THINK ABOUT THE CROSS

LUKE 2:19

      Mary, the mother of Jesus, pondered the unexplainable events (rhmata) that surrounded the Gospel. A. T. Robertson noted, “She kept on keeping together all these things” (sunethrei). Mary would “go over each detail in the words of Gabriel and of the shepherds and compare the sayings with the facts so far developed and brood over it all with a mother’s high hopes and joy” (sumballousa [placing together for comparison]).

•          Angelic announcement (Lk. 1:29)

•          Sign to the shepherds (Lk. 2:15)

•          Prophecy at the presentation (Lk. 2:33)

•          Worship of the wise men (Mt. 2:11)

•          Twelve-years old in the temple (Lk. 2:50)

•          Water to wine (Jn. 2:4)

•          Without honor at home (Mt. 12:49)

•          Unbelief of the brothers (Mt. 13:55; Jn. 7:5)

•          Crucifixion of the child (Jn. 19:26)

•          Power at Pentecost (Acts 1:14)

  I. In Bethlehem Mary pondered the miracle of Jesus’ conception (Phil. 2:7).

      The Holy Spirit conceived Jesus in the womb of a human mother without the work of a human father. Until then, the uncreated Christ dwelt eternally with the Father. Though being in the form of God in eternity, Jesus now took the fashion of a man at Bethlehem.

•          Mary pondered conception (Lk. 1:34).

•          Mary pondered reaction (Mt. 1:20).

•          Mary pondered visitation (Mt. 2:11; Lk. 2:16).

      James S. Stewart wrote, “From these pages there shines out her devoutness.” He said, “There shines out also her loneliness.”

 II. In Galilee Mary pondered the mystery of Jesus’ incarnation (Jn. 1:14).

      The Sun of Righteousness humbled Himself to live on earth under the rising and setting of the sun. The Ancient of Days lived on earth in the days of His flesh.

•          Mary pondered the infancy (Lk. 2:34).

•          Mary pondered the adolescence (Lk. 2:51).

•          Mary pondered the adulthood (Mt. 13:55; Jn. 2:4).

III. At Calvary Mary pondered the meaning of Jesus’ crucifixion (Heb. 10:5).

      Jesus poured out His life’s blood (Lev. 17:11) as the Lamb without blemish or spot. The carpenter of Nazareth carried the cross to bear the condemnation of the Law. Jesus substituted Himself, the just for the unjust, to take the sinner’s place on the cross.

•          Mary pondered standing beneath the cross (Jn. 19:25).

•          Mary pondered kneeling in the upper room (Acts 1:14).

      Believers who take the Lord’s Supper ought to ponder afresh the atoning work of Christ for salvation (1 Cor. 11:28).

 IV. On the Mount of Olives Mary pondered the majesty of Jesus’ exaltation (Acts 1:11).

      Jesus arose from the dead on the third day with a glorified body. Forty days after the cross Jesus ascended back to the Father having conquered sin in the flesh. Christ now sits enthroned in heaven as the fullness of the Godhead bodily.