REMEMBERING MARY: HER DEVOTION

REMEMBERING MARY: HER DEVOTION

Luke 2:1-20 (v.19)

Dr. Wm. J. Maxwell

First Presbyterian Church, Newport, RI

December 24, 2006

Christmas carols and hymns - we all have our favorites, I suppose. One of my personal favorites has the following first verse:

“Once in royal David’s city

stood a lowly cattle shed,

where a mother laid her Baby in a manger for His bed:

Mary was that mother mild,

Jesus Christ her little Child.” [i]

In this treasured carol, the author leads us to consider Mary, “that mother mild.” A number of carols and hymns at this time of year in fact lead us to the tender side of Mary. We can also sense some of the tender side in our passage this morning: “While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”

But in our passage for this morning, there is yet another side of Mary for us to consider. It is the side of Mary’s devotion. We are told that, after the shepherds had arrived and shared their experience with Mary and Joseph, “Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” It is in this verse that we find a deep sense of devotion to the Lord.

MARY’S DEVOTION.

If we stop and look closely at this verse, it tells us a great deal about Mary. Mary was treasuring, keeping close and safe, protecting and preserving all that she had seen, heard and experienced.

Mary was carefully storing away in her mind what the angel had said to Joseph; what Gabriel had announced to her; what her experience had been in finding Elizabeth to be pregnant in her old age; what Elizabeth had said to her about Mary being the mother of her Lord; what Mary’s experience had been in coming to Bethlehem; what the shepherds had told her concerning the visitation and voices of angels; and their direction to go and see the Baby.

The Bible tells us that Mary not only “treasured all these things,” but that she also “pondered them in her heart.” She mused and mulled over them. She meditated on them, thinking through their significance.

Apparently, this wasn’t the last time Mary did this, either. Twelve years later, when Jesus was found in the Temple instead of having returned with His mother and Joseph to Nazareth in Galilee, Jesus said to Mary some rather remarkable things, such as that He needed to be there and be about His Father’s business.[ii] Mary did not let such words be dismissed as being insignificant, but took action instead: she “treasured up all these things in her heart.” [iii]

It appears that Mary was inclined to seriously consider the events that affected her faith, events where God was clearly moving in absolutely wonderful ways, in often supernatural, miraculous ways.

Clearly, Mary was devoted to the Lord, as seen by her treasuring of these things and pondering over them. And in being such a person of devotion, treasuring and prizing such things and thinking deeply about them, Mary becomes an example or model for all of us. Mary shows us that we can take what we have seen and heard and experienced of the grace of God given in Jesus Christ, and treasure it all in our hearts, preserving it in our memory, protecting it so it is not lost, and then reflecting upon it often.

Others can then witness to our devotion when they see how we marvel at God’s grace, celebrate His love, revel at His mercy, energize in His power, and yearn for the nearness of His presence. This is precisely the kind of devotion we should all seek to have. When our gracious heavenly Father sends His Son to rescue us from bondage to sin and death, how can we not receive so great a gift, leave the bondage behind, walk in life with Him, and never, ever forget what he has done for us?

THE DEVOTION OF TIGYNE.

In the years preceding World War II in Ethiopia, missionaries took the Gospel to the Wallamo Tribe. Tigyne was one of the members of that tribe and one of the first converts to Christ, and Raymond Davis was the missionary used by God to bring him to Christ, and to freedom.

Tigyne was a slave and his master was so upset over his conversion to Christ that he refused to allow Tigyne to go to any Bible studies or attend any services of worship. In fact, he often beat Tigyne, just for the reason of his faith. But Tigyne accepted this as a price to pay for being a Christian. However, the one price he couldn’t afford was the price to purchase his freedom. It was only $12, but here was a man who had never had a salary in his whole life!

The missionaries soon learned about Tigyne’s situation. They talked it over together, collected the money, and bought Tigyne his freedom. From that day on, he was not only free spiritually; he was free physically as well. And Tigyne had an enduring gratitude for what had been done for him.

Soon after, however, the missionaries were expelled from the country of Ethiopia. Twenty-four years went by before Raymond Davis could return to Ethiopia. But all the while, Tigyne testified faithfully and enthusiastically to others of God’s grace given in Jesus Christ. And he yearned for the time when he might be able to see Davis once again.

Well, when news reached Tigyne that Davis was actually coming, Tigyne went to the Mission Station on a daily basis. Every day, day after day, he waited, searching in the distance for any sign of his returning friend.

Finally the day came when Raymond Davis returned, riding in a car driven by another missionary. Tigyne ran to the window, even though the car was still moving, and he kissed his the hand of his friend repeatedly. The driver had to slow down the car, and as Tigyne kept pace, he yelled out to his friends: “Behold! Behold! One of those who redeemed me has returned!”

When the car finally stopped, Davis got out of it. Tigyne fell to his knees, threw his arms around Davis’ legs, and then began to kiss his dirty and dusty shoes. But Davis reached down and brought Tigyne to his feet, and there they embraced each other, and there they wept together. [iv]

OUR DEVOTION.

As we consider such devotion as this, do we not have a Friend who has purchased us? Be the length of time for our freedom short or long, do we remember so great an act of kindness and of mercy?

Do we treasure all that we have seen and heard and experienced in the realm of His grace and love? And do we often ponder and think on these things?

And do we long for His return, and when that day finally happens, will we fall at His feet, with tears of joy and gratitude running down our cheeks?

Such is the way of devotion, dear friends. Such is the way … of devotion!