Luke 2:35. (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,)
This favored woman had the greatest smart to go with her great honour. She saw the suffering and anguish of her son; and the nearer you are to Christ, the more of sorrow it will cost you, sorrow which you may be well content to bear. You know how it is put in that hymn of which many of us are very fond, -
"If I find him, if I follow,
What his guerdon here?
Many a labour, many a sorrow,
Many a tear.’"
Yet, I say again, you may be well content to bear it all for his sake; for you remember what the next verse of the hymn is, -
"If I still hold closely to him,
What hath be at last?
‘Borrow vanquished, labour ended,
Jordan past.’"
Luke 2:35. That the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
Christ and his cross are the revealers of the thoughts of men’s hearts. Men’s hearts can conceal their thoughts until Christ’s cross comes near; then the old enmity rises up, the heart rebels, and we see what is really in men’s hearts.
Luke 2:35. (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,)
This favored woman had the greatest smart to go with her great honour. She saw the suffering and anguish of her son; and the nearer you are to Christ, the more of sorrow it will cost you, sorrow which you may be well content to bear. You know how it is put in that hymn of which many of us are very fond, -
"If I find him, if I follow,
What his guerdon here?
Many a labour, many a sorrow,
Many a tear.’"
Yet, I say again, you may be well content to bear it all for his sake; for you remember what the next verse of the hymn is, -
"If I still hold closely to him,
What hath be at last?
‘Borrow vanquished, labour ended,
Jordan past.’"
Luke 2:35. That the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
Christ and his cross are the revealers of the thoughts of men’s hearts. Men’s hearts can conceal their thoughts until Christ’s cross comes near; then the old enmity rises up, the heart rebels, and we see what is really in men’s hearts.