Appointed for the Fall and Rise of Many
Christmas Series
Luke 2:34-35
Because this is Christmas Eve, I want to share with you an overlooked scene from Jesus’ infancy in Luke 2, verses 34 and 35. But to understand the context I want read beginning with verse 21. This is about when Mary and Joseph presented Jesus at the Temple on the eighth day. It was here that a devout man named Simeon got to hold Jesus in his arms and to speak piercing words to Mary. Luke 2:21… In honor of God and His Word, let’s stand.
21 And when eight days had passed, before His circumcision, His name was then called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. 22 And when the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
25 And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law,
28 then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,
29 “Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, According to Your word; 30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation, 31 Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 A Light of revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.”
33 And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed— 35 and a sword will pierce even your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” [NASB95]
[Prayer] For just a few minutes tonight, I want you to think with me about Simeon’s words to Mary… about “the fall and rise of many” and “a sign to be opposed”. This oracle may sound like a strange thing to say to a new mother who was dedicating her son in the Temple. And it was unusual! That’s why Mary and Joseph were amazed when they heard these things. Let the truth of who Jesus is and what He came to accomplish amaze you! Consider the darker threads in this golden tapestry called Christmas. First…
I. Jesus Christ is the Great Divider of humanity throughout history.
Simeon is only mentioned in Luke. His story isn’t found in the other three gospels or anywhere else in Scripture. Here was an older man of God who was looking for the consolation of Israel. Righteous men and women are always looking for God’s work in the circumstances and events of life. Like the aged parents of John the Baptist and like Anna in the verses that follow, Simeon was a representative of the old prophetic age which was coming to a consummation with Jesus. Luke is showing us that the godliest people under the Old Covenant were most expectant of the Messiah’s arrival. They welcomed Him with open and expectant hearts.
But not everyone in Israel was welcoming to the newborn King. All throughout the life of Jesus, people would be divided over Him. Some would rejoice in the Light, while others would hide in the darkness, because their deeds were evil. Some would be given sight to see Him as Lord, while others would remain in their blindness claiming to see. There would be His “sheep” who found nourishment in His Words… and those He called “goats” who never truly loved Him in spite of appearances. There would be “wheat” as well as “tares”. In Matthew 10:34, Jesus said:
34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 “For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; 36 and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household. 37 “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 “And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 “He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it. [NASB95]
Jesus Christ is the Great Divider of all humanity in human history. So how does this figure with the angel’s greeting of “peace on earth among men with whom He is pleased” [Lk 2:14]? The peace is promised to those who are His through faith in Christ. It is a promise of peace with Himself and among those who are filled with His Spirit. But it’s not a promise of peace with those who reject Christ. When Jesus draws you to Himself, it sets you at odds with those who reject Him. The enmity comes from them, not from those in Christ. This is especially true of those who reject the real Jesus, but wrap themselves in the ornamentation of man-made religion. There are millions of devout religionists, like the Pharisees, who make much of rituals and symbols, but have no love for Christ or His people. Among such people, Christ is a dividing force; a stumbling stone and a rock of offense.
This is why Simeon said to Mary, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed…” When people reject or ignore Christ, when they disobey Him and speak against Him, they fall. Both Isaiah and Peter wrote about this stumbling caused by rejection of Christ. The rise is then for those humble enough to trust in Christ alone for salvation with nothing they can add of their own imagined merit. Here is a sign to be opposed.
II. Jesus Christ is opposed by all who refuse to find delight in Him above all things.
Simeon delighted in the arrival of the Savior. God revealed Jesus to Simeon through His Spirit. Luke mentions the Holy Spirit no less than ten times in the first two chapters of his gospel. Only the Spirit of God can reveal the Son of God. The Spirit of God opens our eyes to the Son so that we may delight in Him. But throughout the ministry of Jesus, the vast majority of people who saw Him and heard Him had no delight in Him. They turned and walked with Him no more. These were spiritual people; these were religious people; but they were lost people. They opposed Him because they refused to find delight in Him above all things. And the same is true today. Jesus Christ invites all who have ears to hear and eyes to see – come! Come to Him! Taste and see that the Lord is good. Delight in Him above all things even though in this life you will be surrounded with opposition and division from those who have no delight in Jesus.
Simeon testifies: He is worth it! Elizabeth and Zachariah testify: He is worth it! And Anna testifies in verses 36-38 that Christ is worth it! Submit to Him in obedience tonight.
Let’s pray…
(c) Charles Kevin Grant
November 24, 2006