PONDER THE WONDER
I recently read:
“Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all who delight in them.� (Psalm 111:2 NIV)
My mind went straight back to school, when one Christmas I was asked to read Luke’s account of the birth of Jesus. After telling us about: the journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem, because of the census ordered by Caesar Augustus; laying the new born Jesus in a manger, because there was no room for them in the Inn; and the visit of the shepherds, because of the angels� appearance; Luke says:
“But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.� (Luke 2:19 NIV)
This sentenced puzzled me 45 years ago and, come to think of it, it has puzzled me ever since. But now God has given me a new insight, so I thought I would share it with you�
There are two levels of response to God’s mighty works:
1) Be amazed at them. This was the reaction of those who heard the shepherds� testimony.
2) Ponder them. To ponder means to think deeply about something. This was Mary’s reaction.
Luke seems to contrast Mary’s pondering with the amazement of those who heard the shepherds, because he says:
“and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. BUT Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.� (Luke 2:18,19 NIV)
Being amazed at God’s works is a natural and healthy reaction, but it perhaps remains superficial. Pondering is the deeper response that follows being delighted by God’s works (Psalm 111:2).
So this Christmas, let’s make some time to be like Mary; let’s ponder the wonder of God writing himself into human history; let’s think deeply about the infinite becoming finite; the ocean becoming a drop; a baby being fully God and fully human.
I like to ponder these words from my favourite Christmas carol, “In the Bleak Midwinter�, which is based on a poem by Christina Rossetti:
Our God, heaven cannot hold Him
Nor earth sustain,
Heaven and earth shall flee away
When He comes to reign
In the bleak mid-winter
A stable-place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty �
Jesus Christ.
Angels and Archangels
May have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim
Thronged the air;
But only His Mother
In her maiden bliss
Worshipped the Beloved
With a kiss.
What can I give Him,
Poor as I am? �
If I were a Shepherd
I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man
I would do my part, �
Yet what I can I give Him, �
Give my heart.
“Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all who delight in them.� (Psalm 111:2 NIV)
My mind went straight back to school, when one Christmas I was asked to read Luke’s account of the birth of Jesus. After telling us about: the journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem, because of the census ordered by Caesar Augustus; laying the new born Jesus in a manger, because there was no room for them in the Inn; and the visit of the shepherds, because of the angels� appearance; Luke says:
“But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.� (Luke 2:19 NIV)
This sentenced puzzled me 45 years ago and, come to think of it, it has puzzled me ever since. But now God has given me a new insight, so I thought I would share it with you�
There are two levels of response to God’s mighty works:
1) Be amazed at them. This was the reaction of those who heard the shepherds� testimony.
2) Ponder them. To ponder means to think deeply about something. This was Mary’s reaction.
Luke seems to contrast Mary’s pondering with the amazement of those who heard the shepherds, because he says:
“and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. BUT Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.� (Luke 2:18,19 NIV)
Being amazed at God’s works is a natural and healthy reaction, but it perhaps remains superficial. Pondering is the deeper response that follows being delighted by God’s works (Psalm 111:2).
So this Christmas, let’s make some time to be like Mary; let’s ponder the wonder of God writing himself into human history; let’s think deeply about the infinite becoming finite; the ocean becoming a drop; a baby being fully God and fully human.
I like to ponder these words from my favourite Christmas carol, “In the Bleak Midwinter�, which is based on a poem by Christina Rossetti:
Our God, heaven cannot hold Him
Nor earth sustain,
Heaven and earth shall flee away
When He comes to reign
In the bleak mid-winter
A stable-place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty �
Jesus Christ.
Angels and Archangels
May have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim
Thronged the air;
But only His Mother
In her maiden bliss
Worshipped the Beloved
With a kiss.
What can I give Him,
Poor as I am? �
If I were a Shepherd
I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man
I would do my part, �
Yet what I can I give Him, �
Give my heart.
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