A Pierced Heart: History in His Story. Isaiah #15
The day my Empire fell: The story of Shimeon
Inspired by | Isaiah 40: 1-12 | Isaiah 61: 1-2 | Matt 3: 1-3 | Isaiah 1: 16-20 | Prov 11:1 | Luke 3: 7-14 | ch 4:16-21 | Psalm 51:7 |Ezek 36: 26 | Luke 19: 1-4 | Other extra biblical sources below.
Shimeon had built his life brick by brick, deal by deal, lie by lie. As a merchant, he had climbed higher than most in the bustling markets of Judea. His wealth was evident in his richly embroidered robes, the gold rings on his fingers, and the fine horses he owned. But for all his success, Shimeon’s heart was as hollow as the empty warehouses he had left behind when venturing to trade.
He often justified his methods. “Its business”, he would mutter under his breath after outmaneuvering a competitor or squeezing an extra denarius from a desperate farmer. After all, wasn’t survival in Roman-occupied Judea about shrewdness? And yet, as he walked through the sun-scorched wilderness one afternoon, the heat could not explain the growing discomfort inside him.
The Voice in the Wilderness
Shimeon had heard rumors of a man in the Jordan wilderness, a wild prophet clothed in camel’s hair who dared to rebuke even the Pharisees and Sadducees. Curiosity gnawed at him, and against his better judgment, Shimeon veered from the main road to see this spectacle.
As he approached, he heard a voice so determined it seemed to shake the ground beneath him.
A voice of one calling in the wilderness: Prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
The words echoed in Shimeon’s soul. His steps faltered, and he stood frozen, listening as this man calling the people to repentance.
Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together.
Shimeon’s hands trembled. He remembered the old stories his mother used to tell, of their ancestors in Babylonian exile. Isaiah had spoken these same words to comfort them, to promise a return, to speak of a king who would bring God’s people back to their land. His ancestor Eliab had returned around 444 BC (see #14 Isaiah). Shimeon realized with shame that had he been there, he would have stayed in Babylon; clinging to the wealth, the luxury and the opportunities for business.
Now, the same words he had heard his mother speak from Isaiah pierced his heart. Had his life been any different? He had chosen comfort, power, and wealth over the calling of God, building walls around his heart as thick as the walls of Babylon.
Shimeon felt a stirring within him, he wanted to go towards this man John, listen further. But his thoughts were interrupted: “Master, the merchants await you in Jericho” his servant said.
It was a strange moment, inwardly wanting to stay longer. Yet reflexively walking towards the call of a business deal. Shimeon turned and left, but his soul was in turmoil.
The deal must be made!
The Synagogue Encounter
Almost 2 years had passed since feeling the stirring of Isaiah’s words within his heart. He remembered the day. He remembered it because something had changed in him. There was a discomfort in him that never left his beating heart: No business deal, no profit, no pleasure could take it away. It was his cousin Raphu (see #14 Isaiah) who had told him about a man they called Jesus. “The lame walk, cousin, the blind see, broken hearts are healed” Raphu told him “They say he could be ‘The One’”. His cousin’s eyes burned with passion as he spoke, and Shimeon though he even glimpsed tears welling up in Raphu’s eyes. Shimeon envied his cousin; Raphu walked closely with God, and though he lacked the most basic of luxuries, Shimeon saw that the finest silk and riches could not satisfy his beating heart.
It was a few days later, Shimeon was on the way to Sepphoris in Galilee for business, he would pass through Nazareth to see if there were any skilled craftsman worth hiring. As he was walking through Nazareth, he heard a commotion outside the synagogue. It was the Sabbath, and the streets were quieter than usual. A crowd was gathered, and Shimeon, ever curious, moved closer. Inside the synagogue, a man stood reading from the scroll of Isaiah.
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.
The man rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and said, Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.
Shimeon’s breath caught. This man was Jesus of Nazareth, the one Raphu had spoken of. As Shimeon stood there, his heart ached. The words pierced him anew, and the weight of his sins: The lies, the cheating, the selfishness pressed down on him like a millstone. As if the two years since that day in the wilderness had ripened his heart for the words that Jesus had spoken, because the words offered to take even the heaviest of burdens.
A day of Truth
That night, Shimeon couldn’t sleep. The words of Isaiah and the significance of Jesus’ declaration echoed in his mind. He paced the room, staring out at the stars, wondering if God could ever forgive a man like him. One thing he knew, he could not carry on as he did before.
The next morning, as Shimeon was preparing his short journey to Sepphoris. He came across a throng of people. It did not take long to learn that they were listening to Jesus. His heart skipped a beat. Being a short man, he could not see anything that was happening behind the crowd. “What would Jesus want with a liar and a sinner like you” his thoughts jeered. Despite them Shimeon took a deep breath, and did what no man of his status would do, he climbed up a nearby tree. He had to, to see Jesus.
Shimeon gripped the rough bark of the tree, his heart hammering as he peered through the branches. Below, the crowd pressed in around Jesus, their voices a mixture of awe, murmurs, and desperate pleas. Shimeon had seen beggars before, had walked past blind men, had brushed shoulders with the weary and the sick in the marketplace. But something was different here. These people were not just seeking healing—they were seeking Him.
Jesus moved slowly through the throng, his hands touching some, his gaze meeting others. Then, without warning, he stopped.
Right beneath the tree.
Shimeon felt his stomach twist. He held his breath.
And then—it happened.
Jesus lifted his head. His eyes locked onto Shimeon’s.
A thousand thoughts surged through his mind. He knows. He sees me for what I am. He sees every deception, every stolen coin, every moment I chose wealth over mercy, selfish gain over righteousness. He has come to expose me. To call out my sins before this crowd. A crowd more righteous than I will ever be. He has come to declare judgment on a man like me, a man unworthy of forgiveness.
Then Jesus opened his mouth.
“Shimeon.”
The name hit him like a thunderclap.
He almost lost his grip on the branch. His name. Jesus had called him by name.
Shimeon braced himself for the next words, for the rebuke he knew was coming. His sins stood before him, undeniable, and now the Holy One would surely pronounce his condemnation.
And yet… deep in his soul, the words of Isaiah stirred once more.
“Come now, let us reason together,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.”
Jesus took a step closer. The crowd fell silent.
Shimeon clenched his hands against the tree bark, his whole body trembling.
Then Jesus spoke again.
TO BE CONTINUED…
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Thank you so much! (extra biblical sources below)
Extra Biblical Sources:
1. Roman Economy & Trade in Judea
• Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews 14.77-78 – Describes how Rome controlled trade and taxation in Judea, heavily burdening merchants and farmers alike.
• Cicero, On Duties 1.150-151 – Discusses the moral dilemmas of business, which could parallel Shimeon’s justification of his dishonest dealings.
• Pliny the Elder, Natural History 12.41 – Mentions the spice and trade routes passing through Judea, highlighting the lucrative business opportunities for merchants like Shimeon.
2. John the Baptist’s Ministry in the Wilderness
• Josephus, Antiquities 18.116-119 – Describes John the Baptist as a righteous and influential preacher, attracting large crowds.
3. The Jewish Perspective on Repentance & Wealth
• Talmud, Sanhedrin 98a – Speaks of the coming Messiah and the idea that repentance can hasten redemption.
• Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 5:8-10 – Warns against trusting in wealth and delaying repentance, mirroring Shimeon’s inner turmoil.
• Dead Sea Scrolls, Hodayot (1QH 12:29-35) – A reflection on human unworthiness and the need for God’s mercy, similar to Shimeon’s realization.
4. Climbing a Tree: A Humiliating Act for a Wealthy Man
• Plutarch, Moralia 523E – States that wealthy and dignified men did not engage in childish behavior, adding significance to Shimeon’s desperation.
• Seneca, Letters 114.22 – Roman society viewed status as crucial, meaning Shimeon’s act would have been shameful for a man of wealth.
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