This one-word title is quite graphic. What comes to your mind when you read it? The word is used sparingly in the Scriptures. But when it is, it’s powerful.
Mary’s heart
After the birth of Jesus on the first Christmas, his parents took him from Bethlehem a few miles away to Jerusalem. There the eight-day-old baby was circumcised as a symbolic act of obedience which went back to the days of Abraham many centuries before.
As Joseph and Mary entered the temple courts, they met an elderly man named Simeon. It was a divine appointment as God had directed them to meet (see Luke 2:25-28). As Simeon held the Christ child, he praised God and prophesied. In his prophecy, he declared that Jesus was indeed the Messiah (the Christ, the anointed One) that God had promised to send as Savior not only for Israel but for the whole world (see Luke 2:29-32).
Joseph and Mary were amazed by this positive and powerful prophecy concerning their newborn. But he wasn’t finished. Simeon then turned to Mary and prophesied over her as well.
But the tone changed. “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed.” It indicated that Jesus’ future ministry of salvation would not be easy. And then he ended with this – “And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
Jesus’ heart
True to Simeon’s prophecy, Jesus’ three-year ministry was not easy. He had taught revolutionary truths that had never been heard before. He had performed incredible miracles that had never been seen before. But the religious establishment had felt threatened as the masses followed this wonder-working rabbi. And with “insider help”, they succeeded in having Jesus arrested, tried and sentenced to death by crucifixion.
Along with two criminals, Jesus was stretched out on a roughly hewn cross where his wrists and ankles were pierced with spikes. His life slowly ebbed away by blood loss, chronic pain and suffocation until Jesus let out a final cry and “breathed his last” (Luke 23:46).
The Jewish leaders wanted the bodies removed before the Sabbath so requested the Roman governor to order their legs broken. This would speed death as the victims could no longer push up to breathe. The soldiers did this to the criminals but saw that Jesus had already died. “Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.” (John 19:34) The spear was thrust between Jesus’ ribs straight into his heart to guarantee death. Modern medical science affirms that “haemothorax” (separation of blood into two parts) is conclusive evidence of death.
Jesus’ mother was at the foot of her son’s cross and witnessed all these things firsthand. And, as she did, Simeon’s prophecy was fulfilled, “A sword will pierce your own soul too.”
A believer’s heart
A few weeks after these traumatic events, the apostle Peter spoke to a large crowd in Jerusalem. He was a changed man. His darkest hour had been when he denied his Master three times and then witnessed his death at a distance. But his finest hour was meeting Jesus alive again and hearing his forgiveness, restoration and commissioning to help lead the emerging Christian movement.
On the day of Pentecost (50 days after Jesus’ death), he delivered a powerful message explaining Jesus’ identity and purpose. He concluded with these words – “God has made this Jesus whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah” (Acts 2:36) The next verse describes how the crowd responded: “… they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’”
The hearts of 3000 people were pierced with conviction of sin that day and led to repentance, faith, forgiveness, salvation and baptism. It was the beginning of “the rising of many in Israel” that Simeon had prophesied at Jesus’ birth.
In different ways Mary’s heart, Jesus’ heart and the people’s hearts had all been pierced. What about yours?
Rob Weatherby is a retired pastor.
