Pondering…
“When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.” ~ Luke 2:15-20 (ESV – emphasis mine)
One of my favorite Christmas songs is “Mary Did You Know”. Over the last three weeks I probably have heard/sung the song a couple dozen times (find the lyrics here). Every time I heard/sung this song I thought if “Mary really knew…”
Mary was a very young girl when she gave birth to her first-born. Not only was she in a foreign city, away from family, but she knew that her little boy was not an ordinary boy. He was the Son of God. We know very little about Mary’s thoughts, except what Luke is writing in “The Magnificat“.
When Mary held her little boy in the first nights after the birth, I wonder what she pondered in her heart. Yes, Jesus was the Son of God. Yes, He was to bring salvation. But at what cost. I so often wonder if Mary knew what it would cost to bring salvation to all mankind. Did she know that she would see her Son hung on the cross 33 years later? I don’t know.
Mary may have not known all the details about her Son’s life, but she knew that He was God’s answer to salvation. She was God’s obedient servant — she trusted that all will work out in the end. Even if it meant that her mother’s heart would be broken…
Lord of Heaven and Earth. Thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ. You had the perfect plan from the beginning. Thank You for given us hope today. Lord, help us to celebrate Christmas not only once a year, but 365 days. In the precious name of Jesus ~ Amen
Merry Christmas…
That is also one of MY favorite Christmas songs! Thank you for sharing with us this morning and may we never forget what it must have been like for Mary. -blessings.
I posted the same passage this week with a picture of the Mary in our nativity set, arms crossed upon her chest, pondering indeed.
Flash forward 30 or so years as she watched all that she treasured begin to play out before her eyes.
Mary, did you know?
I love that song, thanks for sharing.
I have wondered those same things Iris. I love this beautifully written devotional.
Love that song also Iris, I often think about the words myself and wonder the same thing.