Luke 2:8-20 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And The angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly host praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
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.
Imagine, just another starry night out in the field with the sheep and suddenly the glory of the Lord shines, as no other source of light, and an angel appears before them. The angel has a message; good news of great joy for all the people. He tells them of the Saviors birth and where to find him. And then a host of angels, an army, appears declaring peace with God brought by the Savior. The fear-gripped shepherds didn’t speak until the angels went away from them into heaven. Immediately, they hurried off to see for themselves this thing that the Lord had made known to them.
The shepherds rejoiced in what they saw. They glorified and praised God for what they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had said. In utter amazement and wonder, they joyfully declared this good news to others. The shepherds made known the saying that had been told to them concerning this child. And all who heard it were astounded and marveled at what the shepherds told them.
But Mary… Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. Mary already had a heart full of treasured moments. She had her own angelic experience and when she shared with Elizabeth all that the angel had told her it became real. While Mary must have had a difficult conversation with Joseph, there is no record of her sharing this news with anyone up until this moment. As Mary spoke, the babe in Elizabeth’s womb lept for joy. When Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, confirmed the identity of Mary’s yet to be born son, Mary’s heart rejoiced and filled to an overflowing song of praise.
She was the one chosen to give birth to the son of God, Savior of the world. What a fantastic realization! Mary’s song exalts God as merciful, faithful and mighty. Her spirit rejoiced in God “my” Savior.
And in this moment of hearing the marvelous account from the shepherds, Mary doesn’t share her own story with them. She adds this piece of God’s story to her treasure chest of knowing, seeing and confirming. She contemplates and reflects on past, present and future not fully knowing how it will be lived out but fully knowing it is true.
Mary has given birth to the Savior of the world.
But Mary…
Walk the Upward Path 