19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,18 and all who heard it were amazed...
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that...
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest...
Mary kept these things hidden until the right time. Mary knew the right time had come at the wedding at Cana. What An important role this mother played in beginning Jesus’ ministry! She knew the time for His marvelous ministry to begin.
“All the things were just as they had been told.” We need to keep this in our hearts and minds- not one of His good promises fail- all are fulfilled just as He has said. I love how Abraham did not regard his own body as good as dead nor the deadness of Sarah’s womb but was fully persuaded that what God had told him He was able to perform. May our faith grow strong in believing in His faithfulness to accomplish all just as He has said!
Why were the shepherds glorifying and praising God? I thank God that what He says comes to be: "which were just as they had been told." Also they now knew they had a Savior, to save them from their sins.
I often think about this verse when I read about how Mary was at the cross while Jesus was dying. The things she had treasured in her heart must have seemed like ashes at the time. And yet on the third day those treasures would be resurrected forever and all time. It was just like the promise given to the shepherds -- "which were just as they had been told." As 2 Corinthians 1:12 says, "For all of God's promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding "Yes!" And through Christ, our "Amen" (which means "Yes") ascends to God for his glory." Hallelujah!