The Piercing Sword

Advent Day #17

And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. Luke 2:34-35

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John 1:14

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

Under the Holy Spirit’s influence, Simeon prophesied the pain that would come from the Word being made flesh and dwelling in the world. Before Jesus came, people went on their way justifying, whitewashing, normalizing, and covering their evil thoughts, words, and actions. Comparing with fellow sinners made this justification easy until the fulfillment of the Law arrived and demonstrated exactly what God expected of men. Suddenly, the light shined on their exposed, sinful hearts, and there were only two ways to respond. Allow God’s sharp knife to cut out the embedded sinfulness for healing or run from His ministrations. The outcome could only bring healing when God was allowed to cut out the excuses and pour out His healing grace into the wounds left by sin.

Mary’s heart had to face this sharp scalpel too, not only for her own sin, but as she watched her son bleed for the sins of all mankind. The pain of the moment, however, would give way to eternal healing. She spent much time pondering these things in her heart, but she never ran from the pain. She was at the cross until Jesus sent her home with His disciple, John.

We too must make this same choice to yield to the Word made flesh or hide from it. Letting Him cut out the bitterness, anger, envy, selfishness, idolatry, hate, and justification will hurt, but the outcome is wholeness and healing. Will you let Him ?