Dec. 19, 2014
Scripture:
And his father and his mother marveled
at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his
mother, "Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in
Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against (and a sword will pierce through
your own soul also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed"
(Luke 2:33-35).
Thoughts: Even with the
accounts of Christ’s birth there are signs that point to his death. In calling our attention to these signs, the
New Testament does not seek to cast a pall or shadow over “the good news of a great joy” we celebrate at Christmas. On the contrary, it depicts the birth of
Christ as the most joyous event in all of history. But no honest reader of the Bible can deny
that there is pain mixed in with the joy as when King Herod, in attempting to
kill the baby Jesus, slayed all the male babies who were under two years old in
Bethlehem. Thus,
there was great joy at Christ’s birth, but also great pain. There was great joy, but it was not a joy
that ignored or floated blithely above the pain and suffering of this
world. No, Jesus Christ entered into
it. He entered into the real pain and
real suffering of life in the real world. And he overcame it, but not without a price,
the price of his own suffering and death on the cross. Simeon was was waiting
for “the consolation of Israel” and
he received it. But he was compelled to
tell Mary, “and a sword will pierce
through you own soul also.” What is
so striking about this passage is that it makes clear that our true consolation
does not come cheap. It does not come
without a price, the price of the blood of God’s only begotten Son.
Prayer: Lord, deliver me from
cheap comfort and false hope wherever I am tempted to look for them and make me
satisfied with nothing more, nothing less, and nothing else than fellowship
with your Son, Jesus Christ, in whose name I pray. Amen.
Application: Try to comfort and
encourage someone who is hurting or struggling today by bearing witness to the
true hope and consolation of the world, Jesus Christ.
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