Falling Precedes Rising!

The cliche goes, "The bigger they are, the harder they fall."  It is not a question of whether people fall:  sooner or later everyone falls.  The more well-known a person is, the bigger the media splash will be.  When Jesus came to earth as Immanuel - God made flesh - He came to a fallen world.  He came to a world cursed by sin and death.  Eight days after His birth to Joseph and the virgin Mary, they brought Him to the temple in Jerusalem to be circumcised and to give a sacrifice according to the law.  A just and devout man named Simeon was led by the Holy Spirit to be in the temple at that time.  After taking Jesus in His arms and praising God, Luke 2:34-35 says "Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against ³⁵ (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."  As verse 34 says, a fall must precede the rising.  Man has fallen because of sin, and only God can raise him up by His grace.

Though Jesus was without sin, He too had to fall before He could provide life through the Gospel.  John 12:23-24 says, "But Jesus answered them, saying, "The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. ²⁴ Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain."  Before Jesus could be glorified, He needed to lay down His life on Calvary as a sacrifice for sin.  He had to die before He could be risen.  Just like a single head of grain from which many seeds fall, each growing into plants that produce more grain, Christ's death has led to exponential increase for the kingdom of God.

There is great consolation for us who comprise the fallen humanity on earth.  Instead of lamenting our fallen condition in despair, it is in our recognition of it in through confession, repentance, and trusting in Christ that salvation comes.  Skilled athletes and the infirm both fall, children both learning to walk and the strongest of men fall every day.  We can fall into sin and bondage spiritually as well.  But it is Christ who raises us from the dead and lifts up our eyes to see Him in unbridled glory.  His resurrection from the dead after three days of being dead is the ultimate sign to all of His victory both over sin and subsequent death.  What hope and life we have in Christ!  It is not a hope to be experienced after the death of the body, but after the death of sin in our bodies.  Once we have received the Spirit of God through the Gospel, we are risen with Christ and seated with Him.

Colossians 3:1-3 exhorts us, "If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. ² Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. ³ For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God."  Since we have been raised with Him, let us live for Him!