The Messiah Simeon Waited For

Day 40, The Stone of Judgment

Daniel 2:34-35, 44-45 34 As you were watching, a stone broke off without a hand touching it, struck the statue on its feet of iron and fired clay, and crushed them. 35 Then the iron, the fired clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were shattered and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors. The wind carried them away, and not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.

“In the days of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, and this kingdom will not be left to another people. It will crush all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, but will itself endure forever. 45 You saw a stone break off from the mountain without a hand touching it and it crushed the iron, bronze, fired clay, silver, and gold. The great God has told the king what will happen in the future. The dream is true, and its interpretation certain.”

Today is the final post as Jesus as the rock, the stone. This one is completely different. The others have focused on setting our foundation on the rock that is our Lord and Savior or as the cornerstone that is a stumbling block. But this is neither of those. In this passage, the rock, the chip off the mountain is a weapon.

This passage comes from Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the great statue. It symbolizes all the great civilizations of the world. In the dream, the Babylonian king who Daniel served was represented by the head of gold. Thus, his portion had the most honor. But the greatest of worldly terms has no strength or respect in light of the rock formed, carved, and broken without hands.

When Nebuchadnezzar had this dream, he was rightly frightened. He could sense the power and majesty of the rock that hit the mighty statue. That stone, without even really trying, demolished all the best civilization had to offer. Or as it says in Revelation 19: “A sharp sword came from His mouth, so that He might strike the nations with it.”

When Jesus returns, the world will fall and call him Lord. The sword he strikes them with is the truth of the word and of prophecy. Here, he judges the best that people can create without him and finds it wanting. Because we can do nothing without him who gives us strength.

So in the end of days, the rock that makes men stumble, the cornerstone that supports us, and the rock that acts as our foundation, will have fulfilled all prophecy.

At that point, there will be no reason for the civilization of humankind. All will have heard. All will have been given an opportunity to accept Jesus. Or as Simeon said, ‘the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed.’

A Sixty-Day Countdown to Christmas


More Days

Introduction to The Messiah Simeon Waited For

Holding Jesus

Day 3, A Sketch of Simeon

Simeon Was a Godly Man

Day 5, Simeon's Testimony

Day 6, Prophecies for the Gentiles

Day 7, Blessing to Nations

Day 8, A Holy People

Day 9, Welcoming God's Firstborn

Day 10, The Name of Simeon

Day 11, Staying Alive

Day 12, Following the Spirit

Day 13, Taking Up Jesus

Day 14, God's Slave

Day 15, True Peace

Day 16, Seeing Reality

Day 17, The Intent of the Law

Day 18, For All Peoples

Day 19, Making Mary and Joseph Marvel

Day 20, A Blessing

Day 21, Hinting at the Rest of the Story

Day 22, Mary Will Grieve

Day 23, Making Simeon into Simeon

Day 24, Prophet to the Prophets

Day 25, A Priest Like Melchizedek

Day 26, Destined for Sacrifice

Day 27, Jesus and the Passover Lamb, part 1

Day 28, Jesus and the Passover Lamb, part 2

Day 29, Jesus and the Passover Lamb, Part 3

Day 30, Jesus as the Lamb (con.)

Day 31, Simeon as a Man of Gratitude

Day 32, Sacrificing Lambs in the Old Testament

Day 33, The Silent Lamb

Day 34, The Messiah as Light

Day 35, Jesus the Stumbling Block

Day 36, Jesus as the Rock

Day 37, The Precious Cornerstone

Day 38, The Stone in Zion

Day 39, The Cornerstone and the Gate

Day 40, The Stone of Judgment

Day 41, Into Zion First

Day 42, Restoring the Booth of David

Day 43, Forgotten Stones

Day 44, Blessed to Receive

Day 45, Crown Him with Many Crowns

Day 46, Identifying the Son of God

Day 47, The Best Storyteller Ever

Day 48, In Bethlehem, the City of David

Day 49, Born a King

Day 50, The Living Jesus

Day 51, The Mountain Tree (Part 1)

Day 52, The Mountain Tree (Part 2)

Day 53, The Root of Jesse

Day 54, David's Branch

Day 55, The Cursed Tree

Day 56, Time Fulfilled

Day 58 through 60

Day 57, Born David's King