Meditating On The Word – Luke 2.17-20

17And when they saw it, they made known concerning the saying which was spoken to them about this child. 18And all that heard it wondered at the things which were spoken unto them by the shepherds. 19But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart. 20And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, even as it was spoken unto them (Luke 2.13-20, ASV).[1]
 
Memory Verse – But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart. – Luke 2.19

      What a time Mary has had, first she sees an angel who tells her she is going to “give birth to a son, and will name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end” (Luke 1.31-32, CSB).[2]
      She is confused as to how this will happen since she has never been married, never laid with a man; she is a virgin? The angel tells her, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God” (Luke 1.35, NIV).[3]
      Mary still does not fully understand, but one thing she knows. God is in-control. So, she says, “I am the Lord’s servant, may all you have said be fulfilled with me” (vs. 38). Imagine a young lady, probably only 15 or 16 years old, have such spiritual understanding of Who God is and how He works in our lives.
      As a teenager Mary was espoused to Joseph; in other words, she was married to him, but not completely. “A Jewish betrothal (espoused) was as binding as modern marriage. A divorce was necessary to terminate the betrothal (Matthew 1.19) and the betrothed couple were regarded legally as husband and wife (Matthew 1.19)—although physical union had not yet taken place.”[4]
      How would we have handled such a situation? Would we have said the same thing to the angel or would we have responded differently? Remember as we think upon what Mary and Joseph were going through these were not easy decisions in their day, nor would they be for us today. But with God on our side as they had we can all make the right decisions.
      Mary spent the next several months with this child growing inside of her. She went and spent some time with her cousin Elizabeth who in her old age was also with child, John the Baptist, who would be the forerunner to Jesus Christ (Luke 1.57-80).
      Then we come to those famous words, “Now it came to pass…” (Luke 2.1). Where the culmination of the Christmas Story meets the world, which has waited thousands of years for the Messiah to come. This is going to be the day which Malachi the prophet said, “But for you who fear my (God’s) name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall” (Malachi 4.2, ESV).[5]
      Christ’s birth brought about a light into the world, such as the world had never seen. Isaiah said, “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: They that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined” (Isaiah 9.2, KJV1900).[6] The Lord God is a sun and shield, He provides the light for us to walk without stumbling; and it is because of Him our Savior is born.
      The One who brings righteousness to us (Romans 3.21-26, 8.10), who brings light into our lives (John 1.4-5, 8.12, 9.5, 11.9-10, 12.46), and who brings healing to our lives (Luke 9.6-11; John 3.16; Romans 5.8, 6.23; Revelation 22.2). Jesus Christ, in His birth, set in motion the possibility for each and everyone of us to have eternal life with God our Father in heaven. All we have to do is receive the free gift God provided to us long ago on that Christmas morning.
      There is Mary sitting in the stable, looking at her new baby boy, wondering what will become of Him. She remembers what the angel had said, but still cannot fully understand what it means. Now these shepherds show up telling how an angel appeared and told of her Son’s birth. Then a whole host of angels appeared and sang praises to God. Amazing!
      When all the events of the day are done, and everyone has left, it is her, Joseph and baby Jesus; and now Mary has time to think, to reflect on all God has done in her young life. In these short nine months her life has drastically changed. She went from a young girl, to a mother with a great responsibility to care for the Son of God.
      Whether she knew it or not she was important to God’s plan, but in this very moment Mary did not put any more emphasis on who she was or should be. She was thinking on all God had said and done. On all the things she had seen and how they played an important role in the day’s events. These things she kept to herself, “pondering them in her heart” (Luke 2.20).
      As we move through our lives God will show us great and wonderful things, sometimes some things will not be so wonderful, but the question is how do we handle them and what do we do with them? Will we be like Mary and ponder them in our heart or will we forget what God has said and done for us? It is good for us to meditate on God’s Words and Actions, it helps us keep proper prospective and keeps our focus on what God wants in our life.
      Think on these words God told Joshua after Moses had died;

Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1.5-9, ESV).[7]

Application
 

1. When was the last time you meditated on the Word of God? Why has it been so long? Please explain.
2. The last time God spoke to you, how did you respond? Have you thought about that time lately? Please Explain
3. Read Joshua 1.5-9 and explain what God told Joshua to do in order to remain strong in the new land (at least 7 things)? What were the four (4) things God said He would do for Joshua? What do you think was the most important thing for Joshua to do? You can use other scripture to support your explanation.
4. Commit to learning Luke 2.19 and find one person to share the Biblical Christmas Story with.

 
Prayer
 
      God of my heart and soul, Your ways are always Higher than mine and should be followed. But I know I do not. Lord thank You for Your love and compassion on me, such a sinner. I did not deserve Your Son nor His sacrifice. I pray I will live a life worthy of Your gift, Lord help me to share it today and every day until Christ returns. I pray all this in Jesus Christ’s Name, Amen.

[1] American Standard Version. (1995). (Lk 2:13–20). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
[2] Christian Standard Bible. (2020). (Lk 1:31–33). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] The New International Version. (2011). (Lk 1:35). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
[4] MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Mt 1:18). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.
[5] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Mal 4:2). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
[6] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Is 9:2). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
[7] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Jos 1:5–9). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

You Can Download This Blog Here - December 14 - Luke 2.17-20