Friday, December 29, 2017
Fifth Christmas Day
Luke 2:34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too."
HE WAS WOUNDED FOR OUR TRANSGRESSIONS
We look at our young children sometimes and wonder what they will be when they grow up. Will she be an art collector or a police officer? Will he be a writer or a business owner? There are so many gifts God gives that can be used in so many different ways.
Perhaps Mary was asked that question when Jesus was young. "What do you think your son will be?" Would she have said, "Human sacrifice"? Simeon told her that the Child would be "a sign that will be spoken against" and that He would "cause the falling and rising of many in Israel." It was prophesied correctly that the Christ would have a turbulent earthly life, finally leading to great sorrow for mother Mary as she gazed upon Him at Calvary.
Yet this is the reason for His birth. This is the reason the angels can sing "on earth peace" -- because Jesus has come in human flesh to offer Himself as the perfect sacrifice for sin on behalf of all other humans. He was born only so that He could be wounded for our transgressions, pierced for our iniquities, and raised again for our justification.
What brought Thee to the manger,
O Christ-child sweet and dear?
Thy love for me, a stranger--
Oh, be Thou ever near!
O Lord, how great is this Thy love
That reaches down from heaven above,
Thy love for us, by sin defiled,
The made Thee, God, a child!
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 89:3)
