"But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart." - Luke 2:19
It can be very difficult to slow down and take it all in during the busyness of the Christmas season. But it is important that we find moments to pause and reflect on the true meaning and worth of Christmas. Christmas is Jesus. Down from His glory He came to rescue a world in the dark state of sin. Love crossed over the great gulf that was fixed between a Holy God and the unregenerate, sin-cursed man. Love came gently offering redeeming grace. The wonder of wonders is that God came and dwelt among men as a man, in order to makes the sons of men the sons of God (John 1:12). Christmas calls out, "O come all ye faithful" and behold, adore, worship Christ the Savior-King!
Mary teaches us a valuable lesson. Surrounding all the rush and tug, immediacy and prophecy of Christ's birth, she paused to consider all these things. She took time to slow down and allow it all to resonate within her heart. So much of what is believed about Mary in some religions is biblically in accurate. There are those that would stay away from the topic of Mary to avoid being linked with erroneous belief systems centered on Mary which are, to put it plainly, idolatrous. There are those that would elevate Mary to a status that she herself would denounce. But, Mary serves a primary role in the birth and life of Christ and the lessons drawn from her testimony and example cannot be dismissed. Mary offers to the believer a sterling example of spirituality as we see God's story intertwined with her own.
Do you desire to be spiritual in the Biblical sense of the word? Do you long for a real, genuine closeness to God? This Christmas, are you longing to know more of the Savior and have an intimate fellowship with Him? Mary gives us a valuable example.
The Psalmist said this in Psalm 143:5: "I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the works of thy hands."
That is what Mary was doing in Luke 2:19. She remembered. She meditated. She mused. "But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart." That is what you and I must do this and every Christmas. Remember. Meditate. Muse. Ponder. Consider all that God has done for us through Christ!
Paul said, "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." (Philippians 4:8)
Luke records Jesus saying this: "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Luke 12:34). Again, the Psalmist steps in to say: "My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise" (Psalm 57:7). Where is your treasure? Upon what is your heart fixed? May we turn our eyes upon Jesus this Christmas and look full in His wonderful face. May the things of earth grow strangely dim in the light of HIS GLORY and GRACE!
In Mary of Nazareth, the handmaid of the Lord, the mother of Jesus, we find a biblical pattern of spirituality - true spirit-filled living. Humble. Heartfelt. Happy. Honorable. Helpful. One of my favorite challenges in the Bible comes from Mary herself. In John 2:5, after having been lovingly reproved by her Son, Mary said to the servants at the wedding: "Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it." Mary's testimony speaks: "Look at Jesus. Listen to Jesus." You won't go wrong listening to Jesus. Therefore, we can't go wrong taking heed to Mary's words.
Some of the most beloved Scriptures that are too often overlooked by common Christians are found in Luke 1-2. I would challenge you to read them and reread them... slowly... this Christmas. Pay attention to Mary's song and praise. Pay close attention to Zechariah's prophecy. Pay attention to Simeon's words. They are filled to the brim with a recognition of God's working throughout history. The nation of Israel and her people always reflected on God's hand in their history. Mary's song and praise and prayer is filled with a recognition that God had been working through history, that he was indeed working in the present, and that He would continue to work in the future.
However turbulent her history, Israel always stubbornly insisted that God was sovereign in ruling the world throughout historical events. No other nation for so long believed such a thing. Israel stood above the rest in this regard. That is what makes the book of Deuteronomy so special and significant. Moses takes the children of Israel down memory lane. The recounts all that God has done. And in Mary's magnificat (Luke 1:39-56), she takes a stroll down memory lane and worships God based upon who He is and all that He has done.
Have you taken time this Christmas to recognize His hand working in your history? As you look back on all of your days, can you see how good God has been to you?
Luke 1:50
And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.
God has been good. Yes! But God is good... always!
As Mary reflected on God's working throughout Israel's history (including her own), it was to recount that God acted on the basis of His covenant mercy. But the object of God's memory cannot be consistently confined to the past. The great and gracious acts of God continue to work in Israel's present situation and for the Church in the age of grace today!
The Psalmist even touches on this truth. In Psalm 111:5 he says, "He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant." He recognizes what God has done; but he notes what He can count on God to do continually.
Psalm 103:7, "He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel." God did great and mighty things before Moses and all the face of the Israel. In the past, He proved Himself! But the Psalmist continues: "For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust" (Psalm 103:14). He moves from past to present. What God did... What God does... and from that, we can count on what God will do. He was faithful yesterday. He is faithful today. He will be faithful tomorrow.
This prompted Mary to sing with praise and rejoice in the truth that God not only has done great and mighty things, but He is doing great and mighty things, and He will continue to do great and mighty things!
This Christmas, you too, can praise the Lord in such fashion.
Deuteronomy 8:2
And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.
1 Samuel 12:24
... only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.
See also Deuteronomy 8:3; Joshua 1:8.
Why was it so important for Mary and all of Israel to reflect on God's working in their history? Why is it important for the church to pass down to the next generation God's great and mighty acts in the past? As God's plan unfolds for Israel and for the Church, historical memory serves to establish a continuity between each new generation and the decisive events of the past. For example, we serve the same God that Moses served. We serve and worship and praise the same God that Mary of Nazareth served and praised and worshipped. The same God that my grandfather has preached about for over fifty-six years, that is the same God that I now preach! The God that is good and gracious without end, He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Note: Because Mary recognized God's working throughout Israel's history, when the announcement of Christ's birth came to her, she was ready to receive the news. The annunciation itself by the angelic messenger recalls miraculous births to barren matriarchs of her faith (Sarah, Hannah). All of the news that came flooding in concerning this child Christ were things that Mary, as faithful Jew, was expecting. Because Mary was stepped in Old Testament history, she is prepared to receive the good news concerning Christ's identity and mission.
If you are steeped in your Biblical knowledge and history, then when God does something wonderful in your life, you will be expecting. You will be able to respond with confident praise, "That's my God! That's just the way He works."
William Carey said, "Attempt great things for God, expect great things from God."
There are some things that God does that we should confidently expect - even if they are seemingly impossible.
Not only did Mary recognize God's working throughout Israel's history (and in her own), but we should not the receptivity of God's grace as manifested in her own life.
Every human life is open-ended, with the outcome dependent upon human choice. God does not force Himself upon any man. God has His perfect will, but as it is presented to the individual, he or she has a choice to receive or reject. See John 1:11-12. Every time God comes to a human, as is His habit, He risks the refusal of His love and the violation of relationship. Given the gift of our human freedom, then, it cannot be taken for granted what would happen when Gabriel advanced upon a Galilean bride-to-be. Mary had a choice to respond to the call and she had a choice to reject the call. For like every other human in history whom God approaches, Mary of Nazareth could either hide like Adam, remain hard-hearted like Pharaoh, or heed God's message like Isaiah, and replay, "Here I am."
Her choice forever altered human history and earned her unrivaled respect.
Luke 1:38, "And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her."
BE IT UNO ME ACCORDING TO THY WORD.
Faith cannot come to fruition unless it finds fertile conditions within our lives. Mary is a primary example of biblical spirituality because divine initiative meets with human instrumentality. It was the perfect example of draw nigh to God and He will draw nigh to you. God moved toward Mary; Mary moved toward God. And God brought to pass a marvelous work!
Mary was willing to comply with God's purpose for her life. She became a "living sacrifice" (Romans 12:1-2).
Mary was prepared to receive God in expected ways. But also, Mary was prepared to received God in unexpected ways!
Do you expect God to work the way He always has? You can and you should. Do you expect God to follow through on each and every promise He has made in His Word? You can and you should. But Mary also reminds us that we can expect the unexpected when it comes to God! Not that God will ever go against His will or character, but that God can do that which we cannot even fathom. He does exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think. He exceeds our limitations and our greatest imaginations. He doesn't do anything out of character, but He does, from time to time, absolutely amaze His own!
F.B. Meyer said it this way: "Jesus never disappoints. He only wonderfully surprises."
In the midst of the hustle and bustle of ordinary life, Mary was willing to be interrupted by God. That is what we mean by expecting the unexpected from God. Are you willing to allow God to disrupt your life for His glory?
God stands ready to intervene in your life. But you must prepare your heart and soul for Him to work according to His timetable.
Lastly, do not miss Mary's response to God in willing, joyful, and obedient participation. Mary's praise, prayer, and worship in Luke 1 is a wonderful example of biblical spirituality. It is filled with wonder, worship, and witness.
For Mary, there was so much amazement, wonder, and awe. We find Mary joining in on those that stood in awe. I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene, and wonder how He could love me, a sinner condemned unclean!
Mary was filled with worship! Luke 1:45-47. Wonder always spills over into worship. And worship incites us to witness.
Mary, as the handmaid of the Lord, literally carried The Word of God to the world! In our way, we carry the Word of God to the world (2 Corinthians 4). We have THIS TREASURE in earthen vessels.
2 Corinthians 4:7
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
This Christmas, let us pray that God will make us like Mary. Faithful. Humble. A vessel. Spirit-filled. A believer in miracles. A believer in the impossible. A believer in God's Word. Humble. Allowing God to use us as He sees fit. A vessel. Willing to carry God's Word to a world in darkness. A servant. May we let our light shine brightly for Jesus' sake. And as His message is birthed in us and through thus, the mighty hand of God will exalt us in due time.
This Christmas, do what Mary did. Slow down. Pause. Stop for a moment. Take it all in.
But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. - Luke 2:19
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