THE FALL AND RISE OF MANY - A Christmas Devotion on Luke 2:34

 

“And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel” (Luke 2:34)

The holiday classic, A Christmas Story (1983), is well-known for its hero Ralphie’s mission to get a Red Ryder B.B. Gun for Christmas. The boy pursues many schemes to influence his parents, his teacher, and even a store Santa in hopes of fulfilling his fantasy of becoming a sharp-shooting sheriff – all while dismissing the warnings of adults that he’ll shoot his eye out. If you don’t already know, I’m sure you’ve guessed. Spoiler Alert: Injuring his eye (breaking his glasses!) is exactly what happens when Ralphie gets his Ryder B.B. Gun for Christmas. He heard the warnings but couldn’t see the truth. A great example of “Be careful what you wish for.”

For almost half a millennium, the Jewish people had lived under foreign rule by a succession of pagan empires. Most recently, the Roman Empire occupied Israel, polluting the promised land in the eyes of many Jews. The people longed for a messiah to sit on David’s throne, for salvation from their Roman enemies, and for God to return to his Temple (Luke 1:68-71, 74, 77-79; 2:30, 32; 19:45-48). But throughout the prophetic witness of God’s inevitable deliverance, there was an ominous undertone: Who can endure the day of his coming? (Mal 3:1-2; Mark 1:2-3; Luke 3:4, 8, 16-7; 7:27; 19:41-44; 19:11-27; 20:9-19). In Simeon’s prophecy, he speaks to this point: God’s deliverance will be great for many in Israel, but not for all. As Mary notes in her poem, God “brings down the rulers and exalts the humble” (Luke 1:52). There will be a reversal of fortune when God acts (Luke 6:20-25; 16:19-31). When hope arrives, God will balance the books (Luke 4:18-19; 7:22-23; 14:7-24; 18:18-30; 19:1-10; 21:1-4; 22:24-30). Be careful what you wish for. Are you ready?

Like Ralphie, we often long for a great hope to be fulfilled and a glorious outcome to realized, but we don’t often see the truth when we hear the warnings of what that hope will look like. We want God to bring revival, reform, and renewal, but we don’t think that when God answers our prayers, that WE will be the one revived, reformed, and renewed – often by “painful” measures! With whatever sin you are currently struggling, with whomever you are treating as less than yourself, pray to God for help turning away from such behavior. Heed the biblical warnings that result from such sins. In this way, when God does act mightily, you will see the truth, recognize the time, and be ready when hope arrives (Luke 19:41-44).