“And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, ‘Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through his own soul), so that thoughts from many hearts will be revealed.'” Luke 2:34-35
December 26 2023
A whole new kind of life opened up for Mary the mother of Jesus. Our seasonal Christmas celebration does not do justice to the infant Jesus and the life that awaited Him. The cultural switch is thrown with its now-on-to-the-New Year’s festivities. Mary’s life changed forever. She had not just any baby to care for, but the incarnate Son of God. She was told by Simeon that she was to suffer pain so that her son, Jesus Christ, could suffer the pain of the cross. She suffered the pain of a misunderstood pregnancy with the stigma of pregnancy before marriage (Jn. 8:41). She suffered the pain of child-bearing. She was to suffer the pain of seeing her son hated and rejected for who He was and what He was born to do. Mary was puzzled as to the full significance of life of her son. To say the least, Jesus was to be a special child. No special-ed class would have been able to accommodate him. As to Jesus, at six weeks old, the truth was set before Mary and Joseph. Jesus was to be a great divider for He would reveal the hearts of sinful men. The haughty and arrogant would be cut down to size. Those who would rise are the saved who would be humble and meek. Whatever the New Year’s celebrations bring we must hold forth our faith and hope and not let football games and parties drown out who Jesus really is.
H
“O Gracious Lord, keep my mind in the right places as I live to please my precious Savior who is soon to return to this earth.”