![]() Had the leaders in Israel been true to their trust, they might have shared the joy of heralding the birth of Jesus. They wait the signal to declare the glad news to the world. Above the hills of Bethlehem are gathered an innumerable throng of angels. The whole world is brighter for His presence. With a deeper and more tender interest the holy beings from the world of light are drawn to the earth. Men know it not, but the tidings fill heaven with rejoicing. It is still proclaimed in our ears that to us is born a Saviour, Christ the Lord. We should be more delivered from errors in judgment and practice, did we more fully ponder these things in our hearts. Mary carefully observed and thought upon all these things, which were so suited to enliven her holy affections. They were satisfied, and made known abroad concerning this child, that he was the Saviour, even Christ the Lord. The shepherds lost no time, but came with haste to the place. This is a faithful saying, attested by an innumerable company of angels, and well worthy of all acceptation, That the good-will of God toward men, is glory to God in the highest, and peace on the earth. Peace is here put for all that good which flows to us from Christ's taking our nature upon him. God's goodwill in sending the Messiah, brought peace into this lower world. Other works of God are for his glory, but the redemption of the world is for his glory in the highest. God's good-will to men, manifested in sending the Messiah, redounds to his praise. Let God have the honour of this work Glory to God in the highest. We are not out of the way of Divine visits, when we are employed in an honest calling, and abide with God in it. When Scripture speaks of submission between any two persons, such as within a marriage (Ephesians 5:22–24 Titus 2:9 3:1 Hebrews 13:17), it allows no condescension from one to the other.Angels were heralds of the new-born Saviour, but they were only sent to some poor, humble, pious, industrious shepherds, who were in the business of their calling, keeping watch over their flock. Jesus is God incarnate (John 1:1, 14)-He is literally the divine Creator and Master of the very parents to whom He submits. This remark also helps to clarify that submission in no sense implies inferiority. When His family arrived and wanted Him to leave, He did so, as part of a pattern of godly obedience (Exodus 20:12). His remaining in the temple wasn't an act of rebellion. Rather, it seems Luke is clarifying that Jesus' attitude continued to be submissive. ![]() His remark does not suggest that Jesus was, only now, after the incident in the temple, being submissive to His parents. Luke's comment here about Jesus' submission resolves several interesting debates about the Bible and Jesus' early life. Though she does not understand, at first (Luke 2:50), she remains open to the work of God in her life (Luke 1:38). This is the same way she reacted when shepherds arrived to see the newborn Jesus (Luke 2:19). That she "treasures" what is happening implies that she deliberately chooses to remember it-holding it in her mind as something worth maintaining. In response to this, Mary once again is said to pay special attention. Though Mary is upset that He "mistreated" her (Luke 2:48), He reassures her that the temple is the only place she should have expected Him to be. ![]() One such incident is her frustration when a twelve-year-old Jesus is accidentally left behind in Jerusalem, only to be found three days later in the temple (Luke 2:41–47). Like anyone else, she would have had moments of doubt, confusion, or misunderstanding. Mary does not understand everything which happens to her with perfect knowledge. ![]()
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