Luke 2:1-20, “In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God jin the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.”
There are three responses to the Birth of Christ in this passage of scripture:
1 – Angels announced the Birth of Christ, man was filled with wonder, while the angels burst into song and worship, filling the heavens with praises to God and His Glory!
2 – Shepherds made known to others what they had been told concerning the child, Jesus, as they returned to their folds glorifying and praising God!
3 – But Mary treasured up all of these things in her heart and then she worshipped!
Notice that all three responses involved praise, song, worship and glorifying God!
Christmas has to enter the heart of the individual, and when it does, it always results in worship, praise, song, and glorifying God for all His great Love for us: in sending us His Son to die in our place, for our sins, that we might be able to live for eternity with Him in a heavenly atmosphere of praise and worship springing forth out of a thankful heart!
Angels, shepherds, and Mary rejoiced, sang, and worshiped at His Birth; but Mary treasured every word about her Son in her heart! She carefully thought on and pondered in her heart what these words would really mean to her and her Son’s lives. Those treasured words would give her the strength to watch her Son die a horrible Roman death on a cross, for her and the rest of the world!
When Mary heard the good news, she also knew in her heart that there would be suffering involved, not only for her Son, but also for herself and His followers. These words and the rejoicing gave her the strength she would need to watch her Son die a horrible Roman death by crucifixion, before her eyes, with a broken heart.
It is the same today. The spoken words of Christ to our hearts and the experience of worshiping Him in Spirit and Truth will be the strength we need to face whatever lies in our path from here to eternity.
As you exchange gifts with one another this Christmas, take a moment to pause and lift up your heart in praise and thanksgiving to the one who makes all things possible, even in suffering and pain, for our hearts to desire to give: Christ!