We're going to look at Luke 2, verses 34 and 35. If you found that and you're able to stand with me for the reading of God's word, I invite you to do so at this time for the sake of context. So we're going to back up to verse 22, where Luke begins the narrative that includes Simeon and the coming of Mary and Joseph to the temple to dedicate the Lord Jesus Christ. And it says there in Luke 2, beginning to read in verse 22, and when the time came for their purification, according to the law of Moses, they brought him, that's Jesus, up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. As it is written in the law of the Lord, every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord. And to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtle doves and two young pigeons. And just as a side note, you can find that in Leviticus chapter number 12. Now there was, verse 25, now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. And this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel. And the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came in the spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him according to the custom of the law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace according to your word. For my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel. And his father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 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. This is God's word for God's people. Let's pray. Father, we thank you tonight for your word. And we thank you, Lord, for the beautiful scene that is before our eyes in your scripture. And God, we pray that you would help us as we now look into these things and consider them, Lord, more than just surface level, but really truly consider the words that have been inspired by your Holy Spirit that have come to us through the pen of a man. And so Father, when we read this word tonight, we know that it's truly God speaking. We know that it's truly your word. And so Father, we pray that we would handle it as such. And Father, that we would rightly divide it, that we would understand it and apply it rightly to our own lives. and God, that we would bring you glory and honor and praise for it all. Lord, as your servant, I pray that you would cleanse me of sin and empty me of self and fill me, God, with your spirit. Help me to be a blessing to these, your people, and for it all, we'll give you thanks and praise in Jesus' name. Amen and amen. Thank you for standing. You may be seated. The title of the message tonight is taken specifically from our text, Behold This Child, Behold This Child. This is exactly what Simeon says to Mary and to Joseph, specifically to Mary. There was an address that was given here and it's following the blessing that Simeon has, that he has laid upon Jesus Christ as the baby. I think if we were to be put in the position of Mary and Joseph, and presenting our child in the temple, we probably would have gotten a pretty big head because of all the kind things that was said about Jesus through the voice of Simeon. We all like to look at babies and some babies are certainly cute and that's probably one of the most common statements when somebody looks at your child, oh, look at how cute your baby is. But what Simeon was saying about the baby of Mary and Joseph was quite different. He could care less. could have cared less what baby Jesus looked like. What he was concerned about was what the baby Jesus was there for. He was interested in why this child had come, not just to the temple, but why this child had been given and had come to the earth. And after he gives his blessing there in verses 25 through 27, speaking specifically to Mary. Now, it's likely that the reason that Simeon focuses his attention in speaking specifically to Mary was because after we see Jesus being left behind at the temple and Mary and Joseph are on their journey back home and they realize we don't have our son. They go back and find him in the temple, reasoning with the men in the temple. And after that setting, we don't see Joseph at all. And the reason being, likely, could deduce that Joseph had passed away. And he had passed away much before Christ had began his earthly ministry, first with the baptism, and then as he begins to go and to preach and proclaim the kingdom of God. And so this address was directed mainly towards Mary. It was in the earring of Joseph, but it did not have the same thrust or the same force that it would have to Mary as to Joseph, because Joseph would be removed from this scene. Simeon says some things here in verses 34 and 35, specifically to Mary about this child. Specifically, he calls it an appointment. There in verse 34, again, he blessed them and said to Mary, his mother, behold, this child is appointed is appointed. And again, he's calling them behold. It is a, uh, it is in a term, uh, that is, that is grabbing their attention there. They're called specifically. Mary is called to listen specifically. I want you to hear this. I want you to understand what it is that, that this child is appointed for. And, and when we say appointed for, we're, we're saying that he has been placed here in this time in redemptive history, in this time, in this place, as brother Jim read in Philippians chapter two, at the fullness of time. In other words, it was at the very time that God had ordained that Christ would come. It was not by happenstance. It was not just, well, the year is, it seems right. No, this was God's plan from eternity past. that at this time, at this place, at this moment, the Christ would come, and furthermore, that He would enter into the temple, in the sanctuary, that very day. And Simeon says to Mary that this child has been appointed and specifically for four things we see in this text in verses 34 and 35 that he would be appointed for. So there were four specific effects of the cause of his coming. So the coming is the cause and the effect is this is the appointment of Christ. And we see from this, first of all, again, let's just look at them. quickly or briefly, there's division, there's opposition, there's crucifixion, and there's revelation. These are the four things that Simeon is saying that Jesus was appointed for. And the first one, it is division. Look again at verse 34. Simeon says, behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel. The fall and rising of many in Israel. the Christ child would come. And this, again, the address that Simeon is giving to Mary has an immediate context. The immediate context that Simeon is proclaiming this truth to is to Mary, but also more specifically to the Jew, to the Israelite, to the one who is inhabiting the place of Jerusalem. And so he is focusing primarily on Israel itself, but the application in general reaches far beyond what we see here in Israel itself. So, in particular, it's Israel, it's the Jew, it is the nation of Israel and Jerusalem, but there were also likely, in this idea, again, or in this statement, thinking out much further in what would come in future generations. And so he says, again, the fall and rising of many in Israel. He's talking about a division that would come specifically through Christ himself, and it was prophesied in Isaiah Specifically, we see in chapter 8 of Isaiah verses 14 and 15. Isaiah chapter 7, 8, and 9 are all very prophetic in that they're all pointing towards the Christ. They're all pointing towards the coming of the Messiah and speaking about what he would do when he comes and furthermore, how he would come. In Isaiah chapter 8 and verses 14 and 15, it says, and when he will become, a sanctuary and a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel." Both houses of Israel is referring to the northern and the southern kingdom of Israel. He says, he will be a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And many shall stumble on it. They shall fall and be broken. They shall be snared and taken. So the prophecy of Isaiah and then furthermore, the prophecy here through the voice of Simeon is saying that Jesus himself is going to be the rise, the fall, the stumbling, if you will, or the being able to stand. And it's specifically in Israel through Jesus himself, through this child's life. Paul reiterates these same thoughts in his epistle to the Corinthians, both in the first and his second epistle. In 1 Corinthians 1, verses 22 through 24, Paul says, for Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ, the power of God and the wisdom of God. And then he speaks again in 2 Corinthians 2, in verses 15 and 16, speaking of the difference of the reception of Christ himself for, he says, we, that is the Christian, the apostle, we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. And he says this, he makes a distinction. He's an aroma to both, but he's a different aroma to each. He says to one, a fragrance from death to death and to the other, a fragrance of life or from life to life. In other words, there's a division that comes about. through the person and the work of Jesus Christ. And specifically that division is that they will either accept him as their Messiah, or they will reject him as the Messiah. And can I just again restate the fact that that division has not changed to this very day. Most of the Jewish nation that you would meet today, if you were to ask them about Jesus himself, you will find a very divisive division among the Jews and the Jews to the Gentiles, particularly those who believe in Christ. Many, many, many, most, I would say, Israelites, Jews, by biology, are waiting for, to this day, the coming of their Messiah. They're waiting for something that's actually already taken place nearly 2000 years ago. And so there was a division, first and foremost, in the nation of Israel there in the setting and the time in which Christ had come. And that division continues to this very time. We think about the way that Jesus' own ministry took place, where he would go from city to city and he would go into the synagogue and he would begin to proclaim the kingdom. And there were those who would accept his message and believe it. And there were many, many, many of those who would reject him and seek to take his life. And we've seen the division specifically, or especially, I should say, among the leaders of the church. They would constantly scheme and plot in order to trap Jesus and to take him with his words so that they could destroy him, that they could separate him. And many of the same people that would follow Jesus and benefit from the loaves and the fishes and all the wonderful miracles that he would perform would be the same people that one day, picking those things, those morsels from their teeth, would cry out, crucify. crucify this son. This child was appointed for division, the rising and fall of many in Israel, for the rising and fall of many in the world. Secondly, he says, this child was to be a sign that is opposed, a sign that is opposed. The falling again, verse 34, and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother, behold, this child is appointed for the rising or the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed." A sign that is opposed. The meaning of a sign is that by which the character and truth of the person or thing is known. It's a token or it's a proof. And so the sign that we're speaking about specifically, or that Simeon is pointing to, the sign is the truth concerning Jesus, who he was and what he came to do. And he says, Jesus' life, his sign, it will be opposed. That is to say it is anti-Christian. It is to speak against. So not only will Jesus himself be a dividing factor among the nations, or specifically, again, specifically in Israel, but then in the world in general, but he will also be a sign that is opposed. That is to say that they will speak against him. That is so evident, not only, again, if we look at the context of Christ's earthly ministry, he was often spoken against, and furthermore, the apostles' ministry, as we read the book of Acts and study the books of the epistles, we know that Christ's name, Christ himself, was opposed over and over and over again. But also, again, we're gonna apply this to our context in the day in which we live today, this sign that is opposed Christ to speak against, it is nothing that has not ceased. J.C. Ryle put it this way. He said, men who agree in nothing else have agreed in hating Christ. Think about that. Men who would agree on nothing else can find agreement in their opposition to Christ. The Muslim does not accept Christ as the Messiah. The Jew that will not receive Christ as Lord and Savior would find agreement with that Muslim. What do they agree on outside of that? Nothing. Nothing. Really, truly nothing. And so there's an agreement with the world in general as well. You could take somebody from China or Africa or America or Russia and bring them together. And if they do not believe that Jesus Christ was the son of God, they would agree on those things. Would they agree on world politics? Likely not. They wouldn't agree on much else, but they would speak against the sign of Christ. They would gather together in opposition to or towards the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, there's another aspect to this that really impressed upon my own life, my own heart, when I was thinking about this. That men who agree in nothing else will agree on hating Christ. But inside of the body of Christ, Isn't it sad that we have a hard time sometimes agreeing together in Christ? And I'm preaching even to myself right here, right now. There's so many times that we find ourselves dividing over matters of theology. And let me just say this, theology indeed does matter. It does. But there are times when we as believers in Christ need to set aside our differences in the finer points of theology and join together for the sake of Christ and his gospel, because the world can agree together against us. And if we're going to make an impact in that same world, we need to be united in the gospel itself and be willing to work through even differences that we have, even differences that are important. But nonetheless, there's only one gospel. Christ is not divided. There is only one family of God. and we need to be committed to working together for that same cause. Not only was the name of Christ despised or opposed, spoken against, but Jesus even promised that you and I would experience that same opposition. That because you name the name of Christ, because you bear the markings of Christ, whether it be in your baptism or whether it be in the assembling of the saints together, we bear the image of Christ, we bear the name of Christ, and we also will be hated. The Apostle Paul experienced this, no doubt, in many ways, but at the end of the book of Acts, As in verses 17 through 27, we hear this coming out in the life of Paul himself as he's imprisoned in Rome. In Acts 28, verse 17, it says, after three days, he called together the local leaders of the Jews. And when they had gathered, he said to them, brothers, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. When they had examined me, they wished to set me at liberty because there was no reason for the death penalty in my case. But because the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, though I had no charge to bring against my nation. For this reason, therefore, I have asked to see you and speak with you, since it is because of the hope of Israel that I am wearing this robe. So in other words, Paul says, the reason that I'm going through this persecution is because of the hope of Israel, because of the Lord Jesus Christ, because of the gospel of Jesus Christ. And he said to them, we have received no letters from Judea about you. And none of the brothers coming here has reported or spoken any evil about you. But we desire to hear from you what your views are. For with regard to this sect, we know that everywhere it is spoken Paul's ministry and the ministry of the gospel, it's clearly stated it was spoken against. Where? Everywhere they went. There were those who would receive it, but there were many, many, many who would speak evil against it and would not receive it. It says in verse 23, when they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in great numbers from morning till evening. He expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about both Jesus, both from the law of Moses and from the prophets. And some were convinced by what he said, but others disbelieved. And disagreeing among themselves, they departed after Paul and had made one statement. The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet, go to this people and say, you will indeed hear, but never understand. And you will indeed see, but never perceive. For this people's heart has grown dull with their eyes, or I'm sorry, with their ears they can barely hear and their eyes they have closed. Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn and I would heal them. Jesus was given and he was given to cause or bring about division. And he was brought as a sign of opposition. And then next we see, we next we see in Mary's own life that her soul would be pierced. And this is pointing to another than the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ. Again, it says there in verse 35, and a sword will pierce through your own soul also. So Simeon addresses this specifically to Mary, and he's telling her that your soul will be pierced with a sword. Mary, you are going to experience a unique kind of pain because of this child. I think about specifically when you would tell a mother that, that their child is going to bring about some sort of pain in their life, they would think it impossible. There's not much that can separate a mother from the passion and love of their child and thinking specifically that there's some sort of a chance that this child would bring them that kind of a pain, that it would pierce their soul as a sword. but indeed it was true, it was fulfilled, and it was fulfilled as Jesus himself hung upon the cross. In John chapter 19 in verse 25, it's recorded that standing by the cross of Jesus was his mother. This life is polluted with painful experiences. All of us go through difficult things. Losing someone that you love is indeed a heart-wrenching, sorrow-filled, grievous happening of life, but arguably the most difficult loss is that of a parent losing their child. In the case of Mary, her experience was no doubt extremely painful to observe. And as the Lord Jesus first goes through the mockery of a trial, and Mary helplessly stands by and watches as her son is lied about, maligned in the worst imaginable way, and then beaten, bruised, abused, and mistreated, and she could not do anything about it. As if that wasn't horrible enough, she watched as the hands and the feet of her child were pierced by the nails of the cross. Mary experienced a terrible pain. because of this child. What a joy it was, no doubt, to hold that baby. No doubt what a joy it was to raise a child. Moms, think about this, to raise a child that never said why, that never said you had to repeat a second time to do something. Wow, that's amazing. Now listen, we love our kids, all of us do. I know we do, but again, This was a unique child. This child was perfect. This child did everything right. Simeon says this child is going to pierce your soul and it would happen as she would watch the body of the one who raised the dead to life bow his head and give up the ghost. What a painful sight. What an agonizing sight that must have been for Mary, the mother of Christ. But that crucifixion was necessary. And although Mary did not necessarily understand it fully at the time and at the hour of this crucifixion, she would understand it. And the greatest part about it was that she would have her son once again. That not only would she have her son, but that her son would accomplish salvation on her behalf and that she could ever be with him forever and ever and ever. And then lastly, though, Simeon says, he says, not only is this child for division or opposition and crucifixion, but it's also for revelation. Second part of verse 35, it says, so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed. So that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed. In his book, The Pursuit of God, the author and pastor A.W. Tozer wrote this, what comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us. The most important thing about you is what comes into your mind when you think about God. And we could even say even more specifically, the most important thing about you is what comes into your mind when you think about the Lord, Jesus Christ. Simeon's prophecy brings to bear the reality in a very specific way. In other words, the presence of Christ, his person, his work would shine light upon the heart of every single man. The word revealed in the original language here, the word apocalypto, which literally translated is to remove a veil or a covering which is exposing to open view what was before hidden. And Jesus Christ would be given, he was appointed for the thoughts and the hearts of many to be revealed, that they would be uncovered, that they would be opened up. And how does this happen? How does Christ's presence in this earth bring about this unveiling, this revealing of man's hearts. Well, Jesus is called the light of the world. Jesus is the one who comes and shines light into the darkness. Specifically in John's gospel in chapter 3, very familiar portion of scripture in verses 19 through 21. Jesus says this, and this is the judgment. The light has come into the world and people love the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God. Jesus Christ, as the light of the world, brings you and I, man, humanity, face-to-face with the truth. And the truth is multifaceted. It's the truth concerning the righteousness of God, the truth concerning the sinfulness of man, the truth concerning the one and only way to be reconciled to God. In other words, Jesus sheds light on her. He reveals, he brings the apocalypse of man's hearts. and he does so by revealing what is inside of them, and he confronts us wherever we are and however we are. This revelation displays itself in the way that when we are confronted with the law of God, the truth in Christ, that Jesus was indeed sinless, that he was indeed perfectly obedient to the Father, that Jesus was indeed fulfilling all righteousness, that there was no righteous requirement of God's law, that Jesus was not able to fully live out, that he would not fully obey. And we ourselves find that we do not. The law itself, it shows us that as a matter of fact, we fall short of the glory of God and we do so over and over and over again. And Jesus brings to bear the righteousness of God through that law and through his obedience. And he brings to bear the truth concerning the fact that we are sinners and we are condemned because of our sin. And that he also says, He is the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes to the Father but by me. So Jesus not only shows us who we are, but he shows us what we need. And when we ask ourselves, what is it we need? We see Jesus as the answer for our dilemma. He is the solution. He's the one who reveals what's inside of our hearts. He's the one who brings us face to face with reality. You know, there's a lot of people today that are suffering with an identity crisis. At least that's what we label it as. They're suffering with an identity crisis. They don't know who they are. Can I tell you the biggest reason that people are struggling with who they are is because they do not know who God is. They don't understand their maker, their creator. They don't understand that they were created in the image of God. They don't understand that they were born to have a relationship with this God. They don't understand that this God loved them with an eternal love and gave himself for them. They don't understand that it is their sin that is separating them from this God. They don't understand that Christ is the solution to their dilemma in life. They don't know who they are because they don't know who Christ is. don't know where they're going because they don't know where Christ has been. You and I who have been enlightened that we have the light of God's word, the light of the gospel, the light of Jesus Christ has shown into your life. We are to be a city set on a hill that cannot be hidden to demonstrate to the lost world around us that there is a way, there is a truth, there is a life. And it's found by knowing God and knowing what he has done and accepting and receiving this gift. so that we can be born again, born again, and that our hearts would be transplanted. We'd go from a heart that was stony and sinful, and God miraculously changes our hearts and softens that heart and places inside of us one that is soft and one that is molded and made by himself in the likeness and the image of his son. What a glorious truth this is and what a glorious reality that the world is has been given this savior, that Jesus actually has done this already. You and I are not waiting for our Messiah to come and accomplish salvation. We're waiting for our Messiah to return and to to consummate all things and and that his kingdom would would finally come and that all these things would be judged in righteousness. and we would ever be with the Lord. But the reality is all those who would reject Christ, all those whose hearts are revealed as sinful and stony and rejecting Christ, they themselves will be forever separated from God. They'll forever be separated from the love of God, the grace of God, the presence of God's goodness. Thankful tonight that the revelation that we have before us brings to bear revelation in our own hearts and the question we would ask this Specifically, what have you done? with the Lord Jesus Christ How has his presence in this world? affected you Because there's only two options You've either looked at Christ and you've decided you don't need him. You don't want him. You don't believe in him. I And you have that option. Or you've looked at Christ and you've seen what he's done, that he lived sinlessly, he died sacrificially, he rose victoriously, and you see that that is your only hope, that there's not an earthly thing you can do to save yourself, but you believe wholeheartedly that Christ's death was more than sufficient. to save your life. And if you're in that place tonight, I believe that you would echo the words found in Romans chapter 10 verses 9 through 13. Because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the scripture says, everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame, for there's no distinction between Jew and Greek. For the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. You don't have to have the right name at the end of your signature. You don't have to have the right prefix before your signature. You don't have to be a Jew. You don't have to be an American. You have to be one who receives the Lord Jesus Christ, confesses Him with your heart and with your mouth that He is Lord to the glory of God the Father and believe on Him and you will be saved. What a glorious truth and what a wonderful hope that we have this season. Wonderful reminder that this child, it was no ordinary child. This child was the one who was appointed and he was appointed specifically to be the salvation for the world. And I hope and pray tonight that you can say with confidence in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior of your life. Let's bow and pray at this time. Father, We thank you for your word, and we pray, God, that tonight that we would see Christ afresh and anew for all that he's done, for all that he is, for everything that has been accomplished. Father, some of these things are not necessarily in a positive light, but God, we know that they're all for your glory. And so, Lord, I pray that if there's a heart here tonight that has never with their heart believed and with their mouth confessed that you are the Christ, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and believing, receiving, that they would call on your name, seeking for the forgiveness of their sins. Lord, repenting of the same. Father, I pray that you would move and work in our hearts and our lives. And Father, if there's none that fit that description here tonight, I pray that, Lord, that if nothing else, that God, these things would move us to worship you greater and deeper. And also, Lord, to share this good news with those around us. And so Father, now as we transition our time, as we worship you, not just in word, but now in the ordinances of the church and in the Lord's table, we pray God for your blessing upon this as well. And Father, we give you thanks and praise for all these things. In Jesus' name, amen and amen. This time I would ask if,