The Light Revealed

These are troubling words for Simeon to say regarding the light and hope of Israel. What did this strange blessing mixed with warning mean? Until now, only joyful expectations were prophesied over Jesus. Now, Joseph and Mary were hearing that their Son would cause opposition, and even more directly that Mary’s own heart would be pierced and divided.

Herod would not willingly step aside and surrender his throne to a Messianic claimant, and Mary and Joseph would later have to flee as refugees to Egypt to protect the child Jesus from the violent decree. Governor Pilate was concerned for a Jewish uprising because of the hype of Kingship surrounding Jesus’s ministry. Even Jesus’s own disciples were confused about the nature of His path to Lordship—and Judas abandoned and betrayed Jesus probably from disappointed expectations.

The thoughts of many hearts were indeed revealed by the life and teachings of Jesus, whether people were humbly seeking after a true spirit of righteousness and justice and mercy or merely desiring for worldly health, wealth, and power. In the prophetic tradition of Isaiah and Jeremiah and John the Baptist, Jesus called the people to repentance and conversion to God—now in and through Himself—but many rejected His authority because their desires of their hearts were bent on evil not true goodness. The life and preaching of Jesus were a light that exposed darkness and became a rock of offense that many stumbled over (1 Peter 2:8).

The disciples were opposed to Jesus’ suffering and greatly saddened over what was happening to their beloved Teacher in His last days, but as Jesus’s own mother, she must have felt an even deeper wound when standing at the foot of the cross (John 19:25-27)—perhaps remembering her first joy in beholding Jesus as a newborn in Bethlehem to now seeing His body mutilated beyond recognition in dehumanizing scorn and shame. Everything in her as a mother would have wanted to spare her Son from this horrific moment, maybe even to take His place, but in His suffering would mysteriously be Jesus’ exalted reign.

Jesus continues to divide today. The way is narrow that leads to life. Many want a Savior to fix their problems, even to sacrifice for them, but few are ready to lay down their lives for Jesus as Lord, even to the point of following Him through the way of suffering self-denial.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, Your life exposed what was in people’s hearts, what they truly desired and loved. You were the Messiah the world needed but not the Messiah many wanted. You were the divine incarnation of truth, of righteousness, of compassion and mercy, and You were scorned for it. You are a light that continues to expose darkness in our world, and many still scorn and reject You because their desires are evil.

Your perfect life and teachings and Your call to discipleship continue even to pierce and divide my own soul, challenging the wisdom of my own plans, my self-will, self-righteousness, and pride. I am faced with choices each day between faith and unbelief, obedience to You or obedience to my own thoughts and plans. As I celebrate Your birth again this year and rejoice in Your coming into the world as my Savior, may You as the living Light and Word expose areas in my own heart that are divided and opposed to Your plans and that I might obey You totally as my Lord.

Amen.