Treasure Up All These Things
Sometimes we are so busy that we seem just to go through the motions of Christmas and that we really don’t take time to enjoy what it is all about.
In Luke’s account of the first Christmas, we hear all about how Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem to enroll for taxation, how they can’t find a place to stay, and how they end up in a stable. We then hear of Jesus’ birth and of the visit of the shepherds. Sounds like Jesus’ earthly parents and had quite a busy time surrounding that first celebration of the coming of the Savior.
Though it was busy, Luke makes mention of Mary slowing down and taking in all that was going on during that moment in time. Luke writes: “But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart” (2:19).
What might those things have been? Think of the announcement of the angel Gabriel to Mary: “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”” (Luke 1:31-33). Consider what Joseph must have shared with Mary about his visit from the angel in which he was told that Mary “would give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). Bear in mind what the shepherds would have told Mary about their experience with the angels out in the fields: “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11).
Just these few passages from God’s Word about the Baby born in the stable in Bethlehem give us plenty of things to treasure up and to ponder in our hearts. Hopefully, during this season of joy, as we recall our blessed Savior’s birth, you will take time as you go through the Christmas season to treasure up all these things and ponder them in your heart.
In Jesus, our Good Shepherd,
Pastor Keith
Sometimes we are so busy that we seem just to go through the motions of Christmas and that we really don’t take time to enjoy what it is all about.
In Luke’s account of the first Christmas, we hear all about how Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem to enroll for taxation, how they can’t find a place to stay, and how they end up in a stable. We then hear of Jesus’ birth and of the visit of the shepherds. Sounds like Jesus’ earthly parents and had quite a busy time surrounding that first celebration of the coming of the Savior.
Though it was busy, Luke makes mention of Mary slowing down and taking in all that was going on during that moment in time. Luke writes: “But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart” (2:19).
What might those things have been? Think of the announcement of the angel Gabriel to Mary: “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”” (Luke 1:31-33). Consider what Joseph must have shared with Mary about his visit from the angel in which he was told that Mary “would give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). Bear in mind what the shepherds would have told Mary about their experience with the angels out in the fields: “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11).
Just these few passages from God’s Word about the Baby born in the stable in Bethlehem give us plenty of things to treasure up and to ponder in our hearts. Hopefully, during this season of joy, as we recall our blessed Savior’s birth, you will take time as you go through the Christmas season to treasure up all these things and ponder them in your heart.
In Jesus, our Good Shepherd,
Pastor Keith
