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Joseph and Mary Dedicate Jesus
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not walking in the way of the Lord, and their eyes were not open to
see the Light of life.
Things are still this way. All heaven focuses its attention on
events that religious leaders do not recognize. People acknowledge
Christ in history, but they are no more ready today to receive Christ
in the poor and suffering who plead for relief, in the righteous cause
that involves poverty and scorn, than they were two thousand years
ago.
As Mary looked at the Child in her arms and remembered
the words the shepherds had spoken, she was full of bright hope.
Simeon’s words called to her mind the prophetic message of Isaiah:
The people who walked in darkness
Have seen a great light;
Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,
Upon them a light has shined. ...
For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,Everlasting Father, Prince
of Peace.
Isaiah 9:2-6
The Anguish Christ’s Mother Must Know
Yet Mary did not understand Christ’s mission. Simeon had
prophesied of Him as a light to illuminate the Gentiles, and the
angels had announced the Savior’s birth as tidings of joy to all
peoples. God wanted everyone to see in Him the Redeemer of the
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world. But many years must pass before even the mother of Jesus
would understand.
Mary did not see the baptism of suffering needed to bring about
the Messiah’s reign on David’s throne. In Simeon’s words to Mary,
“A sword will pierce through your own soul also,” God in tender
mercy gave the mother of Jesus a hint of the anguish that she had
already begun to bear for His sake.