The Mystery of the Manger :: Luke 2:19
But Mary preserved all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
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Isn’t that an interesting and even odd reaction to all that happened.
Think about it. You heard all of our readings tonight. While the world around her marveled at the proclamation of the Gospel from the shepherds, Mary, who had just given birth to God in the flesh, sits by quietly and ponders it all.
I mean, isn’t Christmas a time for celebration? And here Luke tells us that Mary preserved the Gospel ... quietly guarding it, keeping it, treasuring it. She quietly thought about it (2:19).
The contrast is striking.
You heard the angel chorus, right? You heard them rejoicing with Gloria in Excelsis, right? Think about how excited those shepherds must have been to hear the Gospel that God had come to us. They ran from the fields to bear witness to this extraordinary event. Those who were normally last to hear the good news were first. And they undoubtedly sang Praise God from whom all blessings flow! And here is Mary pondering it all.
Every year the Christmas retail season starts earlier and earlier and the hype gets more and more intense. But the first Christmas was not an intense affair ... at all. While we turn our focus to the excitement of bringing our families together ... while we look forward to seeing the lights and ornaments and decorations and gifts and feasts fit for kings ... Mary sits back, calmly, quietly pondering what God has really done through her ... in her ... with her ... for her ... and you. Our Heavenly Father has given us a son, his only begotten son, Mary’s firstborn son.
His name is Jesus. And he is the Savior of the World!
Brothers and sisters in Christ, Today ... a Savior has been born; he is Christ the Lord (2:11), the shepherds reminded her and Joseph and anyone else who happened to listen.
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I have no doubt that Mary looked down at the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes in his manger bed and pondered that Jesus was in fact the Lord ... the God of hosts ... the one who feeds all creation ...the one who opens up his hand to satisfy the desire of every living thing. She marveled at this news that God had come out of her virgin womb ... That God was born as a helpless infant boy. She undoubtedly remembered the angel Gabriel telling her to rejoice in this ... because God said she was highly favored ... blessed that the Holy Spirit would come upon her ... that she will conceive and bear a son, and call his name Jesus, which means God saves.
That is a lot to ponder.
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Brothers and sisters in Christ, as the angel told the shepherds in the field: This is good news of great joy that will be for all the people (Lk 2:10). Today ... a Savior has been born; he is Christ the Lord (2:11) ... the Messiah, our Redeemer ... the God who saves. He is Immanuel ... the Prince of Peace, the Lord of Lords, the King of Kings. He is the Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God. That is a lot to ponder.
I wonder if Mary then pondered all the prophecies from Genesis, Isaiah, Psalms ... just to name three ... How all nations will be blessed in him (Gen 15:1-6) ... How he will bear our griefs and carry our sorrows ... how he will be wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities. ... how he will be oppressed and afflicted and led to slaughter (Isa 53:4-7). ... how he would be the beloved son of God who would live, die, and rise to give new life to all who believe (Ps 2).
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Tonight, I think you and I should do no less than what Mary has done ... treasure all of these words we have heard tonight and ponder what it really means for us. When all is said and done, there’s nothing to say or do that could add the smallest luster to this hour. Our gracious God, who loved the world, has given his only begotten Son to us. We could not go to him, so he has come to us. And we who now confess our sins are being forgiven on account of the birth, life, death, rest, resurrection, and ascension of Mary’s child.
This is the mystery in the manger: God is here among us.
This is the mystery of the manger ... that he who knew no sin came to us to take our sin so that he might remove forever the curse of sin and the sting of death, which is the just penalty of God’s Law. ... Everything else will fade. The glitz and glitter of life here. ... It will soon be packed away for another year. The happy glow of all we’ve come to expect from this holy night is illusive and fast fleeting. The actual Christmas season will come and go in just 12 days. But not this: The treasure of true faith in the Christ child, who was born to die.
For he comes among us wrapped in the swaddling clothes of the Gospel.
He comes for every soul distressed and lonely and grieving.
He comes for every wounded mind and heart.
He comes in Word and sacrament to nourish and nurture the faith that saves.
He comes to provide the peace that passes all understanding ... the forgiveness of sins.
He comes to bring us life and salvation.
And he comes for you.