The Sign that is Opposed

And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 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 2:33-35).

Under the leading of the Holy Spirit, Simeon pronounced a wonderful, prophetic blessing over the Christ Child. In the hearing of Mary and Joseph he declared this Child to be salvation for all people, the revelation of the gospel to Gentiles, and God’s glory to Israel. As he continued, Simeon got more specific about the life and ministry of Christ. He predicted the Child was destined to cause many in Israel to rise and to fall. He proposed that Christ’s life and message would present truth that would be violently opposed. He prophesied that Christ’s presence and work would expose the deepest thoughts and feelings of the heart. Simeon prophesied that as one of Christ’s first disciples, Mary would share in the soul-shaking confrontation of Christ with this world. His mixed blessing is a reminder that all true disciples will know both the blessings and the trials of living for Christ, the Sign that is opposed.

Christ is the Rock of true Israel. Jesus taught that true Israelites don’t have to be biological descendants of Abraham… “And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham” (Matthew 3:9). Through the pen of the Apostle Paul, the Holy Spirit identifies true Israelites as God’s children of promise… “This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring” (Romans 9:8).The Holy Spirit further teaches that faith in Christ identifies the true children of Abraham… “Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham” (Galatians 3:7). It is through the new birth that we are adopted into God’s family, true Israel, the children of promise… “Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise” (Galatians 4:28). Many who believed they were true Israelites stumbled when confronted by Christ the Rock of stumbling… “And he will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem” (Isaiah 8:14). Others rose up to new life through faith in Christ the Rock of salvation… “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame” (Romans 9:33). It is the same today. Many who think they are Christians stumble when confronted by the truth that they must experience the new birth. But true disciples rejoice in Christ because we have been born again and raised to new life by Christ, the Rock of our salvation… “You are my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation’” (Psalm 89:26). Christ is the Rock that separates professing from truly born again disciples.

Christ is the Revealer of hearts. Christ is the One who makes us think and feel differently than we used to. As our hearts are conquered by His truth we hunger for more of it. As our hearts are convicted by His righteousness we strive to walk in the center of it. As our hearts are consumed by His compassion we are more sensitive to His leading to love and to serve others. Faith in Christ transforms the hearts of true disciples and He is revealed through us to a needy world… “For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45). Christ is the Revealer of the hearts of true disciples.

Christ is the Reality that is opposed. Christ is the One who makes my life go in a different direction from the rest of the world. As we grow in our walk with Christ we become more like Him… “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another” (2 Corinthians 3:18). We become a more confronting and convicting presence among unbelievers… “Because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15:19). Christ is the Reality that exposes true disciples to the opposition of the unbelieving world.

As we grow up into Christ we are recognized as true disciples as we are increasingly marked by…

The Sign that is Opposed.