Luke 2:33-38
"And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; 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. And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem," Luke 2:33-38.
In verse 33 we are told that Joseph and Mary marvelled by what Simeon had told them. "Marvelled" in this verse means to wonder; (by implication) to admire. What Simeon said added to their wonder about this child. It wasn't just what Simeon said that peaked their interest, but also what all the heavenly messengers had said to them that peaked their interest. There was an unveiling taking place. The truth of the Scriptures was causing conflict with what was commonly taught in the synagogues and in the temple by the elders. The heavenly message was even causing conflict with where they were standing in the temple as Simeon pronounced his message to them. The common theme from all these messages is that Christ would be the Saviour to all people, not just the Jews (Luke 2:10-11, 19, 29-32). Jesus Christ is the Only Way to the Father. He is the Only Way to the Holy of Holies. You must enter through the blood and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh," Hebrews 10:19-20. Joseph and Mary marvelled, and they were growing in their understanding of Who this child is. They were growing in the Scriptures. "Luke does not say, that they were astonished at it as a new thing, but that they contemplated with reverence, and embraced with becoming admiration, this prediction of the Spirit uttered by the lips of Simeon, so that they continued to make progress in the knowledge of Christ. We learn from this example that, when we have once come to possess a right faith, we ought to collect, on every hand, whatever may aid in giving to it additional strength. That man has made great proficiency in the word of God, who does not fail to admire whatever he reads or hears every day, that contributes to his unceasing progress in faith." John Calvin.
In the eyes of the religious leaders and most of Israel during that day, this would have been considered a radical teaching. First of all, they were not expecting their Messiah to come to die; second, they were not expecting their Messiah to save Gentiles, nor did they want their Messiah to save any Gentiles. Turn to Jonah 3:1-4:3. Through the corrupt teachings of the religious leaders that were based on what they wanted the scriptures to say, the people were indoctrinated with half-truths. They were not hearing the whole counsel of God's Word. How detrimental can this be? Turn to Acts 8:1-3; 9:1-2, 20-25. What is worse is that the Jews rejected their own Messiah because He was not Who they were expecting, and He did not do what they were expecting. They did to Him what no one would do to their Messiah.
"And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed," Luke 2:34-35. Simeon blessed them. This means he asked God's blessings to be upon them. Then he spoke directly to Mary. Why directly to Mary? As we read the gospels, we find that Joseph is not there once Christ starts His earthly ministry. Joseph is not there to see the nation of Israel reject their Messiah, nor is he there to see Israel crucify their Messiah, but Mary was there. To hear these truths about Jesus Christ proclaimed could cause them to be lifted up in pride, and even think that surely nothing bad will happen to them from here on out because they have the Messiah. Surely everyone will be thrilled to know that the Messiah has come. But this would not be the case. "He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own and his own received him not," John 1:10-11. Turn to I Corinthians 1:18-24, Romans 9:30-33, and I Peter 2:6-8. Mary would see Christ start His earthly ministry. She would see her own children reject and scorn Christ. She would see Christ rise in popularity among the people, then she would hear them yell "Crucify Him!". Mary would witness the earthquake and the darkness over the land while Christ was on the cross. She would see her firstborn son hanging naked on the cross (John 19:25-27). She would hear Jesus Christ say, "It is finished." She would see Him die on the cross. She would see all these things happen to this babe she is holding in her arms. This was not by chance or luck, nor did the devil gain a victory over Christ, but this was by the predetermined will of God (Acts 2:23, 3:18, 4:25-28). A sword would surely pierce through her own soul.
There is a natural enmity between the lost world and the Saviour of the world. Christ "is set" which means appointed, for the fall and rising again of many in Israel. Many will stumble and fall because of Christ, but not all. For some there will be a rising because of Christ. Those who hate Christ are offended by Him, even by His name. They want to erase Him from history. Their fall is great, and will be magnified to all at the great white throne of judgment. But those who love Christ is who the "rising again of many in Israel" speak of. Those who hate Christ are offended by Him, but all who love Christ consider Him as precious (I Peter 2:6-8). He is the Rock of which we stand on. He is the foundation of our salvation, and we are not ashamed of Him. Even when we are under persecution by this lost Christ hating world, our love for Him is revealed ("that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed"). We will look more at this next time.
Who is Christ to you? Do you know about Him; are you offended by Him; or is He precious to you? The life we live reveals to all Who Christ is to us. Have you trusted Christ alone to save your soul, to forgive you of all your sins, to deliver you from the wrath of God? Look unto Jesus Christ and be ye saved. "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out," John 6:37.
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