Hope

Luke 2:19

Two obvious questions to ask after reading this verse are what was Mary treasuring, and what did it look like for her to ponder them? A few verses earlier in Luke 2, an angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds and told them, “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people.” This good news was that in the city of David, Christ the Lord was born, and He could be found lying in a manger in swaddling clothes. Upon the departure of the angel, the shepherds went to Bethlehem to see what had happened. They found the baby lying in a manger just as the angel had told them. The response of the people present was wonder, admiration, and marvel; however, Mary pondered what she heard because it was not the first time she had heard of this good news. The angel Gabriel had come to her previously to announce the coming of Jesus. This was a confirmation of the hopes and promises God had made to her—He was a faithful place to put her hope.

Furthermore, I believe Mary was pondering the fact that the long awaited Savior of the world had come. For centuries, the people of Israel had been waiting on the fulfillment of God’s promise—“but you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, one who is to be ruler of Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth” (Micah 5:2-3). Jesus was the long awaited hope to a hopeless world.

Prayer:

God, You are the giver of hope. Thank you for bringing hope into a hopeless world through Your Son, Jesus.

Question to consider:

What are you currently treasuring in your heart? Is/are the thing(s) you are treasuring pointing you to Jesus?