December 19, 2024
Big Book Idea
God with us.
But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.
19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
Luke was a physician (Col. 4:14) and a travel companion of the apostle Paul. He wrote this Gospel and its sequel, the book of Acts. The earliest possible date of Luke–Acts is immediately after the events that Luke recorded in Acts 28, which would have been c. A.D. 62. Both Luke and Acts are addressed to “Theophilus” (Luke 1:3; Acts 1:1), about whom nothing more is known. Luke’s broader audience consisted primarily of Gentile Christians like Theophilus who had already “been taught” (Luke 1:4) about Jesus.
The gospel is for all, Jews and Gentiles alike, since Jesus is the promised one of God as prophesied in the OT and as seen in God’s saving activity in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. The Christian traditions Luke’s readers have received are true; by believing in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, they will receive the promised Holy Spirit whom he gives to all who follow him.
Luke probably had several goals in writing: (1) to assure his readers of the truth of what they had been taught; (2) to help them understand how Israel’s rejection of Jesus and the Gentiles’ entrance into the kingdom of God are part of God’s plan; (3) to clarify that Jesus did not teach that his bodily return would come immediately but that there would be a period between his resurrection and his return; and (4) to emphasize that they need not fear any mere earthly power such as Rome.
The events in the book of Luke take place almost entirely within the vicinity of Palestine, an area extending roughly from Caesarea Philippi in the north to Beersheba in the south. During this time it was ruled by the Roman Empire. The opening chapters describe events surrounding Jesus’ birth in Judea, where Herod had been appointed king by the Romans. The closing chapters end with Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension during the rule of Pontius Pilate and the tetrarchs Antipas and Philip.
As the time drew near for Jesus to be born, a mandatory Roman registration made it necessary for Joseph to return to his ancestral home of Bethlehem. There Mary gave birth to Jesus, and later, wise men from the East came to worship him. The wise men’s recognition of a new king, however, troubled King Herod and the ruling establishment in Jerusalem, and Herod the Great sought to kill Jesus. Joseph and his family escaped to Egypt and stayed there until Herod died. When they returned to Palestine, they settled in the remote district of Galilee, where Jesus grew up in the village of Nazareth, to avoid the attention of the rulers in Jerusalem.
As a young woman in Nazareth, Mary became betrothed to Joseph, a carpenter. The angel Gabriel visited Mary to announce that she had “found favor with God” (1:30) and would become the mother of the Messiah, whose name would be Jesus. While still a virgin, she would conceive through the power of the Holy Spirit. Though understandably confused by this news, Mary submitted to the Lord’s will for her life, saying, “Let it be to me according to your word” (1:38). As she observed the amazing events unfolding around her, Mary “treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart” (2:19; see also 2:51). This included the warning that a “sword will pierce through your own soul also” (2:35), a prophecy fulfilled as, some 30 years later, she watched with sorrow as her son died on a cross. (Luke 1:26–38)
Joseph, whom the Bible describes as a “just man” (Matt. 1:19), was a descendant of David and a carpenter by trade. Betrothed to Mary when she was found to be with child, Joseph sought to show compassion and divorce her quietly, even though it looked like Mary had committed adultery. An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, however, assuring him that Mary’s child was from the Holy Spirit (Matt. 1:20–21). Joseph trusted God and took Mary as his wife. He traveled with Mary to his ancestral home of Bethlehem, where she gave birth to Jesus. When Herod the Great sought to kill Jesus, Joseph took Mary and the child and escaped to Egypt (Matt. 2:13–18). Following Herod’s death, they returned to Palestine and settled in Nazareth. Joseph later fathered at least four other sons and at least two daughters. Since he is not mentioned in the incident related in Matt. 12:46, it is likely that Joseph died before Jesus began his ministry. (Matthew 1:19–21)
As a young woman in Nazareth, Mary became betrothed to Joseph, a carpenter. The angel Gabriel visited Mary to announce that she had “found favor with God” (1:30) and would become the mother of the Messiah, whose name would be Jesus. While still a virgin, she would conceive through the power of the Holy Spirit. Though understandably confused by this news, Mary submitted to the Lord’s will for her life, saying, “Let it be to me according to your word” (1:38). As she observed the amazing events unfolding around her, Mary “treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart” (2:19; see also 2:51). This included the warning that a “sword will pierce through your own soul also” (2:35), a prophecy fulfilled as, some 30 years later, she watched with sorrow as her son died on a cross. (Luke 1:26–38)
As the time drew near for Jesus to be born, a mandatory Roman registration made it necessary for Joseph to return to his ancestral home of Bethlehem. There Mary gave birth to Jesus, and later, wise men from the East came to worship him. The wise men’s recognition of a new king, however, troubled King Herod and the ruling establishment in Jerusalem, and Herod the Great sought to kill Jesus. Joseph and his family escaped to Egypt and stayed there until Herod died. When they returned to Palestine, they settled in the remote district of Galilee, where Jesus grew up in the village of Nazareth, to avoid the attention of the rulers in Jerusalem.
The Christmas season means a lot of things to a lot of people. It's the season of love, joy, support, and giving. Most importantly, we get pulled back to the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. It's the one time of year when most people try to outdo each other with gifts or even just by having better gift-wrapping paper. Let's be honest, do you ponder more the gifts you have given or the gifts you have received?
By this time, in Luke 2:19, the angel had already appeared to Mary and appeared in Joseph's dream. Jesus had already been laid in a farm-animal feeding trough (a manger), and the shepherds had just come to confirm that the Messiah was here as the angel told them. These were all good things for Mary to treasure, to ponder. But let's not just picture this cute, adorable baby Jesus; let's focus on the supernatural event that connected us to God.
We are talking about the one time the Word became flesh as mentioned in John 1:14—the one Paul describes as He "who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light" (1 Timothy 6:16). Sinful man had never seen Him in the flesh before that moment. It's the same deity who is fully God, who became the biggest gift known to humankind on this miraculous day.
The shepherds went back glorifying and praising God, for they knew the birth that they had just witnessed was beyond comparison. The birth of our Savior had just taken place. He was born to reconcile you to Himself. Let us embrace that moment with the same enthusiasm the shepherds had for Him.
Just as Mary had so many things to treasure and to store in her heart, I was challenged to ponder the gift that matters this season. He became flesh. He is Immanuel. And that is why it was a holy night.
This month's memory verse
everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed and made.”
1. Have you ever had a supernatural encounter with God? If so, describe your experience. What made it clear God was there? How did you respond?
2. What are some of God's promises or attributes that you can treasure and ponder in your heart today?
3. Do you have any recent experiences that have led you to praise and glorify God like the shepherds did? If not, why not? What needs to change?
4. How can you imitate the shepherds' joy when you go back to work or school after Christmas?
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