Truly Seeing Jesus

“Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” – Luke 2:34-35

Simeon’s words in the Temple weren’t new—they were ancient truths wrapped in fresh clarity. Everything he said about Jesus was rooted in the Old Testament, yet spoken with Spirit‑given insight. He declared that Jesus would cause “the fall of many in Israel,” because many would stumble over a Messiah who didn’t fit their expectations. Isaiah had already said He would be “a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense” (Isaiah 8:14, NKJV). Israel longed for a political deliverer, a king who would overthrow Rome. But Jesus came to overthrow something far greater—sin and death itself. And while some would fall over Him, Simeon also said many would rise. Those who believed would be lifted up, built upon Christ the cornerstone, the One who aligns the entire structure of God’s people (Ephesians 2:20). Imagine Simeon holding the very foundation of the church in his arms.

Then Simeon turned to Mary with a painful prophecy: “A sword will pierce through your own soul also.” This was not for Joseph—this was for Mary alone. She would watch her Son suffer. She would see Him beaten, mocked, and crucified. She would stand at the foot of the cross and feel every blow in her own heart. Luke tells us she “pondered these things in her heart” (Luke 2:19), trying to piece together God’s plan even when she didn’t fully understand it. Like many of us, she saw the puzzle pieces long before she saw the picture. And Simeon added one more truth: Jesus would reveal “the thoughts of many hearts.” He would expose unbelief, pride, and hidden motives. He would reveal who truly belonged to God. Many in Israel missed Him—not because He was hidden, but because their hearts were.

But Simeon didn’t miss Him. Simeon saw Jesus clearly because he was a just and devout man, sensitive to the Holy Spirit. He embraced the Messiah and found peace. Real peace. Lasting peace. The kind of peace that makes a man ready to live or ready to die. And that same peace is offered to us. If you want peace in this world, it won’t come from circumstances, success, or comfort. It comes from seeing Jesus—truly seeing Him. Simeon saw his Messiah, and he was ready to go. May we see Him too. May we embrace Him with the same clarity, the same devotion, and the same peace that filled Simeon’s heart

“Christ exposes the true nature of every heart. How a person responds to Him reveals their spiritual condition.” – John MacArthur