Sonrise Magazine

“Heart of Praise” Acrylic by Amy J Heath

I love every part of the Christmas story. God could have announced the birth of His Son to kings and queens, or to the Pharisees first, but He chose to tell the simple shepherds watching over their flocks by night.

Wise shepherds, indeed, as they immediately wanted to go see this miracle child the angels had announced.

I love that the angels proclaimed, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will to men (mankind)” — not just to some who were found worthy, or great, or something else, but, to ALL. Of course, at the crucifixion we see the proof, as Jesus goes to the whipping post, then the cross, and even into hell to pay for our sins. Then rising from the dead to give us life, and that more abundant and full (see John 10:10) — available for ALL people who will receive it. He had told His disciples in the famous John 3:16-17 passage, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.”

There is one part of the Christmas story, however, that we usually don’t think much about, and it speaks volumes to me — it’s God’s choice of the one to carry His Son.

God sent His angels to “bear” the good news to the faithful shepherds watching over their flocks by night, making them the first to hear His wonderful news that the Christ child had finally been born, and He chose a simple young woman to be the “bearer” of His Son.

What was it about such an everyday girl that God would choose her? We catch only glimpses in Scripture of the character of Jesus’ mother, Mary.

Unlike her cousin Elizabeth’s husband, who disbelieved the angel Gabriel’s glad tidings, Mary, when Gabriel first appeared with the good news to her, asked a simple question about how it would work. After the angel explained, Mary accepted the news in faith. She told Gabriel, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to your word.”

Mary was in awe at the visit of these simple shepherds who were first to come see the baby Jesus on the night of His birth. When they had seen Him for themselves, they took the glad tidings to everyone they knew, and the people who heard their report, “wondered at the things the shepherds told them”. Mary was not proud and haughty about her son’s birth, The Bible says she treasured up all these things, and “pondered them in her heart”.  

When two people in the temple marveled and prophesied over baby Jesus at His dedication, Joseph and Jesus’ mother Mary both “marveled at the things” Simeon and the prophetess Anna had said. Their hearts were humbled at the words.

When Jesus was twelve years old and was found sitting in the midst of the religious leaders at the temple in Jerusalem, “both hearing them, and asking them questions”, people “were astonished at His understanding and answers.” When Mary and Joseph found him and rebuked Him for causing them to worry (he had gone missing, staying behind without telling them), Jesus’ asked them, “Didn’t you know that I must be about my Father’s business?” They didn’t understand, but we again see his mother Mary simply, “kept all these sayings in her heart.” You can read about these things in Luke chapter 2.

God’s choice of His Son’s mother Mary was of a person with a tender heart before God. May all of us constantly be as Mary in this one thing, that instead of hearing and dismissing God’s words, she always thought carefully about God’s message.

I Peter 3:4 speaks of “the hidden man of the heart, … a gentle and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price”. May all of us in this Christmas season and every other day of our lives, be as Mary in her simple faith. Let us be always in awe of what God is doing, and carefully hear and ponder in our hearts the wonder of our God and His beautiful Son.