The Difficult Word that Jesus’ Birth Brings

"Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.” Luke 2:34-35 (NIV)

Jesus’ birth brought joy and peace to the earth, as declared by the angels and experienced by the shepherds. However, it also brought a sword…a sign that would be spoken against…a revelation of the darkness inside of human hearts.

This was the word brought to Mary on the day Jesus was dedicated at the temple, as prescribed by the Law of Moses (Ex 13:2). Forty days after His birth, Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple, along with the sacrifice of a poor family. There they encountered Simeon, who had been led to the temple by the Spirit and knew he was about to meet the Lord’s Christ. When he did, he blessed both God and the new family.

But, along with his blessing, he told Mary that the road ahead would not always be easy. It hadn’t been up to that point. And it would continue to be difficult.

This child—this great gift to humanity—would be a stumbling stone to those who did not recognize the strange way God was at work in the world (Isa 8:14). To those with eyes to see, He was the revelation of God. To those with ears to hear, He invited to follow Him on the path of salvation. But many of those He met were blind and deaf. And His coming would expose their preference for their own darkness to His glorious light (John 3:16-21).

Jesus, sometimes the ways You work in the world are hard to understand, and even offensive. Help me not to stumble over these things, but to trust Your heart through them. Give me eyes to really see You, and ears to really hear You. Amen.