The Testimony of Simeon: Jesus is Destined for the Division of People

New King James Version:
Luke 2:34-35 NKJV Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (35) "(yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."

Ang Bag-ong Testamento (Gihubad sa pinulongang Cebuano gikan sa Griego, by Dr. Gadiel T. Isidro):
Lukas 2:34-35  Ug si Simeon nanalangin kanila ug miingon kang Maria nga iyang inahan: Kini nga bata gipabarug aron sa pagpukan ug sa pagbangon sa daghan sa Israel ug usa ka ilhanan nga pagasupakon, (35) Ug mahitungod kanimo, ang usa ka pinuti molagbas sa imong kalag, aron ang mga pagpamalandong sa mga kasingkasing ikapadayag.

Introduction

We are still in the temple, with Jesus being dedicated to God by his parents. Simeon, led by the Spirit, met baby Jesus, and testified about Him among those who were there. With the Holy Spirit’s revelation, he was capable of recognizing the true identity of Jesus. While this passage is a testimony of the identity of Jesus, this is also a prophecy about Jesus. Here is what Simeon said as we learned last Sunday.

I.        The Testimony of Simeon: “Jesus is God’s Salvation for All” – v. 30-33

A. Jesus is God’s salvation – v. 30

It is God's salvation that he sees in Jesus the Messiah.  Messiah will save His people from their sins. 

To see Jesus is to see God’s salvation.[i]

B. Jesus is a light to lighten or bring revelation to the gentile nations – v. 32a

He came to shine a light of the revelation of God into every nation, every tribe, every kindred and every tongue. He opens up the way of salvation to the nations in a way unknown before his coming.

Isaiah 49:6  And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.

C. Jesus is the glory of Israel – v. 32b

But for Israel, Jesus is glory—that is, his activity represents the realization of promises made by God and thus shows Israel’s special place in his heart (Is 46:13).[ii] Also because, out of the Jewish nation came the Savior of the world.

Today, let’s continue to learn what else Simeon said about Jesus Christ.

II.     The Testimony of Simeon: “Jesus is Destined for the Division of People”

Now what do we mean by that. Let’s continue Simeon’s testimony. Now he’s talking to Mary. This is because Mary will live to experience this. Verse 35: "A sword will pierce even your own soul,” this will be a personal affliction for Mary. While on this day Mary is happy because a baby is born who will redeem Israel, the road ahead will be sorrowful for her. She will witness and experience his own people’s rejection of her son to the point of shameful and painful death on the cross. And there is nothing that she could do.

She will feel a mother’s pain as she watches her son go his own way and suffer rejection, but the sword also reflects the pain anyone who identifies with Jesus feels as the world rejects what Jesus has to offer. Simeon’s remark to Mary is an aside, but an important one, since it shows that identifying with Jesus has painful personal consequences.[iii]

Jesus is the Great Divider of Men. He will cause many to fall. He will cause many to rise. And many will speak against him, and in speaking against him, the hidden thoughts of the heart will be revealed. This baby who is the glory of Israel, who is the light of the world, is also the great divider of the human race.

A.     Jesus is set or destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel (A Stone of Division) - v.34b

Notice, Simeon tells us that Jesus is "destined" to be a stone of division. That word "destined" points to the plan and foreknowledge of God. Isaiah 8:14-15 NKJV He will be as a sanctuary, But a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense To both the houses of Israel, As a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. (15) And many among them shall stumble; They shall fall and be broken, Be snared and taken." God has "appointed, set, foreordained" Jesus to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel.

Jesus is going to be a dividing line. And based upon how people respond to Him, some are going to rise, and some are going to fall. This child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel.

John Gill said, the Jews did stumble at his birth, parentage, and education; at the meanness of his person, and the obscurity of his kingdom; at the company he kept, and the audience that attended him; at his doctrine and miracles, and at his sufferings and death: they fell, through their unbelief and rejection of him, as the Messiah.[iv] John put it this way, "He would come unto His own and His own would receive Him not."

As a result the Gospel was taken away from them, the national covenant between God and them was broken, their temple and city were destroyed, and wrath came upon their nation to the uttermost; but they also fell into everlasting perdition, dying in their sins, through their disbelief of Jesus as the Messiah: this indeed was not the case of all of them; there was a seed, a remnant, but it was the case of many.[v]

Again, John Gill said, the rising here refers to their resurrection in a spiritual sense, from a hopeless and helpless condition, dead in trespasses and sins. Christ is now provided and appointed, for the raising them up out of their low estate; he is the resurrection and the life unto them; he raises from the death of sin, to a life of grace and holiness from him, to a life of faith on him, and communion with him here, and to eternal life hereafter.[vi]

The rock of defense and safety has become the rock of offense because of unbelief. People rise or fall according to their personal response to Jesus. To those who believe, Jesus is the cornerstone, the foundation stone of their faith. To those who reject Him, Jesus is a stumbling stone, a rock of offense on which they fall. 1 Peter 2:4-8 NKJV Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, (5) you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (6) Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, "Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame." (7) Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, "The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone," (8) and "A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense." They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.

Jesus will bring truth to light and in so doing throw all who come in contact with him into a crisis of decision. In that decision, rising and falling, life and death, result.[vii]

Throughout His ministry Jesus proclaimed that the only way to the kingdom, something the nation had long sought, was to follow Him. The ones who did so would receive salvation; they would “rise.” But the ones who did not believe Him would not receive salvation; they would “fall.” These consequences would reveal what they thought about Mary’s Son.[viii]

According to Simeon, Jesus will "cause the falling and rising of many in Israel." He is a stone of division. For some in Israel He is a stumbling stone; for others He is a corner stone. Some have faith in Jesus and believe in Him; others reject Him and want nothing to do with Him.

Now, what about you? Is Christ for you a stumbling stone and a rock of offense, or is He to you a corner stone, the foundation of your faith and life? He has to be either one or the other for, don't forget, He is a stone of division.

B.  Jesus is set for a sign which will be spoken against (A Sign of Division) - v. 34c

It isn't just that people will be divided over Him. There will not only be separation, there will be opposition.  In the end of verse 34, "This child will be a sign to be opposed."  He will represent, He will signify what people hate. They hate righteousness.  To be opposed is the Greek verb antilegomenon, which means “to contest.”  His life is going to be held up and they are going to contest it. They are going to reject Him.  They are going to oppose Him violently.

God gives His people signs as proof of the reliability of what He has said. To a disbelieving generation Isaiah says, (Is 7:14) Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. (Lk 2:12) This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.

When some see the sign that God gives, they believe. The shepherds, for instance, saw the sign the angel told them about, and they believed. And they returned glorifying and praising God.

Most of Israel, however, will not believe the sign the Lord has given. Simeon speaks of this when he says the Child "is a sign that will be spoken against." Many in Israel will oppose and resist Jesus and speak against Him at every opportunity. Simeon is anticipating the rejection of Jesus by the Jewish authorities and the rejection of the early Christian mission by the Jewish nation. In both instances, people scoff at the notion that Jesus is a sign from God. They contest, oppose, and resist Jesus as a sign.

For these people Jesus becomes a sign of judgment. Jesus said in Luke 11:29-32 "This is an evil generation. It seeks a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. (30) "For as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so also the Son of Man will be to this generation. … (32) "The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here.

Do you ever wonder why Christians are persecuted? Do you feel people treat you differently because of your belief in Christ? Well, here’s the answer, Jesus was set for a sign to be spoken against. Even families are divided because one or more members came to faith in Jesus. What is your stand? Those who reject the sign are judged and condemned for that rejection.

C.  Reason for division: That the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed (Revelation of Hearts)

Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

When Jesus stands up, He's going to be a sign and people are going to oppose Him.  And in opposing Him, there's going to be a revelation. Because of Jesus, the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed.

His Gospel was to bring to light the real characters of many people. The enmity to God of some would be discovered by the preaching of the cross. It would show what men really were.[ix]

The way you respond to Jesus reveals what is in your heart. Think about that. If you believe in Jesus and accept His work of salvation, then you are humble because you acknowledge you needed a Savior. But if you reject Jesus, either willingly or ignorantly, and rely on being good and religious for salvation, then you are considered proud, because you think you can earn your way to salvation; you make Christ’s death and resurrection of no use and purpose.

To be saved by Jesus, to enter into Jesus' kingdom, your sin has to be exposed.  If you acknowledge that and embrace that exposure and come to Him for forgiveness, you'll be saved and enter His kingdom.  If you hate that exposure and resent Jesus for doing it, you'll go to hell in your sins.  So, His life was a revelation.  How people responded reveals the condition of their heart.

For some of the Jews, they fell on their faces, repented, believed and were saved.  For most of them, they cursed Jesus and put Him on a cross. Many will receive Him, but His life is going to unmask those who love their sin and hate God. 

Conclusion

The division Jesus brings reveals the thoughts of our hearts. Our response to Jesus is the test, and the answer comes from our hearts. Each person’s response to Him reveals where he or she is before God, either life or death.

When Simeon took the baby Jesus in his arms, he said, “Lord, I’m ready to go home now. I can die in peace.” When it’s your time to go can you say the same? I’ll tell you, you’re not ready to die until you have seen him and known him and trusted him as your Lord and Savior.

What will it be? Will Christ be to you a stumbling stone or a corner stone? The way you respond to Jesus tells you where you are going to spend eternity. Amen.

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[i] Bock, D. L. (1994). Luke. The IVP New Testament commentary series (Lk 2:22). Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press.

[ii] Ibid.

[iii] Ibid.

[iv] Dr. John Gill (1690-1771). John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible (Luke 2:34). Public Domain.

[v] Ibid.

[vi] Ibid.

[vii] Craddock, F. B. (1990). Luke. Interpretation, a Bible commentary for teaching and preaching (37). Louisville, Ky.: John Knox Press.

[viii] Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-c1985). The Bible knowledge commentary : An exposition of the scriptures (2:209). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

[ix] J.C. Ryle. Expository Thoughts on Luke (Luke 2:25-35)