Luke 2:22-40
Jesus Presented in the Temple
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.”
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. 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.
39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.
Luke 12:49-53
Not Peace but Division
49 “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed! 51 Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. 52 From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
John 19:25-27
Jesus' Mother Would Watch Him Die
25 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” 27 and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.
Matthew 15:30
Jesus Healed Large Crowds
30 Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them.
John 14:6
Jesus is the Way to the Father
6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
The Law of Moses had purification rites for the firstborn children of Israel...Joseph and Mary would do everything required by the Law of Moses for their children and for Jesus...And the couple did this for their first young Son, after they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth....Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout....He was a man of God...He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him...It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah...Simeon would get to see the Messiah before he died...
When he took young Jesus in his arms, he told Mary and Joseph “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising 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.”...This was quite a statement...Simeon was telling them that their young precious Baby would have this tremendous impact on the world...He would not necessarily bring peace to the world, as one might think a Child of God might and could do...No this Child would bring division, instead of peace...Israel, the world, and people would be divided because of what He would say, and who He is...This One would be the One to expose us for who we really are...Jesus would give us the Greatest Words ever...He would know our thoughts, how we feel, and see us for who we are...When you know Jesus, you know that He knows you...He would even pierce His Mother's heart -and He did this when she watched Him die on the cross...If that is not piercing one's heart -to watch your own child die then nothing will...Simeon had given Mary and Joseph so much to think about as their Son would grow up...
Jesus would talk similarly about Simeon had said years ago...He said He would bring division...
Jesus so great a Minister, so unique and wise...Yet some people, as we think about Him -the world is divided to this very day because of Him...Jesus in His three year ministry would go around and expose us to our sins, and then so humbly and politely forgive us for sinning...This is who we are...He would heal large crowds and heal many in His time...And as we read through the four gospels and Paul's letters, we can almost read about a peace loving Minister...The Pharisees, the teachers of the law, and the chief priests opposed Him...As He brought much controversy when He preached...He was a divider of people, He was this One that Simeon would say -that would cause many people in Israel to be much divided over Him...And yet, He has this uncanny, unique, Divine ability and way to touch our hearts, as He reveals us and our hearts to ourselves and to others...This is something only One Divine can do...Jesus would have pain and would suffer on the cross -to help alleviate our own sins and our own pains...
When we realize that Jesus shows us for who we really are, we can get closer to His Father...No One but Him helps us through this barrier...Until we realize that we sin and have desires of temptations and do not follow Him as we should this roadblock remains between us and His Father...That is why He says that the only way to get to His Father, is thorough Him...He is that Way and the Way to heaven...