Mary's Greatest Agony

MARY’S GREATEST AGONY

LUKE 2: 33-35

INSIGHT:

LUKE 2: 34-35 (THE LIVING BIBLE-PARAPHRASED) SIMEON BLESSED THEM AND SAID TO MARY, “A SWORD SHALL PIERCE YOUR SOUL, FOR THIS CHILD SHALL BE REJECTED BY MANY IN ISRAEL, AND THIS TO THEIR UNDOING. HOWEVER, HE WILL BE THE GREATEST JOY OF MANY OTHERS. AND THE DEEPEST THOUGHTS OF MANY HEARTS SHALL BE REVEALED.”

SIMEON’S ADDRESS TO MARY INDICATES HIS INSIGHT INTO THE PROPHECIES THAT FORESHADOWED THE SUFFERING OF THE MESSIAH.

SIMEON ALLUDES TO ISAIAH 8: 14-15 AND 28: 16 AS HE SPOKE REALITY TO HER.

THIS CHRIST CHILD WOULD BE A SOURCE OF STUMBLING FOR MANY BUT A SOURCE OF EVERLASTING LIFE FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN HIM. PETER WAFFLED AND DENIED KNOWING CHRIST BUT FINALLY REPENTED AND BECAME A DEVOTED APOSTLE. JUDAS ISCARIOT BETRAYED CHRIST BY KISSING HIM AND TURNING HIM OVER TO THE SANHEDRIN PRIESTS FOR THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER. HE LATER HANGED HIMSELF OUT OF GUILT AND REMORSE.

ADDITIONAL REFERENCES: 1 CORINTHIANS 1:23 AND 1 PETER 2:7-8

APPLICATION: JESUS WAS A SPIRITUAL DIVIDER OF SOCIETY. REJECTION OF THE CHRIST CHILD WAS MARY’S GREATEST AGONY!