The Dual Aspect of Christ's Advent.
The words of Simeon in the text seem to be intended to check natural but undue expectations about the effect of the first coming of Christ. The Child of Mary, the everlasting Son of the Father, is set by the counsels of God, set in Jewish history, in human history, for the fall and rising again of many a human soul.
I. Let us here remark, that Christ's coming into the world was not to have a uniform effect upon human souls. It would act on one soul in one way, and on another in another, it would act differently on the same soul at different periods of its history. God's good will is limited by the free action of men. Men can, if they like, reject Him, and in fact they do. He is the glory of His people at large, but of the individuals who compose it many will lose, as many will gain, by His coming among them. That is the sense of Simeon's words, "Behold this Child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel."
II. Of the two effects of Christ's Advent Simeon mentions, as first in order, the fall of many in Israel. It must strike us as bold to the very verge of paradox thus to associate His blessed Name, who came to be the health and Saviour of men, with spiritual failure. And yet this language was in keeping with what the prophecy must have led men to expect. Isaiah had said that the Lord Himself would be a "stumbling-stone and a rock of offence" to both the houses of Israel; and this was shown to be the case again and again through the centuries of Israel's history. The worst faults of this people were occasioned by the misuse of privileges and opportunities designed to lead up to God.
III. Christ is also set for the rising of many in Israel. This was His original purpose in coming among us; a purpose which was only limited in its operation by the free but perverted will of man. When our Lord had His own way with souls, it was to raise them to newness of life. He did not simply promote this resurrection in men. He was Himself, so He said, the "Resurrection." To come into contact with Him was to touch a life so intrinsically buoyant and vigorous that it transfused itself forthwith into the attracted soul, and bore it onwards and upwards.
H. P. Liddon, Christian World Pulpit,vol. x., p. 401.