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!
