December 27: The First Sunday after Christmas
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 your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” –Luke 2:34-35
Ah, nothing like warm Christmas blessings huh? Can you imagine taking your child to the temple and the most faithful priest in the whole place comes out, lays his hand on your baby, and says the child will bring about the fall of many, be opposed, and pierce your own soul? That’s not exactly the stuff of Christmas cards.
But it is Jesus; that’s his life.
Here’s a scene illustrating this in Mark 2:6-8, Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things?
This made them want to kill him. Jesus taught in Luke 6:45, The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.
In the Luke 2 passage above,
Simeon is telling them that Jesus will cause the falling of many in Israel…they’ll hate him for that.
Simeon is telling them that Jesus will reveal the thought of many hearts…they’ll hate him for that.
Simeon is telling them that Jesus will be a sign that will be spoken against…they’ll hate him for that.
We see the “sign spoken against” in Luke 11:29, As the crowds increased, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It asks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation.
In the same way that the prophet Jonah went to the Ninevites and announced God’s judgment because of sin, Jesus came to announce God’s judgment because of sin. Interestingly, the Ninevites repented for a time, but the generation at the time of Jesus did not. They spoke against him as a sign from God.
That generation (those who speak against him) is still with us, even at Christmas. Do not be deceived, however, God is not mocked. In all this “speaking against,” he has the last word!
And that’s the gospel. Come hear it preached and enacted in the supper with Jesus this Sunday.
The related hymns we’ll sing are:
O Come, All Ye Faithful
Angels We Have Heard on High
Away in a Manger
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Sunday school for children (in Genesis) and adults (on Reformed theology) is up and running! Coffee and other treats are served at 9:15, teaching begins at 9:30, and we break to get ready for worship at 10:15.
Visitors are always welcome!