Luke 2:25-35

Luke 2:25-35 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 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."

Simeon was a devout man who was looking for the Messiah: the divine messenger who would usher in the reign of God and who would dispose of the Romans, the oppressors of the Jews. The Holy Spirit brought Simeon to the temple that day to see baby Jesus. When he saw the child, he recognized him not only as the salvation of Israel but also as the light of the world. Jesus, the light of the world, would bring salvation to all humans for He is the Prince of Peace. He would satisfy God's anger towards sin, rectifying a broken relationship between God and man. Jesus, the glory of the Israelites, is the promised Messiah to all the world, for He is the seed promised to Abraham who would bless all nations. This seed would produce as many children of faith as the stars in the heavens, as promised to Father Abraham. He took him outside and said, “Look up at the heavens and count the stars — if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” (Genesis 15:5) Simeon's prophecy of salvation to all men came true; however, his concomitant statement to Mary also came true: And a sword will pierce your own soul too.

Along with the vision of great victory came a prophetic word of sorrow. Many times this is the reality of a faith walk. Simeon saw victory in Jesus, victory for the whole human race, but he also saw for Mary that her following God by faith would bring sorrow to her. Faith that pleases God, that unlocks the kingdom of heaven, sometimes runs contrary to man's understanding of blessings. When we follow God by faith, we usually expect good things to happen to us. Isn't that what God promised to us? Isn't He our father? Would a good father give a stone in place of a fish? Should Mary have to see her son crucified? Simeon pronounced a great blessing on Israel and the world through her son's life, should she not also receive an accompanying blessing? Should she not receive the good things of this world: wealth, fame, status, a peaceful existence, one without trouble?

Sometimes we believe a temporal blessing should be the result of a faith walk. Peter's wife saw her husband murdered. Stephen's friends and relatives saw him stoned, and in this passage, Simeon promises Mary that a sword of sorrow will pierce her very soul. We must remember a walk of biblical faith is a strong belief in something that cannot be felt, heard, or seen. Jesus told Peter that his walk of faith would receive many rewards, but it would also receive persecution: feelings of abandonment, hurt, trouble, and even death. This is what Jesus promised those who would walk by faith. “I tell you the truth,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields — and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. (Mark 10:29-30)

Do we seek persecution? No, we seek and receive the communion of the brethren. Through the church we have received all of the above, but along with the good things comes persecution. Along with the good things comes trouble. But a walk of faith does not demand reciprocation, does not demand blessings. A walk of faith is a sincere belief in God regardless of the circumstances of life. A walk of faith believes regardless of whether you are peering at the cross on Golgotha or standing behind the crowd watching Paul or Stephen being stoned. A walk of faith believes regardless, for faith rejoices in all things, believing wholeheartedly that God is in all things, and that He makes good come out of evil. And that is exactly what He is doing: He is making adopted sons and daughters rise up out of sorrow, hopelessness, even death; for we were once lost in our sins and trespasses, but He chose not to leave his beloved there. He chose our redemption through his son, so that we might be with him forever, SO WE ARE TRULY BLESSED. HE IS A GOOD FATHER!