The Fall & Rising Again Of Many

 

 

What will you do with Jesus Who is called Christ?

Whatever you decide will determine your destiny - either your "fall" or "rising again."

 

Luke 2:34 - "...Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against."
1 Peter 2:8 - "AND A STONE OF STUMBLING, AND A ROCK OF OFFENCE, even to them which stumble at the Word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed."
Hebrews 12:3 - "For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds."
John 9:39 - "...For judgment I am come into the world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind."
                                                                           

John 9:39 records the statement of Jesus telling us one of the reasons why He came into the world - for "judgment." That word "judgment" means condemnation of wrong, damnation, condemnatory sentence, as well as the decision - whether severe or mild - which one passes on the faults of others. It would be safe to say that He came to make a clear-cut distinction between right and wrong, Truth and Error, His people and His enemies.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                          

Contrary to what others say or think - the World as a whole does not love Him.

Only those who obey His commands truly love Him(John 14:15).

 

Not everyone is saved, Born-Again, or a Christian who professes to be so. Only those who have repented of their sin, surrendered all of their life to His Lordship, and are doing His Will are truly saved. God makes no exceptions for any one. His Word is plain and simple. There is a marked distinction between the Christian and the sinner as outlined in the Holy Scriptures.

 

Luke 2:34 tells us of the time when Simeon, in the temple, held the Christ Child in his arms and prophesied unto Mary about Jesus - "...Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against."

                                                                                                                                               

What did he mean by these words?

They are not very positive, are they?

What impression would you get if someone prophesied these words over your child or over yourself?

Would you feel encouraged and uplifted or concerned and even a bit disturbed?

 

The word "set" means destined, appointed, constituted for, or such will be the effect of His coming.

 

What then was this child destined or appointed for?

What will be the effect of His coming as prophesied by Simeon?

 

"...for the fall and rising again of many in Israel..." - In other words, the child was appointed by God for the "fall" of many - their misery, suffering, disappointment, ruin, crash, and downfall. At the same time, He was appointed by God for the "rising" of many - their conversion to God, moral recovery of spiritual Truth, being raised to life again, pardon of sin and peace, and rising from sin and sorrow to eternal life.

 

So we see two very opposite reactions to the Lord Jesus as prophesied by Simeon.

Many would be ruined by His coming, while others would be saved.

 

Simeon also prophesied that Jesus was destined by God to be "...for a sign which shall be spoken against." This word "sign" is taken from the archers. It means a mark to shoot at.

 

Jesus would be a conspicuous and distinguished object of contempt and rejection "spoken against" - contradicted, denied, disputed, declined to obey, and refused to have anything to do with.

 

We see from the Scriptures that He will not be received by all. In fact, Hebrews 12:3 tells us that He "...endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself..." The word "contradiction" means opposition, rebellion, strife, gainsaying, disobedience, dispute, and contrary argument.

 

From whom did He receive "such contradiction"? From "sinners."

 

It's interesting to note the definition of the word "sinner" used here. It is one who is devoted to sin, not free from sin, especially wicked, and preeminently sinful.

 

This certainly does not describe God's separated and holy people. They do not oppose, rebel, disobey, and dispute Him and His Holy Word. Only sinners do. Nor are they devoted to sin, still living in sin, especially wicked, and preeminently sinful. This is a fit description of a sinner - not a saint!

 

Just as Simeon prophesied that the Christ Child was set for the "fall" of many, even so the Apostle Peter demonstrated - by picturesque terms - the rejection of many to the Lord Jesus.

 

"A STONE OF STUMBLING" - Christ would be a stumbling block to some. The word "stumbling" implies an obstacle in the way which if one strikes his foot against it, he stumbles or falls. Christ would be that over which a soul is caused to sin or an occasion of apostasy.

 

Peter also described Jesus as a "ROCK OF OFFENCE." By reason of His strength and firmness, Christ Jesus is likened to a Rock. The word "Offence" means an impediment placed in the way, causing one to stumble or fall, or an occasion to fall. It's taken - from the moveable stick or trigger of a trap - to denote a snare.

 

You may be wondering - How can Jesus be a means of stumbling or offence to anyone?

 

The answer lies in the next few words - "even to them which stumble at the Word, being disobedient." 

 

Because of their rebellion, stubbornness, refusal to obey or comply with God's commands - sinners are said to "stumble at the Word." Instead of the Word of God being a means to freedom and liberty, it becomes a means to harm, whereby the sinner trips up. It is said to ruin the sinner rather than rescue him.

 

We see from the Scriptures that the Lord Jesus can either be a "Sanctuary" for us or a "Stone of Stumbling,"  "Rock of Offence," "Gin," and a "Snare"(Isaiah 8:14). He can be a "Savour of Life unto Life" or a "Savour of Death unto Death"(2 Corinthians 2:16). It all depends on what we do with sin and disobedience in our lives.

 

The Scriptures tell us the wrath of God comes upon the children of disobedience(Ephesians 5:6).

Not all have obeyed the Gospel (Romans 10:16).

There are those who are "DISOBEDIENT AND GAINSAYING PEOPLE"(Romans 10:21).

To these people, the Lord Jesus is a "Stone of Stumbling" and a "Rock of Offence."

To these, He was appointed by God for their "fall."

But to those who have totally turned from sin, He is their "rising again."

 

Jesus came into the world for "judgment"(John 9:39) - to make a clear-cut distinction between those who are blinded in their sin and those who can see and are free from sin; those who belong to the devil and those who belong to the Lord.

 

What will you do with Jesus Who is called Christ?

Whatever you decide will determine your destiny - either your "fall" or "rising again."

 

2 Corinthians 13:5 admonishes us with these words - "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves..."