Luke 2:34-35

Luke 2:21-40

"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 (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.'" Luke 2:34-35 NKJV

When the days were completed for Mary's purification, Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple to present Him to the LORD and to offer the sacrifice prescribed in the Law of the LORD (cf. Leviticus 12; Exodus 13:2; Numbers 3:11-13; 18:15-16). There in the temple a man named Simeon, who trusted in the Lord and waited for the coming of the Messiah and Savior, came up to them, took up the child Jesus in His arms and blessed and praised God for letting Him see the salvation which God had provided. But Simeon, speaking by the Holy Spirit, also told Mary that Jesus was "destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against." Many in Israel would stumble and fall at the coming of Jesus, their Messiah. In accord with Isaiah 8:14-15, many in Israel would not recognize Jesus as their Messiah and Savior; they would renounce Him and speak against Him and so fall from the faith and die in unbelief and sin (cf. John 8:24; Matthew 23:37-39). Others would be raised up from the hopelessness and despair of their sin at the coming of Jesus-think of the shepherds, the paralyzed man, the woman caught in adultery, or the penitent thief on the cross (cf. Luke 2:8-20; Matthew 9:1-8; John 8:1-11; Luke 23:39-43)-for in Jesus they would find forgiveness for their sins and life everlasting!

Simeon told Mary, "Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also." As Mary saw the rejection of her Son, Whom she knew to be the Son of God and Israel's Messiah and Savior, her soul would be pierced through with sorrow, as if a broad sword were thrust into her heart. At the foot of Jesus' cross this sorrow would culminate.

Indeed, the coming of Jesus would not bring peace on earth, but rather division. The inner thoughts and churnings of men's hearts would be revealed, some accepting Jesus as God's Son and their Messiah and Savior from sin; others rejecting him, speaking against Him, and even crucifying Him!

Nothing has changed today. Jesus is still set for the fall and rising of many. When He is preached and proclaimed, some by the grace of God believe on Him and receive forgiveness and life through His shed blood. Others neglect Him, reject Him, speak evil of Him, and even fight against Him. The preaching of Jesus and His cross still reveals the inner thoughts of men's hearts. And, as believers see Him rejected and spoken against today, sorrow still pierces their hearts!

O Dearest Jesus, grant that we not be offended in You, but take hold of You and Your blood, shed for us upon the cross, and be raised up unto life everlasting. Amen.

Devotions