consolation?

There’s a line from the movie The Princess Bride that I think of a lot: “You keep saying that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.” This morning, reading in Luke 2, I wanted to apply it to Simeon.

Take a look at the verses that struck me, verses 25 and then 34 and 35:

“Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. . . .

“Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “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. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

The word I’m wondering about is “consolation.” I always thought it had something to do with, maybe, consoling. I didn’t really think someone called the consolation would cause the falling and rising of many, or would be an unwelcome sign that revealed heart-felt thoughts that people wanted to keep to themselves. Nor should he be a sword that pierces his mother along with everyone else.

But that’s Simeon’s prophecy for Jesus.

It reminds me that God sees what we need, not what we think we ought to have. Israel would only be consoled through a restored relationship with God, and for that to happen Jesus first had to confront them with their sin and call them to repentance. His life would always be opposed by people who were part of the status quo, and welcomed those who longed to be changed.

It’s not a consolation I would choose for myself, to be confronted and convicted and humbled. But it’s the consolation I need, because it leads to forgiveness.