Leaving the devout reader to meditate upon these words, words which tell at least that all God’s purposes of blessing for His people Israel were already realized in the Person of His beloved Son, we must follow the shepherds. With simple faith, without a question as to the truth of what they had heard, they said one to another, “Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.” What a sight it was that greeted their eyes! They might not have comprehended the full import of what they saw, or the glory of the child. Still they saw Him, and, it cannot be doubted, with adoring hearts. Not a word is recorded of anything they or Mary or Joseph said. Is it because they were feasting their eyes upon the Saviour, Christ the Lord, as He lay there in the manger? And yet they must have spoken for Scripture states “they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child” and the effect it produced; it is said that “Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.” Combining this with the last clause of Luke 2:51, we gather that Mary was a quiet, meditative, reflective soul. Chosen for such a mission, and with such a charge, it could scarcely be otherwise. With even the feeblest sense of the character of her child she must have been awed in the presence of God, and speech would be almost incongruous. Man would like to know more of her thoughts as she gazed upon the face of that wondrous child, the One of whom Isaiah prophesied and said, “His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace,” but great as was the favor bestowed upon Mary, it was not she, but her Son, who was the object of heaven, the object of God’s counsels, and the One in whom the glory of God would be upheld, vindicated, and made good even in this world. We can, however, admire the beautiful traits of her character which were so conspicuous in her pious and godly demeanor.