Rachel Workman: 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, but he will be a joy to many others. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him.
Simeon blessed Joseph and Mary but he spoke to
Mary in particular. He was prophesying all the shame and sorrow that her Son
would suffer. His suffering would be so great that a sword would pierce through
his mother's heart. Or at least it would feel like it. I'm sure watching her
son being crucified was one of the worse things she lived through.
Simeon's words here require consideration.
"This child is set for the fall and rising again of many in
Israel." Paul says, in 1 Cor. 1:23, that Christ was to the Jews a
stumbling-block, or something over which they fell. How was it they fell over
him? Through pride. They would not believe that their own righteousness was
worthless in God's sight, and that Christ's righteousness alone could be
accepted. But before I point the finger I need to examine myself. Pride is ugly in any form. I am guilty of
being too prideful. Maybe not in believing I could ever be righteous without
Christ but I am guilty in plenty of other areas.
35 As a result, the deepest thoughts of
many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.”36 Anna,
a prophet, was also there in the Temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from
the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. Her husband died when they had been
married only seven years. 37 Then she lived as a widow to the age of
eighty-four.[c] She never left the Temple but
stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer. 38 She
came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began
praising God. She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting
expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem. I love that this was included. Anna
was blessed that she was able to be one of the first to lay eye on the Messiah.
I love that it was recorded and that she was a women. It only strengthens our
knowledge that the events were recorded accurately. Mary was the first to have
the good news announced to her, but Anna is the first woman to understand fully
and proclaim the good news.
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John
Burnett: 33 The child’s father and mother marveled
at what was said about him. 34 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, 35 so
that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your
own soul too.”
36 There was also a prophet, Anna, the
daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with
her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a
widow until she was eighty-four.[a] She never left the temple
but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up
to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child
to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
Mary and Joseph probably knew the
prophesies as they were considered righteous when chosen for the honor of being
the parents for the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. What was surprising
is all of the revelation by angels and dreams to people they did not know but
kept showing up to worship their baby.
____________________________________________________________________________________
Krista Cook: - can you even imagine how Simeon's words cut right
through to Mary's mother heart? To hear this being said of her son?
And do we, like Anna, have the
commitment and dedication she had to Jesus? It says, "she never
left" - that is huge! And then she talked to everyone she saw about
Jesus. That tends to step on my toes a bit. Do I do enough talking
about Jesus to those I come in contact with?
____________________________________________________________________________________
Mike
Grimm: 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, but
he will be a joy to many others. 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.”
The words of Simeon to Mary about
a sword piercing her own heart, is a prophecy about Christ’s coming crucifixion
on Calvary’s cross. It would be the most tragic event in the life of Mary, and
yet, at the same time, the greatest event. Mary’s soul would be pierced, and so
will ours when we understand the suffering of Christ, but Christ did it all to
save us. And if people get saved, Christ considers it all worth it.
Knowing that Jesus could come
today, or tomorrow, causes us to live with the right priorities. It causes us
to live with eternity in focus. It causes us to do things that will matter for
eternity, rather than just for next week.
The Prophecy of Anna
36 Anna, a prophet, was also there in the Temple. She
was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. Her
husband died when they had been married only seven years. 37 Then
she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the Temple but
stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer. 38 She
came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began
praising God. She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting
expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem.
As a woman of God who spent her
life in prayer and fasting, she is the perfect person to be the third witness
to the birth of Jesus the Messiah. She was coming in that instant, as
Simeon was speaking to Joseph and Mary, and after seeing Jesus, and most likely
hearing from Simeon that this was the one he had been waiting for, she
gave thanks to the Lord. Like Simeon, she directs her thanksgiving and
blessing toward God.
But Anna did not stop with
thanking God for sending the Messiah, she also spoke of Him to all those
who looked for redemption in Jerusalem. Like the shepherds, she told
everyone what she had seen and heard, especially those who, like her, were
looking for the Messiah to arrive.
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