The Baby King

Luke 2:34-35

And Simeon blessed them and said to His mother Mary, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and as a sign to be opposed—and a sword will pierce your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” (NASB)

This time of year, I usually read the Christmas story in Luke and Matthew. It’s a story that’s full of wonder. . . and questions. For example, what was this star that guided the three wise men to Jerusalem? And who told them about the birth of the King of the Jews? Obviously God orchestrated all these things. It would be fascinating to know the details of these events.

As I read Luke 2:34-35, I paused a moment. It is an intriguing passage. God had promised Simeon that he would not died until he had seen the Messiah. That promise was fulfilled as Simeon held the baby Jesus in his arms. Holding baby Jesus, Simeon praised God and then said to Mary,

“Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and as a sign to be opposed—and a sword will pierce your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

Many in Israel would be raised and many would fall because of Jesus. Many who were downtrodden, despised, suffering, would be made to stand again. Others who were self assured, proud, powerful would fall. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 2, “we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, and to the Gentiles foolishness.” Later in Galatians, Paul also refers to the cross as a stumbling block. Even today, Jesus will trip people up; He will cause people to crash and crash hard. On the other hand, He will also raise and restore people. He will give new life.

Not only will people rise and fall because of Jesus, their most inner thoughts will be revealed. We can pretend and craft carefully the best façade, but an encounter with Jesus will cut straight to the heart and leave the façade in shambles. There’s no pretending when one is face to face with Jesus. There’s no spinning the truth, no putting the best foot forward. Jesus knows all and sees all. In Hebrews 4, the author writes, “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him to whom we must answer.”

It’s a paradox that the Prince of Peace is also call a stumbling block. The one who says in John 16, “in Me you may have peace. . .” also says in Matthew 10, “Do not think I came to bring peace on the earth: I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” Jesus is the Lamb of God and the Lion of Judah. Two thousand years ago, Jesus was judged and crucified. Sometime in the future, the Judged will become The Judge. Jesus is not unlike a fork in the road that upon its encounter, one must choose. And how one chooses determines whether they rise or fall; and what’s in their heart will be revealed. When we are face to face with Jesus, there is no abstaining; one must cast their vote.

The Baby born in Bethlehem two thousand years ago is the focal point of human history. The son of God stepped into human history with neither fanfare nor pageantry but came in humility. Besides the announcement to a few shepherds, His arrival on the world stage was muted and unassuming. Yet His unbecoming arrival betrays His identity. As Charles Wesley writes in one of his hymns, “Born a child and yet a King, born to reign in us forever.” Jesus is the King and as King He cannot be ignored. Not many knew about the baby Jesus two thousand years ago, but one day all will know and all will bow before the King of kings and Lord of lords.