Verse from Luke

西面给他们祝福，对他母亲马利亚说：“看哪！这孩子被立，要叫以色列中许多人跌倒，许多人兴起，又要成为反对的目标，这样，许多人心中的意念就要被揭露出来。”(路加福音 2:34, 35)

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.” (Luke 2:34, 35)

Simeon knew that though on the surface little had changed—Herod still ruled, Roman troops still occupied Israel—underneath, everything had changed. God’s promised redemption had arrived.

The cradle without the cross misses the true meaning of Christ’s birth.