Day 23 Luke 2:18-20
23 Dec 2023
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“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.”
As we come towards the end of our readings in the beginning of Luke, it is good to pause and ask how we will respond. We can do this by noticing how the people in these verses responded to what they had seen and heard.
Those who heard from the shepherds “wondered.” This doesn’t mean that they wondered if it was true. The word means “to marvel”. They were surprised and amazed. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean they fully trust the Lord. Later in the gospels and in Acts crowds are often filled with wonder when they see and hear what God does. Yet they soon drift away. As Darrell L. Bock puts it in his commentary “the report tickles the crowds ears, but it may have missed their hearts”.
This is a challenge to us. It is too easy to be filled with wonder, especially this time of year. But we can let our reaction stop there. Don’t just enjoy the story. If we are really filled with wonder at what God has done, we will do what he says.
Mary however “treasured up all these things”. This was a much deeper response. She thought about what has happened. The other word used about what she did is that she was “pondering them”. Going over and over what she has seen and heard and been through. You can understand she has got a lot to take in - but she is trying to go deeper than just coming to terms with the affect on her. The “things” she is pondering would especially be what has been said about Jesus. She is beginning to see that the baby in front of her is the promised Saviour and King. God with us.
Mary had a unique reason to “ponder”, but we should recognise in her the right response for us all. The Psalmists are often meditating on the works and words of God. We shouldn’t rush over these chapters, even though we know them well. Let our minds go over them again and again. These are life changing realities.
Finally, the shepherds are “glorifying” and “praising”. They have heard the word of God and seen it confirmed in front of them. They are full of joy and rejoice in the Lord. This is faith in its full form - confident in the Lord and letting that affect them deep within. As a result what is within comes out in praise.