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From Heaven With Love
in the righteous cause that involves poverty and reproach, is no more
readily received today than He was nineteen hundred years ago.
As Mary looked upon the child in her arms and recalled the words
spoken by the shepherds, she was full of bright hope. Simeon’s
words called to her mind the prophetic utterances of Isaiah: “The
people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that
dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light
shined... . For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and
the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall
be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting
Father, The Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah 9:2-6
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The Anguish Christ’s Mother Must Know
Yet Mary did not understand Christ’s mission. Simeon had
prophesied of Him as a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the angels
had announced the Saviour’s birth as tidings of joy to all peoples.
God desired men to behold Him as the Redeemer of the world.
But many years must pass before even the mother of Jesus would
understand.
Mary saw not the baptism of suffering by which the Messiah’s
reign on David’s throne must be won. In Simeon’s words to Mary,
“A sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,” God in tender
mercy gave to the mother of Jesus an intimation of the anguish that
already for His sake she had begun to bear.
“Behold,” Simeon had said, “this child is set for the fall and
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rising again of many in Israel.” They must fall who would rise again.
We must fall upon the Rock and be broken before we can be uplifted
in Christ. Self must be dethroned. The Jews would not accept the
honor that is reached through humiliation. Therefore they would not
receive their Redeemer.
“That the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” In the light
of the Saviour’s life, the hearts of all, from the Creator to the prince
of darkness, are revealed. Satan has represented God as selfish. But
the gift of Christ testifies that while God’s hatred of sin is as strong
as death, His love for the sinner is stronger than death. Having
undertaken our redemption, God will spare nothing necessary to the
completion of His work. Having collected the riches of the universe,