THE WORD 4 ev 1

Today’s reading is Luke 2 (click here for link)

“Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary… a sword will pierce your own soul too." Luke 2:34-35

Today Joseph and Mary take Jesus to the temple where they are greeted by the Old prophet and prophetess, Simeon and Anna. Both recognize him as the promised Savior and praise God because of him. However, while all the sudden attention might have surprised Joseph and Mary, there was some news that Mary was perhaps not ready to hear. Simeon uses the metaphor of a “sword” to describe the suffering that Mary too will face as the mother of God—she would witness her son’s suffering, even his suffering on her behalf because Mary too was a sinner.

But it is strange that Simeon would use a sword as his metaphor, because this comparison will become surprisingly literal as we read through the New Testament. Have you ever noticed how prominent a role the sword plays in the Scriptures? In Jesus preaching, he reminds his followers that comes “not to bring peace but the sword.” Later, the mob that had Jesus arrested in the garden of Gethsemane was armed “with swords and clubs.” Of course, Peter’s reaction was to strike with his own sword, cutting of the ear of one of the high priest’s guards. Finally, a soldier will use a variant of a sword—a spear—to pierce Jesus’ side as he hangs on the cross. It is no wonder that the disciples, while in the upper room, ask Jesus if two swords will be enough to face the dangers ahead (Luke 22:38).

In fact, Mary is not the only one who will experience a soul-piercing sword. We do too—thank God! Hebrews 4:12 reminds us that, “the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” In Ephesians 6:17, Paul calls attention to “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Yes, we are all to be cut to the quick. Jesus means that for us.

The sword hurts to be sure, but it hurts that it might also heal. Jesus Christ said that when the Holy Spirit came He would convict of sin, and when the Holy Spirit stirs up a person’s conscience and brings him into the presence of God, it is then that we feel the sword most sharply. It is our relationship with God that bothers us more than anything else in this life-- "against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, and done what is evil in Thy sight." Yet, even in this pain of realization of our sinfulness under the gaze of an almighty and righteous God, surprisingly, there also forgiveness and holiness are given through the blessed reality of what Jesus has done for us. That is what Repentance does; it always brings a man to this point: I have sinned. The surest sign that God’s sword is at work is when a man says that and means it. Only then can we understand Jesus as Lord.

Yes, the sword is God’s greatest Law, but it is Law so that it might be Gospel.

Pastor Aaron