From The Manger To The Cross

“Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, and many others to rise. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.” -Luke 2:34-35

As it is the custom, eight days after Jesus’ birth, He was taken to the temple to be circumcised. While all of the rituals were being observed, there amongst them stood a devout and righteous man, Simon. He had been led by the Spirit there that day.

Immediately, he recognized who this baby was. He blessed the child and His parents. But, then, there was a prophecy. A prophetic word that I’m sure didn’t make sense to His parents. A word that must have pierced the heart of Mary. A word that no mother wants to ever hear on the dedication of her child, “...And a sword would pierce your very soul.”

Imagine the shock on the face of Mary! Mary was never told by the Angel her son would be beaten beyond recognition, nailed to a tree, spat on, cursed, made fun of, stripped of his clothes, and pierced. No one told her, her little bundle of joy would be treated like a criminal and ultimately murdered for doing nothing wrong. Total opposite would be true. Jesus healed the sick, fed the crowds, and raised the dead.

Perhaps, you might be thinking what does all of this have to do with the Christmas story? It’s a happy time, why would you write about His death at Christmas time? Why be gloomy in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the beautiful Christmas season? The Christmas story has everything to do with this.

I promise you that I’m not being gloomy! The opposite is true. I’m rejoicing because a Savior was born. He was born to break the bondage of death and restore us to God. He took my sins and yours and nailed them to the cross on His back. Every disease was healed, and every yoke and burdened he released from us. Everything broken was restored, and every person was set free. This is what that baby in the manger ended up doing-reconciling man and God.

Mary, a woman who was found to be highly favored amongst all women, by the Holy and Great God had to go through the worst trial any mother could possibly go through, watching her child die at the hands of those whom He had blessed. Imagine the pain! No, actually, none of us can imagine because none of us have lived through that kind of agony.

Today, I would like us to meditate on this passage, especially, “.. As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed.”

Smack in the middle of Simon’s prophecy, God reveals some ugly truth. “Deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed.” Isn’t that what ended up happening? Starting with his closest disciple, Judas. Truth is only God knows the hearts of people. Betrayal still takes place in our world. Often times it comes from those who are the closest to us. It’s very hurtful and extremely painful.

Jesus’ birth still stirs the deepest thoughts of our hearts, and what’s in the heart always comes out. The revelation-good or bad-of what is truly in our hearts is always revealed.

Mary had her heart pierced. I would say, totally ripped apart, broken, crushed, and left filled with unbearable sorrow. These are just a few words, I’m sure she would tell us more. What she had to endure I don’t think we can totally describe. She wasn’t expecting her miraculous birth of this child to end in such a horrific death.

Today, I bring you good news! Those few days of Mary’s indescribable pain turned to pure joy when her son rose from the dead. I might not know of the pain you are going through, and you may be wondering when it will be over. I’m letting you know this baby boy Jesus grew up to be a man, who took whatever the trial, test, and terrible pain to the cross. His birth was majestic, and His death was victory for us.

Whatever God has allowed to pierce your heart, please know Jesus took it to the cross, and you are an overcomer. It’s power has been broken, and you have been declared victorious. What might seem as an end is not.

Yesterday, in prayer, God asked me a question. It was a question I didn’t want to answer. I’ll share the question with you. He asked me, “Are you angry at me?” It was instant, and God’s reply, “Do you think I don’t know the answer to my question? I’m God. I am well aware of what’s in your heart. You can tell me truthfully how you feel.”

He didn’t stop there. He went ahead and showed me where I was holding a little bit of anger. God never lets us get away with anything. God reminded me, strongly, asking me question after question, with answers! And by the time He was done, I had a very quick attitude adjustment.

This morning, as I’m still reflecting and reading on the birth of our Savior, this passage jumped up, letting me relive God’s questions and answers of yesterday.

Let me wrap it up by clearly saying life sometimes isn’t as we think. Those promises and dreams don’t match what we envisioned, but this is where we make our biggest mistakes. We remain in the manger, and then there is a cross. But it’s at the cross that the greatest victories are won. The manger produced what was needed to go to the cross.

We don’t go to the manger for our victorious living. We go to the cross. This means our hearts must be pierced to reveal what’s truly in it.

Dr. Teresa Allissa Citro, Chief Executive Officer, Learning Disabilities Worldwide, Inc., Founder and President, Thread of Hope, Inc.

INSIGHT: Who would ever have thought that the Glorious Risen Victorious Savior would have such humble beginnings! However because of the humility of our Savior, He took on the form of a man, being born as a baby, and became familiar with us in the form of flesh. In other words, Jesus can relate to you and me, our trials and the sufferings, our joys and sorrows, because He came to earth and dwelt among us. What are you believing God for? Has He revealed anything to you that you need to confess to Him and repent of? Are you going through circumstances that are overwhelming for you?

MEDITATE: "So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most." -Hebrews 14-16

Overwhelming victory is ours through Christ whom God gave us! Because our Savior Jesus, God's gift to us, went from the manger to the cross, you are able to endure whatever comes your way because of His mercy and grace extended to you through the Gift that once laid in a manger and is now our Risen King of kings who understands everything we go through. Whatever you are going through, know you were given victory because of what Jesus did for you on the cross. You are a child of the Most High God. Walk in the victory He gave you so long ago and still provides for you today.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for being faithful to your character and being so generous by sending Jesus to this world and for giving me the privilege and honor of being able to know Him. Thank You for the victory You have given me over my situation and trials. Lord, you are the Way Maker, and I know You deliver me. You are the God Who Carries Me. And Lord, keep me steady on the path You have laid out for me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Linda A. Knowles

Executive Director

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