Thought from today’s Bible reading from Matthew 1; Luke 2:1-38.
When Joseph and Mary came to Jerusalem to present the child Jesus to the Lord at the temple, they were met by a devout man named Simeon. God had revealed to Simeon that “he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ” (Luke 2:26). When Jesus was brought to the temple, Simeon was able to be a witness of God’s promise in Christ. He first praised God, then briefly explained to Mary what Jesus’ role was going to be:
“And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, ‘Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed’” (Luke 2:3).
Mary had already been told, “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end” (Luke 1:32-33). Joseph had already been told that Jesus would “save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). These passages emphasize the blessings that would come to man through Christ.
But Simeon mentioned more than just blessings and goodness coming from Christ. Jesus was “appointed for the fall and rise of many.” Jesus certainly came to save man from his sins. Yet many would reject Him and continue to be disobedient to God. For these individuals, Jesus would be appointed for their fall.
Peter described those who would stumble over Christ and why they would stumble:
“For this is contained in Scripture: ‘Behold, I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious corner stone, and he who believes in Him will not be disappointed.’ This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, ‘The stone which the builders rejected, this became the very corner stone,’ and, ‘A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense’; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed” (1 Peter 2:6-8).
If we do not believe and obey the Lord, we will stumble over Him and will eventually be destroyed. Let us instead take advantage of His salvation through faithful obedience.
Tomorrow’s reading: Matthew 2; Luke 2:39-52
[I’m using the Chronological reading plan on the Bible Gateway website if you’d like to follow along, too.]
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