Saturday September 14
Simeon’s Marvelous Message
Luke 2:33-35
33 And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him.
34 Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against 35 (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."
In Luke 2:33-35, Simeon goes from being a worshiper and preacher who has just experienced the very first appearance of Jesus in the temple in Jerusalem as a baby to being a prophet who speaks directly to Mary about the future of Jesus and His ministry to Israel. In verse 33, it is interesting that Luke in writing about this encounter does not say, “the father and mother”, but is careful to write, “Joseph and His mother”. Luke knew the Father of Jesus was God Himself! (By the way, the most repeated word in the Gospel of John, is the word Father, spoken by Jesus Himself.)
As Joseph and Mary are “marveling at the things” which Simeon was speaking about the baby Jesus, he goes on to speak directly to Mary about how people would respond to Jesus and His ministry and in his message, he used three important images: the stone, the sign, and the sword. The stone is an important Old Testament image of God (Gen. 49:24; Pss. 18:2; 71:3; Deut. 32:31). Messiah would be a "rejected cornerstone" (Ps. 118:22; Luke 20:17-18; Acts 4:11), and the nation of Israel would stumble over Him (Isa. 8:14; Rom. 9:32). Because of Jesus Christ, many in Israel would fall in conviction and then rise in salvation. (Simeon seems to be speaking about one group, not two.) Even today, God's people Israel stumble over the Cross (1 Cor. 1:23) and do not understand that Jesus is their Rock (1 Peter 2:1-6).
The word sign means "a miracle," not so much as a demonstration of power but as a revelation of divine truth. Our Lord's miracles in John's Gospel are called "signs" because they reveal special truths about Him John 20:30-31). Jesus Christ is God's miracle; and yet, instead of admiring Him, the people attacked Him and spoke against Him. His birth was a miracle, yet they slandered it (John 8:41). They said His miracles were done in the power of Satan (Matt. 12:22-24) and that His character was questionable (John 8:48, 52; 9:16, 24). They slandered His death (Ps. 22:6-8; Matt. 27:39-44) and lied about His resurrection (Matt. 27:62-66). Today, people are even speaking against His coming again (2 Peter 3).
But the way people speak about Jesus Christ is evidence of what is in their hearts (v. 35). He is not only the "salvation stone" and the "judgment stone" (Dan. 2:34, 45), but He is also the "touchstone" that exposes what people are really like. "What do you think about the Christ?" (Matt. 22:42) is still the most important question for anybody to answer (1 John 4:1-3). Your answer determines where you will spend eternity.
The image of the sword was for Mary alone, and it spoke of the suffering and sorrow she would bear as the mother of the Messiah. (This suggests that Joseph was dead when Jesus began His ministry thirty years later, or Joseph would have been included.) The Greek word means a large sword such as Goliath used (1 Sam. 17:51), and the verb means "constantly keep on piercing." During our Lord's life and ministry, Mary did experience more and more sorrow until one day she stood by His cross and saw Him suffer and die (John 19:25-27). However, without minimizing her devotion, Mary's personal pain must not in any way be made a part of Christ's redemptive work. Only He could die for the sins of the world (1 Tim. 2:5-6).
How much did Mary and Joseph understand of God's great plan for this miracle Child? We don't know, but we do know that Mary stored up all these things and pondered them (Luke 2:19, 51). The word means "to put things together"; Mary sought for some pattern that would help her understand God's will. There were times when Mary misunderstood Him (Mark 3:31-35), and this would add to her suffering. The last time you find Mary named in Scripture, she is in the Upper Room, praying with the other believers (Acts 1:14).
Today, may the Lord give us hearts to “marvel” about the things concerning Jesus that the Holy Spirit reveals to us as we read and study the Word of God and listen to Him!
God bless!
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