Luke 2:28-35 28 Simeon took Jesus in his arms and praised God, saying, 29 "Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; 30 for my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel." 33 And the child's father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, "This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed 35 so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed-- and a sword will pierce your own soul too."
Not long ago, a young pastor met together with two counselors who specialize in counseling pastors. One male and one female. "An event" had happened in this pastor's ministry that was both baffling and spiritually painful. The pastor spent the first hour with the counselors explaining in painstaking detail all that had happened. The pastor tried to lay bare every fault and flaw in their own personality hoping the counseling team would identify what the pastor could have done differently to stop "the event." The pastor was expecting (actually longing) to hear, "The bad news is that you need to work on x,y, and z. The good news is that we know exactly how to teach you to do better." This pastor was a fast learner and believed with God's help they would be able to overcome whatever personal flaw had led to "the event" - they just needed help figuring it out.
At the second hour of counseling, the pastor jokingly said, "So just give me the facts - show me a plan - fix me!" But the counselors didn't give the pastor advice as to what they could do differently in the future. Instead the counselors begin to tell the pastor the story of the Messiah - the same story that Simeon told Mary in the verses above: "Jesus came for the good of the world... he loved everyone of the people in the world... he revealed the truth to the world. And yet, although some would accept him and be resurrected, he was destined to cause others to reject him and collapse. What people chose to do - to accept him or reject him - would demonstrate what was truly in their hearts."
The counselors walked the pastor through Jesus' trial - through the terrible torture and death of Jesus. The pastor listened on as the counselor described Jesus' mother, Mary, standing at the cross and witnessing the death of her son. He told the pastor that Jesus' soul was pierced because the world whom Jesus loved rejected him. And although Mary's heart must have broken as she watched her son die, in reality, her soul was pierced for the same reason Jesus' soul was pierced: because the people whom her son had taught her to love had rejected their salvation. They rejected Jesus and his way. And then the counselor substituted the pastor's name for Mary's name in Simeon's speech. He said, "Pastor, a sword has pierced your soul too." None of us is perfect - Mary wasn't perfect either. But "the event" wasn't about the pastor any more than Mary's life was about her. Jesus and his way were either rejected or accepted in the hearts of those involved years before "the event" ever happened. This was just exposing what was already there - a milestone.
Just as Simeon warned Mary, I am warning you. God will give you a great love for those who need him - some will accept the way of Jesus through your witness and some will reject him. It isn't about you - it is about Christ. And though it is not your fault, it will hurt to watch others turn and walk away.
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