Advent Day 16: Born to Die

On Day 15 we met Simeon who was waiting diligently for the Christ. Luke tells us about Simeon's joy at seeing the Messiah and the blessings he bestowed on the child and his parents. But then Simeon turned his attention to Mary in particular and gave an oracle that was anything but comforting

Luke 2:34-35
"And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, 'Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.'"

What must the new mother have been thinking in this moment? Often it is not something out of place that takes us aback but the stark laying out of truth that causes us to pause in shock. Mary was given no illusions about how her son's life would progress. Tragedy loomed in the future. Surely she had known the prophecies concerning the Messiah and she had the assurance of the words of the angel in Luke 1:30-33. This opposition to which Simeon alluded would touch Mary's life in such an intense way, "and a sword will pierce through your own soul also". I cannot imagine a more accurate description of what Mary must have went through watching Jesus not only be opposed but condemned and crucified.  

So many times we focus on Christ's title of Prince of Peace that we forget the other side of the coin. Jesus came as a 'sign that is opposed'. The Prince stepped into hostile territory, which remains hostile to this day, to bring a message that would either be wholly accepted or wholly rejected. Surely this type of radical message would bring suffering to the one who carried it. The image of Christ as the suffering servant as described in Isaiah 3 was never separated from his identity, even as a new born baby. He was born to die.