Treasuring the Hope of Christ

The season of Advent is upon us when we look forward with anticipation to the arrival of the Christ-child, the Incarnation of God with us. We wait with expectancy and hope as we tell the story again and try within our humanity to fathom the Son of God giving up his heavenly realm to take on flesh and dwell among us. But, this is easy for us; we can study the Gospels of Luke or Matthew to read the birth narratives and know the full story. This is not so for Mary and Joseph; they were living the incarnation in real-time, and they had to trust God in the process.

Luke 2:19 says, “But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.” What were “all these things,” and what does it mean to treasure them? Mary knew her side of the story. She experienced the angel’s visit in Nazareth (Luke 1:26-38) and knew she was to carry and raise the child who was to be the Son of the Most High, who would sit on the throne of David. I wonder if Mary stopped telling the story of the angel’s visit when others looked at her with disbelief or questioned her pregnancy.

After meeting a miraculously pregnant Elizabeth, Mary gave glory to God. In her song to the Lord in Luke 1:46-55, Mary glorified God, observing His mercy towards her, a simple girl from Nazareth. Then, Mary magnified God for what He had done on behalf of Israel. With her reference to Israel in 1:54, the mercy of God is evident again, recalling the covenant of God with Abraham.

Mary knew that God’s promised Messiah, the one she would give birth to, was connected to the grand narrative of God’s intervention and faithfulness to Israel. This was a moment of renewal and hope for Israel…yet Mary only knew what was happening in the present.

In Luke 2:19, after the shepherds visit and reveal their experience in the field with the angels' announcement, we read that Mary was “treasuring and pondering.” Mary was hearing the declaration of others as the shepherds relayed the angelic announcement of a Savior who is Christ and Lord. Here, Mary begins to see “all the pieces fit. " Her hope in the present message is rekindled, and she treasures God’s grand scheme as she holds his promises close.

Prayer

Gracious God, we at times are like Mary, living in moments of knowing what you have said but only knowing one piece of the story. We sometimes wait through dark times, trusting you and those words, yet we know of your redemption and grace. Help us to wait with hope, to rejoice in the miracle, to give you glory, and to treasure and ponder your great and remarkable mercy towards us. We thank you for this season and this journey and rejoice in all you have done for us. Even so, Lord Jesus, come quickly.

Carrie Wood, Ph. D., is an assistant professor and director of the M.Div. programs at Regent University School of Divinity.