Shawl]

[Anna – alone on stage sings]

Psalm 123 Song by Poor Bishop Hooper:

so my eyes look to the lord

until he has mercy

so my eyes look to the lord my god

until he has mercy on me X2

Anna –(Praying on her knees) O Lord, I have nothing to give, I have nothing but you. I give myself to serve you. I am lent to the Lord. As I long as I live I am lent to the Lord[3].

Narrator – So Anna, like Hannah her namesake, went up to the temple. But with no son to give, she gave herself to serve the Lord with prayer and fasting day and night.

Scene 3 – Pompey’s victory over Jerusalem

SONG – Piano 655 – Sanctuary Instrumental

On Stage

Young Anna –
Aristobulus Soldier 1 –
Aristobulus solidiers –

Off Stage

Pompey -
The Roman legions –

Stage –

Temple format
Sign for Holy Of Holies up

[Anna and Aristobulos are stage center – with other Jewish soldiers around with swords]

Narrator – Anna was widowed in 88 BC. The priesthood of Jerusalem was in constant upheaval due to, well, let’s just say we are not the first people to have political problems. The Sadducees controlled the temple but like in the days of Jesus, they cared more for worldly power than serving the living God.

Righteous Anna, year by year continued to worship, and people began to recognize God’s gifting over her life. They listened to her wisdom and she was recognized as a prophetess because she spoke God’s word to the people.

In 63 BC the brothers Aristobulus and Hyrcanus were fighting for control of the Jewish crown. Through a long series of events, they both looked to Pompey, the famous Roman general, to help in their struggle. But like so many times in Jewish history, when God’s people turned away from Him to seek help from foreign rulers, God gave them what they wanted … and more. Pompey used this as an opportunity to assert Roman dominance over the Jewish people.

The followers of Aristobulus made their last stand at the temple, which had strong walls and was surrounded by a valley that made attack difficult.

We join Anna again in middle age, about 45 years old. She is still worshiping God in the temple, as a small group of Jewish soldiers prepare to defend against the impending Roman attack.

[Anna and Jewish solder speak stage center]

Aristobolus soldier – Anna, you need to leave. Why are you still here?

Anna – I am Praising my Lord as I have done for the past 25 years.

Aristobolus soldier – If you do not leave now, you may never leave.

Anna – I have lived in the house of the Lord, and I will see the redemption of Israel.

Aristobolus soldier – Pray it comes soon!

Narrator – Each sabbath day the Roman legions built their siege ramp. Exploiting the Jewish prohibition against their army attacking on the Sabbath day. As defeat grew closer, Anna relentlessly praised the Lord, fasted and prayed,

Anna – “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God[4]”

Aristobolus soldiers- SONG – I’m in the Lord’s Army.

Narrator – But God did not intervene, yet.

SOUND - Marching

[Roman soldiers March onto the stage (From back of Church) and defeat the soldiers of Aristobolus who drop their swords and run away after a sword fight. Anna hides in the corner of the stage and prays on her knees with hands raised.]

[Pompey walks onto the stage]

Narrator – Victorious, the Roman general Pompey goes to see what is in this precious temple. He is curious to see what this strange god of Israel looks like.

[Pompy goes to the back door to enter the holy place]

Anna – No, you must not enter!

Pompey – Why should I not enter? No god has ever stopped me before!

Anna – This is the sacred house of our Lord. Only the sanctified priests may enter.

Pompey – I am a Roman general. No temple, gate, or superstition can bar my way!

[Pompey goes in for a moment and then comes out of the temple]

Pompey – These men fought and died for nothing. There is no god in that temple.

Anna – Our God does not dwell in temples made by hands. You did not meet God today, but one day you will. Beware of the coast of great green where you will die.

[Pompey turns away from Anna, and speaks to a soldier]

Pompey – Leave the treasure; nothing is to be taken. Everyone is to withdraw from the temple. We have made our point; they know who their lord is.

[Everyone exits stage]

Scene 4 – Herod’s temple – 19BC

Song – Piano 245 “O come of come Emmanuel” congregation (V 1,4)

On Stage

Construction worker 1 –
Construction worker 2 -
Older Anna –

Off Stage

Simeon -

Stage – Temple construction sign

Narrator- Roman rule began and the dream of an independent Israel was dead. Yes, there would come a king, Herod by name. He was not the promised son of David, he was not even a son of Isreal. He was given this title by the Roman senate, more a puppet than a monarch. He would try to buy allegiance with a greatly expanded temple – and yet again Anna was there, now in her 80’s

[Two construction workers, one has a shovel and the other has construction plans.]

Construction worker 1 (to construction worker 2) – We will need to begin moving all this dirt to fill in this valley. The wall has to go 60 cubits further.

Construction worker 2 – Yep.

Construction worker 1 - Herod’s temple is going to be even greater than Solomon's.

Construction worker 2 – Yep.

Old Anna - Temples built by men are not the redemption that God has promised.

Construction worker 1 “What do you know?”

Old Anna - I have lived to see kings and generals, and our current ruler – Herod, the foreigner. I suppose God gives us the rulers we deserve.

[Simeon walks up]

Simeon [speaking to construction workers] - Young men, give Anna some respect. She is the prophetess of the temple. She has been here longer than I’ve been alive, pray that she doesn’t ask God for she-bears.

[Construction workers hurry off stage right]

Old Anna- Thanks, Simeon. Men think they can be great by building great temples. But it is the Lord we need. Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negeb![5] You know Simeon, you will see the redemption of Israel. You will look upon the face of the messiah before you die.

Simeon – It is enough for me to know my Lord and to have a good friend like you. Look at all this extra space, but not a single quiet place to pray!

SCENE 5 – Jesus is Born!

SONG – Piano “We will feast in the house of Zion” Congregational

On Stage

Joseph –
Mary –

Off Stage

Shepherds –
Angel 1 –
Angel choir

STAGE – Columns turned to dark side/ The manger scene is on stage right (which is always up)

Narrator - Anna lived through her 80s, then moved into her 90s and eventually surpassed the age of 100... Her body appeared to be held together more by a spirit of worship than by flesh and bone. Meanwhile, as the nation watched the slow construction of the temple and speculated about which of Herod’s sons might succeed the aging Herod, a census was called from Rome

[Joseph and Mary are stage right with the manger]

Narrator- In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. ² This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. ³ And all went to be registered, each to his own town. ⁴ And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, ⁵ to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. ⁶ And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. ⁷ And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

(Mary and Joseph exit stage left. The young shepherds enter and are stage center)

Narrator - Luke 2:8 ⁸ And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

[Single angel appears to shepherds]

Narrator - Luke 2:9-12 ⁹ And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.

[Shepherds fall down in fear]

And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. ¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹² And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger."

[Angel choir appears]

Narrator - Luke 2:13-15 ¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ¹⁴ "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"

[SONG BY ANGEL CHOIR (V1, v2-4 all) – Piano 270 Joy to the World]

[Angels exit stage upper right]

¹⁵ When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us."

[The Shepherds go to the manger]

Narrator - Luke 2:16-20 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. ¹⁷ And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. ¹⁸ And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. ²⁰ And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

[All exit]

SCENE 6 – The temple

Music – Piano 258 – Go Tell It on the Mountain (instrumental)

On Stage

Mary -
Joseph –
Simeon –

Off Stage

Old Anna –

STAGE: Temple format

Narrator - Luke 2:21-22 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. ²² And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.

[Mary and Joeseph walk to center stage with wrapped child]

Narrator - Luke 2:25-26 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. ²⁶ And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

Simeon [approaches and takes the baby in his arms] - Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; ³⁰ for my eyes have seen your salvation ³¹ that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, ³² a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.

[Simeon gives the child back to Mary]

Mary and Joseph- Can this be?

Simeon - "Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed ³⁵ (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed."

[Old Anna walks slowly and looks at the child]

Old Anna - I have waited 104 years to see this day. I have spoken to men who thought themselves gods, but now I see God who is a man. This is the temple of God made without hands. This is the redemption of Jerusalem.

Mary and Joseph – Can this be?

[all exit leaving just Anna praying]

Anna Prays –“ Oh Lord you have not forgotten your servant, but you have given to her a son. I asked that You would give me a son to lend to you, but You have given me Your Son!”

SONG Piano - 271 – Joyful Joyful We Adore Thee

[1] Ruth 4:11

[2] 1 Samuel 1:11

[3] 1 Samuel 1:28

[4] Psalm 20:7

[5] Psalm 126:4