A PIERCING SWORD
(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)
Can you imagine the pain of mother Mary as she stood at Golgatha? I believe that she must have remembered the prophecy of Simeon, "a sword shall pierce through thy own soul". Was it not the child that was prophesied to become the saviour of Israel? Is this how to save the world? Did she dream of the child becoming a Moses like prophet or like Samuel or even like David? How shocked she must have been to have heard of all the assassination attempts on her son, one of which almost occurred in their own hometown (Nazareth). Did the people know that He was suppossed to be the saviour of Israel?
She must have prayed hard that the word of angel Gabriel will somehow come to pass. It was not a dream she had seen, she had really seen an angel and as such, one of a high standing as Gabriel! Her dreams were over, her son was going to die prematurely; she was going to bury her own son! She heard about His arrest. Whether she went to the mocking trial or not we are not told. This one thing we are told was that she was there as her bruised, battered and bruised son was nailed to the tree trunks. Every nail driven through His limbs were like a sword piercing through his soul. Was this the plan of God? If God was all powerful, why should these things happen? The other disciples also felt the pain as they saw their beloved teacher and friend suffering upon the cross.
Has a sword ever pierced your soul even as you try serving the LORD? You may or may not have but it is a real thing. This is what was written about the LORD Himself. "For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds." (Hebrews 12:3). As He hang upon the cross, His earthly life might have flashed infront of Him. He might have remembered all the happy moments, the miracles and the adoring crowds. He must have remembered all the showdowns with the authorities, the Pharisees and Saduccees. Well, this is the end, death upon a cross as if He were a common criminal. No wonder He cried out "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?" (Psalm 22:1)
In His service, the LORD never promised us easy times. He actually promised us tribulation![bless and do not curse] "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33). Moses had so much heart ache as he led the Israelis across the wilderness. I remember Elijah so discouraged after the contest on mount Carmel. "But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord , take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers." ( I Kings 19:4).
I have had so many soul piercing experiences in my walk with the LORD. I have suffered a few contradictions too but yet I believe that the LORD's purpose in my life will come to pass. No matter what the pain, the LORD will give the grace and I keep going on until my final day.
So Mary watched her son die, a sword piercing her soul. She heard His voice from the cross when she committed her to the care of John the beloved. Then how painful having to watch Him being taken down from the cross and being buried. Wished I could have seen her joy and delight three days later when she heard the news that He had risen from the dead. Her sorrow had turned into joy, her darkness into light.
"For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." (Psalm 30:5)
(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)
Can you imagine the pain of mother Mary as she stood at Golgatha? I believe that she must have remembered the prophecy of Simeon, "a sword shall pierce through thy own soul". Was it not the child that was prophesied to become the saviour of Israel? Is this how to save the world? Did she dream of the child becoming a Moses like prophet or like Samuel or even like David? How shocked she must have been to have heard of all the assassination attempts on her son, one of which almost occurred in their own hometown (Nazareth). Did the people know that He was suppossed to be the saviour of Israel?
She must have prayed hard that the word of angel Gabriel will somehow come to pass. It was not a dream she had seen, she had really seen an angel and as such, one of a high standing as Gabriel! Her dreams were over, her son was going to die prematurely; she was going to bury her own son! She heard about His arrest. Whether she went to the mocking trial or not we are not told. This one thing we are told was that she was there as her bruised, battered and bruised son was nailed to the tree trunks. Every nail driven through His limbs were like a sword piercing through his soul. Was this the plan of God? If God was all powerful, why should these things happen? The other disciples also felt the pain as they saw their beloved teacher and friend suffering upon the cross.
Has a sword ever pierced your soul even as you try serving the LORD? You may or may not have but it is a real thing. This is what was written about the LORD Himself. "For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds." (Hebrews 12:3). As He hang upon the cross, His earthly life might have flashed infront of Him. He might have remembered all the happy moments, the miracles and the adoring crowds. He must have remembered all the showdowns with the authorities, the Pharisees and Saduccees. Well, this is the end, death upon a cross as if He were a common criminal. No wonder He cried out "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?" (Psalm 22:1)
In His service, the LORD never promised us easy times. He actually promised us tribulation![bless and do not curse] "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33). Moses had so much heart ache as he led the Israelis across the wilderness. I remember Elijah so discouraged after the contest on mount Carmel. "But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord , take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers." ( I Kings 19:4).
I have had so many soul piercing experiences in my walk with the LORD. I have suffered a few contradictions too but yet I believe that the LORD's purpose in my life will come to pass. No matter what the pain, the LORD will give the grace and I keep going on until my final day.
So Mary watched her son die, a sword piercing her soul. She heard His voice from the cross when she committed her to the care of John the beloved. Then how painful having to watch Him being taken down from the cross and being buried. Wished I could have seen her joy and delight three days later when she heard the news that He had risen from the dead. Her sorrow had turned into joy, her darkness into light.
"For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." (Psalm 30:5)
