The season of Advent and Christmas can be such a blur.

As a result, we can easily leap-frog the biblical story of Jesus’ birth as we mad-dash to the mall, or attend to a dozen other dizzying responsibilities.

‘But don’t we hear that story on Christmas Eve?’ Yes, but Christmas Eve sermons tend to be shorter than usual, so we can sometimes miss out on the rich deep-dives into this ancient-but-ever-relevant story.

So that’s what I’d like to encourage you to do.

In Luke 2:19 we learn that after the birth of Jesus “Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” She treasured the events; she pondered their significance.

We are wise to do the same.

Take some time to read Luke 2:1-20. Ponder its significance. Set aside a morning or an evening. Look at your schedule and make it happen.

[If you’re looking for a “deep dive” into the text you could listen to a podcast I recorded for just this purpose. (See link below.) I explore what Nazareth and Bethlehem would have been like, the threat of scandal for Mary and Joseph, when and where Jesus was most likely born, the dangerous political climate, the significance of the shepherds, and the meaning of the titles Saviour, Messiah and Lord.]

However you do it, set time aside to ponder.

We may be standing on the brink of a new chapter in human history, partly defined by a massive loss in biblical knowledge and wisdom. But that isn’t you.

Ecclesiastes 7:12 says: “Wisdom preserves those who have it.” So have it. 

“Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”

We are wise to do the same.

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Notes:

—The Christmas Story Re-Examined. That’s the podcast I mentioned above. You can listen (or read) here, or tune in to ‘The Pulse Podcast with Matthew Ruttan’ wherever you enjoy podcasts—Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher or TuneIn.

–The Up Devotional is published 5 days a week and returns on December 20, 2021.

–Bible quotes are from the NIV.