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When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. Luke 2:15-20
I often wonder what it was like for Mary that first Christmas. She’s a new mother, forced to give birth in a stable where they keep the livestock, using a manger for her baby’s first cradle. She’s probably resting after giving birth when a bunch of shepherds barge in. To add to the chaos, they tell her that they’ve seen God’s angels who not only have told them about her new baby, but they’ve also heard He’s going to be the savior of the world. Since Mary had had a visit from an angel, she probably wasn’t too surprised about that information. Maybe she was even happy to hear she wasn’t the only one getting miraculous messages from God. The reaction of both Mary and the shepherds is a study in contrasts. The shepherds stopped everyone they met to tell their fantastic story. You can just picture people on the streets saying, “Here come those crazy shepherds again!” If you had such an amazing account, wouldn’t you want to tell everyone? But Mary’s experience was different. This was her little boy they were all talking about. He’s an infant and already the weight of the world is on his shoulders. Mary did you know that your Baby Boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary did you know that your Baby Boy would one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your Baby Boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
The sleeping Child you're holding is the Great I Am.
from “Mary Did You Know?” – lyrics by Mark Lowry Laura Shafer |
