A Sword to Your Soul

00:00:00 Speaker 1: But those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint Isaiah forty thirty one. Dear Heavenly Father, in our weariness and in times of exhaustion, this verse is a beacon of hope. Help us to continually place our trust and hope in you, knowing that it is only through you that we can find renewed strength and vitality when we feel like we can't go on. Remind us to look and wait upon you and to rely on your boundless strength. Teach us to soar like eagles, with a perspective that rises above our present circumstances, focusing on your eternal promises. May we run the race before us with endurance, knowing that you are with us every step of the way, empowering us to press forward. Thank you, Father for the assurance that, no matter how tired we may feel, you are our source of strength and renewal. In the powerful and loving name of Jesus, we pray, Amen. Thank you for praying with me today. Stay tuned now for another episode of Stories of the Messiah with Rabbi Schneider. 00:01:41 Speaker 2: Jesus was eight days old, and as was the custom, he was circumcised and dedicated to the Lord. When it was time for him to be dedicated at the Temple, Mary and Joseph traveled with their sacrifices to Jerusalem. The journey from Bethlehem to Jerusalem was not far. In fact act, Mary and Joseph found joy in traveling without turmoil and danger. They slowly walked the path with anticipation and faith. Joseph led Mary and Jesus to the Temple gates, his eyes wide with reverence as they approached the magistic structure. Its walls were vast and magnificent, arrayed with gold, ivory, and cedar, standing as a testament to the glory and majesty of God. The descendants of David approached the Temple, their hearts filled with surreal awe, their footsteps echoing with the weight of both history and prophecy. 00:02:37 Speaker 3: Welcome to another Christmas episode of Stories of the Messiah i'm Ethan from the Jesus Podcast. Today's episode is taken from Luke Chapter two, verses twenty one through thirty five. Mary and Joseph, as was the custom of the day, took Jesus to be circumcised and dedicated in the Temple. As they entered the temple, they'll meet a stranger with the found message of hope, salvation, and warning. Before we begin today's story, let's talk about the significance of circumcision on the eighth Day. As you already know, my ministry is dedicated to showcasing the message of Christ in the Old and New Testaments. This act of circumcision on the eighth Day is a significant Jewish custom with deep meaning and spiritual weight. Jesus's circumcision on the eighth Day was more than a cultural custom. It was an act of obedience to God's command and a symbol of the covenant relationship between God and his people. Circumcision in the Old Testament represented an external sign of an internal commitment to follow God's ways. By following this command, Mary and Joseph align Jesus with the traditions of Israel and the promise God made to Abraham. In Jesus, this covenant finds its fullest expression the God Man. Jesus Christ embodies the perfect obedience we fail to attain. Through faith in him, we enter into a new covenant where the sign is not physical circumcision, but the circumcision of our hearts. Paul made that very claim in Colossians chapter two, verse eleven, when he said in him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ. Through Christ, we are all brought into the promise of Abraham. With that knowledge. Let's immerse ourselves in this story and meet a man named Simeon, who was waiting for the fulfillment of a promise made by God. After this story we will mind the depths of Simeon's prophetic statements. 00:04:58 Speaker 2: Sitting under the shadow of the templed gates was a man named Simeon. His face was etched with the lines of age and wisdom. His eyes were filled with a patient longing. He sat there quietly every day, watching his new born children were brought in to be dedicated. The thought of new life being raised in the love of the lord enlivened him a spark that sustained him through the long, slow march of time. Yet there was one child in particular he was waiting to see. For years, Simeon had waited to see the Messiah enter the temple gates. The Lord had told him long ago that he would witness his coming, so he waited patiently, his spirit attuned to the heartbeat of Eternity, his soul resonant with the whispers of the Lord. Age had fought against Simeon's will for quite some time, but he was determined to see God's promise fulfilled. He prayed in the shade of the temple walls, his voice a soft murmur, his mind filled with visions and dreams of redemption, until the Holy Spirit on his heart. Simeon opened his eyes and his breath caught in his throat as he saw Mary and Joseph entering the temple courtyard with a baby. Simeon's old heart fluttered in his chest, a wild hope igniting within him. His bones ached as he limped over, his voice trembling with emotion. Could this be? He shouted towards Mary and Joseph. Tears fell down his cheeks as he hobbled over to the child, his body quivering with a joy that defied description. Startled Mary stepped back, holding Jesus close. She recoiled with surprise until she caught a glimpse of the man's eyes much like the shepherd's. She could sense that this man knew exactly who Jesus was. God had whispered it to him in the quietness of his heart. The man who trembled before her was not a stranger in a sense. He had known of this child for far longer than her. His eyes were like glassy pools, reflecting in them the joy of the Lord overwhelming. An honest joy could be seen in those ancient, knowing eyes. Simeon extended his reach for the new born Jesus. Instead of recoiling again, Mary rested him in Simeon's trembling arms. He held the baby, tears of joy streaming down his gray beard, his hands cradling the child like someone would a chest of gold. In Simeon's gaze was the look of someone who had found his life's purpose. He held the boy up, his voice filled with wonder and gratitude. 00:07:30 Speaker 4: Oh my God, now I may rest in peace, for I have seen your salvation and held it in my arms. 00:07:41 Speaker 2: He's the radiance of your glorious grace. Simeon leaned down and whispered something into the boy's ear. He kissed Jesus's forehead and gently handed him back to his mother. The old man put a hand on his chest and sighed a breath of relief. The weight was over. Simeon had seen salvation. Mary was speechless. How could this man know so much about Jesus. Simeon fixed his eyes on Mary, his hands holding his shoulders, his gaze piercing her very soul be worn. 00:08:15 Speaker 5: If my child, this baby is destined to make many fall and rise. Nations will be built on his shoulders, and many will stumble because of him. He will expose the deep darkness of the heart and restore light to those who love him. However, many will seek his life, and a sword will cut straight through his very soul at the sight of it. 00:08:49 Speaker 2: His words were a prophecy, a blessing, and a warning, all woven into one, a tapestry of destiny that would unfold across time and space. After to dedicating Jesus in the temple, Mary and Joseph departed back to Bethlehem. They remained there in a small home near the very inn that showed their mercy. It was a sanctuary where they could nurture their child and build a place of love tenderness and honor towards the lord. Joseph worked in town, thriving despite his family's rejection. They remained there while Mary recovered, awaiting God's next prompting. In the quiet bliss of Bethlehem, with its green, rolling hills and lush open fields, they found solace and strength, their hearts filled with the knowledge that they were a part of something greater than themselves. They were the guardians of a promise, the bearers of a hope that would ignite the world, And in the soft cooing of their baby, they saw the reflection of eternity. As night draped over the horizon, Joseph and Mary cradled the babe in their arms as they looked out at the stars. A peculiar star fixed above them like a guardian angel. Its light was radiating brighter than the others, pulsing with light like a beating heart. Little did they know this star was a signal beckoning a group of noblemen from the east. They were masters of astronomy and prophecy. Some called them alchemists, others called them kings. Legends would herald them as Magi. 00:10:24 Speaker 3: Simeon's patience is a beautiful illustration of what it means to wait on the Lord. Waiting is often associated with inactivity, but biblical waiting is an active trust in God's timing, plans and promises. Simeon was not idle. He was in the temple daily waiting and watching, fully confident in God's faithfulness. Psalm chapter twenty seven, verse fourteen says, wait for the Lord. Be strong, and let your heart take courage. Wait for the Lord. Isaiah chapter forty, verse thirty one one says, but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint. These scriptures remind us that waiting on the Lord is a process of renewing, strengthening, and hopeful anticipation. Simeon's waiting culminates in a profound moment of revelation, pointing to a God who keeps his promises. When Simeon finally beholds Jesus, he gives a prophetic encouragement and warning. Simeon's prophecy is rich with significance. He describes Jesus as God's salvation and the light for revelation to the Gentiles. This highlights Jesus's universal mission, extending grace and redemption to all nations. His prophecy also foretells division and opposition. Jesus will become a sign that is spoken against, causing many to fall and rise in Israel. The Gospel message, while a source of joy to many, will also expose hidden sins and lead to rejection by others. This emphasizes the polarizing impact of Jesus's message and the choices people must make in response to him. Simeon's words to Mary were both poignant and prophetic. He foresaw that a sword would pierce her soul. This spoke of the pain that Mary would endure, particularly as she witnessed the rejection and crucifixion of her son. Mary's maternal heart will bear the weight of the world's salvation, a joy mingled with immense sorrow. In a broader sense, the piercing of Mary's soul symbolizes the cost of discipleship. Following Jesus entails joy and fulfillment, but also suffering and sacrifice. This passage, beautifully portrayed in the Biblical adaptation, offers timeless lessons for our walk with God. It speaks to our covenant relationship with Him, the importance of patient trust, the universal reach of Christ's redemption, and the deep and sometimes painful love that follows faith. As we celebrate Christmas, let us embrace these truths, holding them close, allowing them to shape our lives, and sharing them with others, as the shepherds did with reverence, joy and humility. In the face of the Christ's Child, we find all the promises of God fulfilled, a hope that anchors our souls, and a love that compels us to worship and witness. May the story of Jesus's dedication and Simeon's prophecy inspire us to dedicate ourselves afresh to God, to wait on him with hope, embrace the mission of Christ with courage, and to love Him with a love that pierces our very souls. In our next episode, we'll travel east across deserts and open plains. Some Wise, men of power and influence notice an anomaly in the stars, leading them on a journey to meet the prophesied King of the Jews.