Go Beyond

Seven centuries before the birth of Jesus, Isaiah the prophet announced that the Messiah would be born of a virgin (Isa. 7:14). At about the same time, the prophet Micah foretold that the Messiah would be born in the Judean village of Bethlehem (Micah 5:2).

Centuries later an angel named Gabriel announced to a virgin named Mary that she would be with child and give birth to a son. Mary’s son, Gabriel said, would be the long-awaited Messiah (Luke 1:26-38).

During Mary’s pregnancy, Caesar Augustus unknowingly played an important role in the fulfillment of divine prophecy. Caesar ordered a census of the entire Roman world. In order to comply with Caesar’s decree, Joseph and Mary traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem (Luke 2:1-7).

As Joseph and Mary journeyed south to Bethlehem, God’s divine clock ticked away the hours to the moment when the prophecies concerning the Messiah would find fulfillment in the birth of Mary’s baby. While in Bethlehem, Mary gave birth to her first-born Son in the obscurity of a humble stable.

The birth of Jesus was unique. While the Bible does not tell us the “how” of the virgin birth, it does tell us the “why.” Jesus came into our world to reconcile sinful humanity to a loving God. He alone was born with all of the qualifications to “save His people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21).

All other alleged saviors throughout history share a common condition that disqualifies them from being saviors — they themselves are sinners like the rest of us. A savior in need of salvation is no savior at all. Christ alone is the sinless virgin-born Savior whose birth specifically fulfilled the words of the prophets.

The news of Jesus’ birth was published in the cosmos with the appearance of “His star” (Matt.2:2). An angel announced the good news of His birth to shepherds in the fields outside of Bethlehem (Luke 2:8-15). Those shepherds were the first to visit the baby Jesus and to see the One “who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

The shepherds responded to what they had heard and seen by “glorifying and praising God” (Luke 2:20). Praise is a proper response to the mighty works of God and to the good news of salvation through Christ.

Mary’s response was different from that of the shepherds. While the shepherds enthusiastically talked to others about what they had seen and heard, Mary was quiet. Luke recorded that she “was treasuring up all these things in her heart” (Luke 2:19).

The words “treasuring up” mean deep reflection or mulling over. Mary pondered or meditated on the words of the shepherds concerning her newborn child (Luke 2:17-18). The shepherds’ words must have caused her to think back to the words of Gabriel, the things Joseph had experienced, and all that had transpired in the preceding days and months.

Mary’s response reminds us that we must set aside moments for personal and private reflection on who Jesus is, why He came, and what He has done in our lives. So, this Christmas, slow down and set aside some time to do what Mary did. Reflect and meditate on what the Scriptures say about Jesus. Treasure these things in your heart — and then share these valuable truths about Jesus with others throughout the year.