Treasures

Luke 2:25-35 (New International Version)
25Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: 29"Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss[a] your servant in peace. 30For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31which you have prepared in the sight of all people, 32a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel."
33The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too."

what an interesting Scripture passage......one i have overlooked....in fact....i could not have pointed it out before this day....oh sure i have heard of Simeon before......but, get this....Simeon, who was very Godly, and under the control of the Holy Spirit...was compelled to go to the temple......he had been told by the Holy Spirit that he would see the Messiah before he died.....now here is what i find a glorious thing......he went to the temple to see Jesus and told the child , JESUS.....that HE could now dismiss him (Simeon) to death..and in peace, as he had fulfilled his mission...and even more astounding is the fact that he had taken Jesus into his arms and was HOLDING JESUS!!!.....imagine it!.....WOW

.....now how would a normal child handle an adult telling him something like that? (not to mention, while being held in the arms of this man!)......well obviously, Jesus knew exactly what was being said and why Simeon was there.......in fact HE "knew" all along.......and would have been anticipating Simeon's visit! it is hard to comprehend, isn't it??? the whole scene is hard to comprehend!! yet it is so marvelous and glorious!!! it is so heart warming but so curiously hard to understand, and yet so sweet and simple.......an old man is holding the GOD-child.....knowing that he now can die and go to be WITH God.....while he is holding the God child....oh my.....too much for my feeble mind!

and still another very interesting, albeit sobering issue is discussed in these few, short verses,....the sobering fact that Jesus REALLY came to DIE....Simeon told Mary that Jesus would cause the RISE and Fall of many in Israel..(very very HEAVY information, don't you think?)......and he said something else....."the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed".......then he told her that her heart will be peirced..(talk about heavy...would you be ready for that one?)!...what do you think that means??? i am asking you......because i am not sure.......i think it means when Jesus is hung on the cross, she will see her son dying......how about some comments on this???...i copied and pasted the following devotional words from Our Daily Bread a few days ago.......i think perhaps Mary had a few "hints" of what her child had come to accomplish....i am sure she kept her ponderings in her heart......as the Wise Men delivered the following gifts to the Baby Jesus in the few years past....

Gold has always been a symbol of royalty. This gift signaled the wise men's understanding of who this child was, and how we should receive Him. Because of this child, we are transformed from lowly paupers to royalty seated with Christ (Ephesians 2:6). He had to leave the perfection and grandeur of heaven in order to walk among us, trading His royalty for a time, but never losing His deity.

Incense was a symbol of His purity. Because He was born sinless and lived a perfect life, Jesus was that perfect lamb, without blemish, offered up for our sins. Incense was used as a fragrant offering to God. But the beauty of the scent couldn't be released without being touched by fire. Jesus' life became a fragrant offering through the flames of affliction. And in His death, we receive His purity.

Myrrh symbolized death, as it was used for embalming in those times. Nothing says "congratulations on the birth of your baby" like a little symbolic death! As these men laid this odd collection of gifts at the feet of this child, a little shiver had to have run down His mother's spine when that last one was placed before Him. Already Lord? She had to be thinking. Do I have to start letting Him go already? But I suspect Mary knew that to accomplish His purposes on earth, Jesus' life had to end. And now as we seek to follow Him, our lives have to end as He asks us to die to self and to take up our cross and follow Him.

and my thinking on the statement about the thoughts of many will be revealed.....i think this could pertain to how outwardly we call Christ our Saviour.....while inwardly HE is not.....at the foot of the cross it will truly be revealed what is in our hearts........what do you think?

what a passage of Scripture!!!!....dig deep friends......there are many treasures for you to discover!!!

i would love some "convo" on this!!!!