What is a book you’ve read again and again? Or perhaps a movie you’ve seen more times than you can count? Or a song you’ve had on repeat for years? Though I’ve read the words of my favorite book or watched the same scene of my favorite movie a dozen times, I often react to it differently depending on the day I’ve had or the season of life I’m in. I may feel a lot of emotion, or I may feel inspired. Other times, I may simply want to listen, watch, and savor the story. Let the words and notes sink in.
Something I love about Luke’s narrative of Christ’s birth is the array of responses from those who witnessed the Messiah, either at His birth or soon after. From awe to silence to praising God, I think we can learn as much about the significance of the incarnation from these responses as we can from the details of the birth itself.
Mary’s response to her son’s birth is quiet and contemplative. While the shepherds, after meeting Jesus, ran off and told everyone about what they had seen, Scripture says, “Mary was treasuring up all the things in her heart and meditating on them” (Luke 2:19). She savored the moment, holding it near to her, letting it sink into her heart and mind.
Simeon, the righteous servant of the Lord, responded to meeting the Messiah by praising God and declaring the mighty works Jesus would do. As he tells Mary, “Indeed, this child is destined to cause the fall and rise of many in Israel” (v.34).
Then there is Anna, the prophetess. Her response to the Messiah’s arrival was gratitude and, like the shepherds’, to spread the good news: “At that very moment, she came up and began to thank God and to speak about Him to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem” (v.38).
Jesus’s birth evoked silent awe, praise, gratitude, and the need to tell everyone about it.
Most likely, the story of Jesus’s birth is not new for you. You’ve probably read it or heard it told again and again. But I wonder, what is it evoking in you today? Awe, joy, gratitude, praise? Do you want to shout about it from the rooftops like Anna, or do you want to be still and treasure it in your heart, as Mary did? Though our responses will vary, we are united by the reason behind the coming of the Messiah.
“God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law,
so that we might receive adoption as sons” (Galatians 4:4–5).
We are redeemed. We are adopted. We are a part of God’s family. No matter what kind of day you are having or what sort of season you are in—quiet and contemplative or loud and joyful—let the story of Christ’s birth remind you of these truths today.
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Thankful.
This evokes awe in me. As some of you were saying it’s interesting how Mary and Joseph responded to the words spoken about Jesus. May we all have great faith this year. “ And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
So thankful he gave his one and only son! God is so so good!
As a Christian, I believe it is just commonplace for everyone to have read or at least know the story of Christ and his conception and birth. It is a story told over again and for good reason. We should always be reminded of the miraculous day that our Savior came to our world, unblemished and without sin. He was received by his mother with reverence and to the shepherds, complete awe.
I feel more like Mary today though, more reflective and treasuring the memories and moments as they unfold before me. Some days I want to scream it from the top of the roof how much I love Christ! This daily reflection gives me pause to my busy day to be reminded of how God gave us Jesus to die for our sins so that one day we may live eternally with him.
Some days it’s hard to believe that God’s compassion and love has carried through for us for such a promise. We must always keep the faith that Christ is our savior and that without Him, we would perish and be in Hell for eternity. Leaning on Christ and having that relationship with Him only strengthens the tether of our lifeline to the holy one.
Yes, quiet and contemplative, that is where I am. Sometimes I compare myself to others and I think I need to act like they are, otherwise I’m not getting it right. I am allowed to be me and react depending on where I’m at in my life and it it is all good and right and OK – especially with my God. Freedom to be me. What I needed to hear today
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Reading this story again today, evoked a warmth in me. Like a mom reading a bedtime story to he child. I feel God’s arms around me telling me His story and I feel so much peace.