Focused on Every One: Luke 2:1-20

Focus Passage: Luke 2:1-20 (NASB)

Of the gospel writers, only Matthew and Luke really focus in on Jesus’ birth story. John begins his gospel looking at the significance of God coming into the world, and Mark begins with a few verses leading up to John the Baptist and Jesus’ baptism, but only Matthew and Luke dive into Jesus’ birth – and Luke devotes more verses and details to this event.

This information makes a phrase from our passage stand out in my mind. In verse 19, we read, “Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.

Luke opens his gospel by detailing that even though others have compiled the details of Jesus’ story, he would do the same, compiling a record of Jesus’ life from the eyewitness accounts that he had access to. This method makes Luke an interviewer and editor more than simply a writer.

But then why does verse 19 stand out in my mind?

About the only way for Luke to know if Mary treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart would be if he had spent time with her himself. Reading the first 2-3 chapters of Luke while asking who Luke would have learned this information from, we can only really conclude that it was Mary herself – if Luke is being honest that he only included eyewitness reports.

Only Mary would know what was special to her, and only Mary would recall the wonder and perplexity of what was happening in this miraculous, extraordinary birth.

But while this was significant then, what big takeaway is there for us living today?

Firstly, it helps give authenticity to Luke’s gospel. But more important than this, understanding how Luke frames this event gives emotion in addition to simply sharing the facts of what happened in these early chapters of his gospel.

While Luke was an interviewer, He focused on including relatable details in this extraordinary event. He was not simply recording a set of facts that happened like a courtroom secretary. Instead, he wants us to understand not only what happened at that point, but how we can relate with what happened then and how these events are significant to us today.

Luke’s gospel begins to take the record of Jesus’ ministry from being one that focused mainly on God’s mission and fulfilling prophecy towards one that deeply cares for individuals and shows God’s love for each of us personally. Luke helps us see how God focuses not just on everyone as a big group, but every one of us individually.

This thought was inspired by studying the Walking With Jesus “Reflective Bible Study” package. To discover insights like this in your own study time, click here and give Reflective Bible Study a try today!

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