Luke 2:16-19 “And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.”

We have before us a most familiar scene in scripture. The Lord Jesus has just been born into the world, and the angel has just told the shepherds about it. The shepherds talked amongst themselves and went to go find the babe (because that’s what the angel told them to do). Our text picks up at this point and tells us 1) the shepherds delivered a message, 2) all that heard it wondered at what was told them, and 3) Mary kept “all these things” and pondered it in her heart. Let’s look at these three things in a bit more detail.

What did the shepherds do?

These shepherds were given a message that they needed to publish. They gathered together and went to Bethlehem that very moment in order to find this child that the angel had told them about! Can you imagine just how excited they were? They had just been told that the Saviour of the world had just been born! Obviously they were not only told by the angel to go but were compelled by their great desire to see this wonder! So they went, and when they arrived, gave this message: “Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you us born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Luke 2:8-14

What a sight that must have been and what a story to tell! The day long waited for has arrived! Christ the Lord has been born! Kind readers this is the message that we still love to hear today. This is what thrills our hearts. Undoubtedly it touched those that heard it, right? It must have had an impact on the listeners! The scripture says “…they made known abroad…” what was told them by the angel and most likely what they had seen that night in the manger. A great message told many! I like to think the shepherds were blessed in not only what they heard and saw, but in the delivering of the message.

What did the people do?

With the message delivered, the scripture says that “…all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them…” What does that mean? The word “wondered” must be defined, within context and grammar to really see what we have before us. In its noun form, the word wondered does mean a feeling of surprise mixed with admiration. However, in its verb form, it casts a bit of a different light. It expresses curiosity more so than admiration. It can also express doubt. Now I’m not saying that the people laughed to scorn those shepherds. I also am not saying that no one believe them. I’m convinced that there were some there that DID believe what they were saying and were in a state of wonder. But we must look at the context clues to gather a complete thought on what was happening. The transition from verse 18 to verse 19 uses a different conjunction than what has been used in the preceding 16 verses! Notice how almost all verses leading up to verse 19 start with “And”? This shows continuity of thought, right? Notice how verse 19 starts…”But”. But is a conjunction often used to contrast what has just been previously said. Let me give you my favorite example of this: Go read Ephesians 2:1-3, and then stop for a moment, and then read verse 4. What does it say? “But God, who is rich in mercy, or his great love wherewith he loved us,” Verse 4 is stated in contrast to verses 1-3.

So what does this mean for the “people who wondered”? I submit that they had questioning thoughts about what they were being told. Perhaps they mumbled among themselves saying “Do you believe what they are saying?”, or “This sounds awfully strange to me.” They weren’t pondering; they were wondering!

What did Mary do?

“But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.” Let’s not forget that this isn’t all that Mary had heard. Remember what Elisabeth was blessed to say when John leapt for joy in her womb? What about what the angel told Mary when he told her that she would bring forth a son that “…shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest…”? And don’t you think Joseph told her what the angel told him in Matthew 1:21? Mary was bombarded with wonderful news about this great child that would be born of her!

So Mary took in all these things, including the message form the shepherds, held them close to her heart (kept) and, through introspection, she pulled it all together and considered them from the perspective of her heart. When Elisabeth had blessed her with what she said, Mary said “My soul doth magnify the Lord”! Mary was blessed! She took in all that had happened to her, along with the messages delivered to her, and processed them in her heart and rejoiced at all that had come unto her! She quietly rejoiced in a Saviour’s love and was given an abundance of blessings in her contemplations within herself.

What will you do?

Now dear readers, what will you do? When the message of God’s Grace comes to you, will you wonder at the things you hear, or will you keep them and ponder them? How many times has the Spirit moved you during prayer, meditation, singing, preaching, to the extent that you found your soul overwhelmed at the realization of God’s blessing in your life, to the extent that all you could do was ponder within yourself just how wonderful the Lord is and how good He has been to you? Oh dear friends, He is altogether lovely! There is nothing wrong with taking in all that God has done for you and pondering this in our hearts. It’s what Mary did! Perhaps we all should do more pondering than wondering in our lives.