Connected Christianity

Simeon offers a very interesting blessing and prophecy when he holds the baby Jesus in Luke 2. Luke says that Mary and Joseph “marveled” at what Simeon said (2:33). Seeing as how a man they had never met walked up to them, took their baby, and proclaimed a not-completely-pleasant destiny for him, I would think Mary and Joseph were downright freaked out.

The first thing Simeon says about Jesus is that he will be “a light for revelation to the Gentiles” (2:32). As a God-fearing Gentile, I need to pay attention to this. The light of revelation sounds great, but it also brings discomfort. That’s what’s interesting about Simeon’s proclamation: while Jesus will certainly bring salvation, he’ll make a lot of people uncomfortable.

As with any light, newfound brightness can shine away the confusion of darkness with its illumination, but it can also reveal the things we try to keep hidden. Such are the pros and cons of illumination: it shows us what we want and don’t want to see. The more things we have to hide, the more uncomfortable it will make us, even to the point of not wanting the lights turned on at all. That’s why Simeon says Jesus will be “a sign that will be spoken against” (2:34). Many people, such as religious leaders like the Pharisees and Sadducees, will reject Jesus because they don’t like what his light shows.

This forces me to ask the question, “If the light of God causes both ‘falling and rising,’ and it reveals ‘the thoughts of many hearts’ (2:34-35), what will it reveal about me?” I wonder if the light of revelation will cause me to rise or fall. Are there parts of Jesus’ message I don’t like? How easily do I ignore God’s calling of extreme humility and sacrificial love? Instead of one day being surprised by everything that God’s light reveals, I need to make sure that light is always illuminating my life. If there is anything that might cause me to fall, I want to notice it and repent before I hit the ground.