Luke 2:22-35
Behold This Child
22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.”
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.”
Simeon, a righteous and devout man, who had the Holy Spirit on him, told Mary that "Behold, this Child is appointed to cause the rise and fall of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed...And a sword will pierce your own soul too."...I might suspect him telling this young mother might frighten her or make her anxious...After all Mary, is the mother of this little Child, and He would be the One who would cause many to rise and fall in Israel...Simeon adds this idea that the thoughts of many hearts and a sword will pierce her soul too...This is the Truth about the Child, but it might be difficult in listening to this if this was your Little Baby Son ...But Mary would have her early years with her young Son, and no doubt she would learn much from Him, and much about Him, as He grew...Her Baby Boy was Someone special, and Simeon certainly adds to this belief...
A mother suffers with her children, so Mary would suffer with Jesus when He started His ministry, as He would be rejected by some men, some groups, and later be innocently crucified...Mother Mary could not help but suffer and be pierced in her soul, as she heard Him speak and do the things that He did...
Simeon tells her this idea that the thoughts of many hearts and a sword will pierce her soul too...This is the Truth about the Child, but it might be difficult in listening to this about your Little Son, who was Divine, in fact...And Simeon knew this...
We can tell by Simeon’s words that He has faith in this Child...These words are a confession of belief that Simeon knows who the Messiah is and that He is the One who was to come from God...Simeon can die in peace now that he has seen the Anointed One...
So Simeon tells us that Jesus would know the hearts of men...He learn to know what men are thinking (if He didn’t know already).He would thus know our secrets, our thoughts and our sins...We, as men, will be judged by the thoughts coming from our hearts...And Simeon tells Mary of this...Jesus would divide the nation of Israel...Some would believe and have faith in Him and some would not...I suspect, there is not much difference in this division today...Jesus reveals your heart, when you speak of Him and He shows us who we are...That is a part of who He is...
But now, the elder Simeon can die in peace, and so we see joy in his upcoming death, because He has seen Jesus...