Mary Treasured Up All These Things in Her Heart

Saturday Morning Devotional – A Sentimental “Christ”mas

Entering into the Christmas season brings about a feeling of nostalgia and sentiment. When I think about having a sentimental Christmas, I can’t help but think about the first Christmas when “Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” (from Luke 2:19)

As we look at different aspects of having a sentimental Christmas, I think the first thing we need to focus on is Christ. He truly is the reason we celebrate “Christ”mas. We can have a Christ-centered Christmas when we find ways to stay focused on Him.

May we follow Mary’s example and treasure up all these things and ponder them in our hearts.

One of our Christmas family traditions is Jay reading the Christmas story from the Bible (Luke chapter 2) before we open gifts. Over the years we have naturally added one little addition – Cadlyn sits with “Pop” as he reads the Christmas story.

I love the story of the birth of Christ for so many obvious reasons, but every year when Jay reads it out loud, one verse stands out to me.

I like to look at this amazing story on occasion from Mary’s point of view – from the feelings of a mother.

Treasured Memories

Almost anytime you get mothers together and get on the topic of giving birth, everyone wants to tell their story. I guess that is because each story contains love, and every experience has similarities and differences. These are “treasured moments.”

I love thinking back on my kids’ births. I can remember the most minute details of both experiences, even down to the meals I ate before going to the hospital. These are definitely treasured memories!

Can you imagine all the memories Mary had about Jesus’ birth?

If she went back all the way to the beginning, Jesus’ mother would have memories of:

• The angel of the Lord bringing glad tidings that she was going to give birth to the Son of God.
• Visiting her cousin and having Elizabeth’s baby leap in the womb.
• Finding out that she was going to have to travel to the City of David due to a decree ordered census.
• Getting there and discovering that there was no place to stay, while in labor. 
• Going into labor and that whole process
• Giving birth to baby Jesus, the Son of God
• Using a feeding trough as a baby bed
• Seeing the brightest star appear over the place where they stayed
• Having random shepherds appear at the stable to see the Child Jesus

These are just the things documented in God’s Word. There would probably be a whole book in itself if the writers included all of the details of Mary’s pregnancy, labor, and birth of Jesus.

Treasuring the Shepherds’ Message

The Shepherds’ Message

The shepherds had an amazing thing happen to them while they were in the fields watching their sheep. The Bible says that an angel of the Lord appeared to them with a multitude of the Heavenly hosts. Can you even imagine?

So what did they do? They went to meet Jesus!

Mary’s Response

Their story would be a lot to take in for a new young mother. We all want to believe that our children will grow up to do great things and walk with the Lord. But hearing a prophecy proclaimed specifically about your child by a host of angels could be overwhelming.

Jesus’ mother heard that her baby boy would be a Savior of the whole world, the Messiah, the Lord! She wouldn’t know the full impact of that for some time, but just hearing those words would definitely cause you to treasure and ponder.

Don’t you think that as Jesus grew and things happened in His life, Mary pulled from that treasure reserve and put some of the pieces together?

Turning the water into wine may have sparked a little curiosity.

The triumphal entry may have jogged the words, “Savior and Messiah” in her mind.

I wonder if the crucifixion made her remember Simeon’s words. On the eighth day after the birth of Jesus the parents of Jesus took Him to the temple to fulfill the law of the Lord. Simeon blessed Him but also said:

Seeing her Son crucified would have definitely pierced her soul!

A Sentimental “Christ”mas

I don’t know what kind of birthday traditions they observed back then. I can only imagine that Mary would have at least celebrated the birth of her Son in her heart. Every year that she had with Jesus was a treasure.

What traditions did they have? Did she retell the story of His birth each year as we do? Were there gifts for Him?

As we go into the Christmas season this year, let’s do a little treasuring and pondering. With some careful thought, we can make it a sentimental Christmas to the Lord. Here are a few ideas and ways to include the Lord in our celebration of Him.

• Participate in Advent
  • Calendar with Christ-Centered lessons
  • Advent Wreath with devotionals
• Read one of the Gospels during the month to see more about the life of Christ.
• Read a Christmas devotional book.
• Set up a Nativity set to serve as a reminder of why we celebrate Christmas.
• Give Christ-centered gifts.
• Read the birth story of Jesus at your Christmas gathering.
• Attend a candlelight service at church.
• Sing Christmas hymns about the Lord’s birth.

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I encourage you to include Jesus in your Christmas celebrations this year. It IS all about Him! Please share what your Christ-centered traditions or activities are. What helps you celebrate Christ each Christmas?

Related Posts

Hark the Herald Angles Sing: A Christmas Devotional
O Little Town of Bethlehem: A Christmas Devotional

Until next week…

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The Whole Narrative

The Journey

“And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. ² (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)(In the days of Herod) ³ And all went to be taxed, every one into his own town.

⁴ And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the house of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) ⁵ To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. ⁶ And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. ⁷ And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

The Shepherds and Angels

⁸ And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹ And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. ¹⁰ And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. ¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. ¹² And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, ¹⁴ Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. ¹⁵ And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

Jesus was Born

¹⁶ And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. ¹⁷ And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. ¹⁸ And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. ¹⁹ But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. ²¹ And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.”

Jesus is Presented in the Temple

²² When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord ²³ (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord”), ²⁴ and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

²⁵ Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. ²⁶ It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.^[f] 27 Guided by the Spirit, Simeon^[g] came into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what was customary under the law, ²⁸ Simeon^[h] took him in his arms and praised God, saying,

²⁹ “Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace,
    according to your word,
³⁰ for my eyes have seen your salvation,
³¹     which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
³² a light for revelation to the gentiles
    and for glory to your people Israel.”

Luke 2:1-32 King James Version in the Holy Bible