We are going to close out the year by looking at 25 posts on Mary and Joseph for Advent. Part 9: Affirmations, prophecies, and a warning.
Luke 2:21-35 (NLT)
21 Eight days later, when the baby was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel even before he was conceived.
22 Then it was time for their purification offering, as required by the law of Moses after the birth of a child; so his parents took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. 23 The law of the Lord says, “If a woman’s first child is a boy, he must be dedicated to the Lord.” 24 So they offered the sacrifice required in the law of the Lord—“either a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
25 At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him 26 and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, 28 Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying,
29 “Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised.30 I have seen your salvation,31 which you have prepared for all people.32 He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!”
33 Jesus’ parents were amazed at what was being said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, and many others to rise. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. 35 As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.”
Dear God,
I want to focus on two things about this story.
First, Mary and Joseph were amazed at what Simeon said about Jesus. I would imagine that this kind of fit the narrative that had been developing over the last year. Perhaps this stuff about Gentiles was new. But glory to Israel—sure. This child was going to be special. I can just imagine Mary and Joseph making eye contact and wordlessly saying, “Can you believe this?!?”
But then we get his prophecy to Mary, which brings me to my second point:
“This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, and many others to rise.”
[Okay, we can still work with this. I can see how this could be part of his destiny]
“He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him.”
[Excuse me. What?]
“As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed.”
[How does that fit into all of this?]
“And a sword will pierce your very soul.”
[Hold it. What do you mean? This isn’t funny.]
Luke 2:34-35
This is obviously one of the prophecies that Mary remembered about Jesus too. And she decided to tell Luke about it as well. I just went back and looked to be sure, but this is the first time either Mary or Joseph have gotten an inkling that this son of theirs will live a less than glorious life. Even Zechariah did not get a warning from his angel visit about John the Baptist’s difficult path. It shows just how much Simeon was in tune with your Holy Spirit. His mind was open enough that he could see what others were not able to see yet. A real Messiah will not just rule superficially. He will rule in people’s hearts (“…the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed.”).
For Mary, this must have just been a whirlwind. She is getting affirmations all over the place, but she is also receiving pieces of a complicated jigsaw puzzle. Not so that she will know the future, but so that when the future comes 30 years later, she will have these words to hold on to. She will be able to have faith while Jesus’s Crucifixion pierces her soul.
Father, thank you for not telling us too much, but you just reveal yourself to us in the moment. Help me to embrace that concept. As I move through life day by day, I want to be patient and respond to each moment without feeling the pressure of what I think I should be doing. I just want to know what you want me to do today.
I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,
Amen
