Luke 2:19-20 English Standard Version
19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
As many times as I have read these verses from Luke’s narrative, I believe I have never seriously pondered, nor really asked the question: What did Mary ponder?
Did she drop to the ground in “shock?”
Did she kneel in prayer?
Did she laugh or giggle or pinch herself, trying to grasp the truth that lying in front of her in a manger was the Son of God himself, the promised Messiah?
Did she wonder how the whole of God could also be a real human baby boy?
Did she wonder about all of God being her first born baby that needed cuddling, feeding, diaper changes, baths, potty training and her motherly attentive care?
Somewhere, our Mary surely realized that she was in the presence of a miracle.
Somewhere, thinking about what the shepherds had said, she probably thought back to the very day nine months earlier when she too was visited by an angel.
On that day she learned that she, a virgin, would become pregnant by the power of the Holy Spirit, and that the child in her womb would be the very Son of God.
Almighty God, who Created all things, brought order from chaos, who is beyond space and time, chose her young life to empty himself, to take on human flesh.
By some miracle she could not begin to comprehend, out of His greatest love for her you and me, He came as a baby born to this mother that night in Bethlehem.
Somehow, somewhere on this day, sit and ponder for yourself: there in the manger lay our Savior, who would surrender his own life for your sake, mine.
The one whom Mary held and nursed, who could not even hold up his head and would need his bottom washed, his diaper changed, would too need to be taught when, how to stand up and walk, would need her help to even stand up on his own, what to touch, not to touch, was God in the flesh, come to make us whole.
One day this very real human being needing every single inch, need every single ounce of our life’s energy, our support in the good times and the bad and all the very worst, to just get through the day, and issues growing up, issues of puberty how to make friends would choose to give his very real body over to be crucified.
And Mary would be there to ponder every single precious moment of that too.
Will we, today, take any one single moment to ponder these things with Mary?
Pondering How We Ourselves Will Reveal Jesus Today
Luke 2:19-20 The Message
19-20 Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The shepherds returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they’d been told!
The seasons of Advent and Christmas.
Time to make all those travel plans.
Time to hang all those lights and decorations both inside and outside the house.
Time for a family outing to go to some tree farm, some nursery, or some mall parking lot and look among all of the trees which have been cut and harvested.
Time to go up to the attic or the lost in the garage or the storage out back and retrieve all of the treasured family and the traditional Christmas decorations.
Time to make a family day and set the tree up and decorate it to its finest and plug it in and light it to its brightest glow – so our neighbors may admire it.
Pick a theme for the Christmas season – Country Christmas or Red, White, Blue.
Cookie cutter Christmas, an International theme – whatever is in your hearts.
Time to pull out all of those recipe books of all your families favorite foods.
Time to buy all those last minute gifts, sing all those carols, watch the movies.
Many Christians will also read the traditional Christmas stories from the Bible in some form, the Prophecies from Isaiah, birth narratives, Matthew and Luke.
The biblical Christmas narrative tells an exciting story filled with prophecy, danger and supernatural guidance, protection, and even angelic declaration.
Young Mary moves and reacts at the center of the story, a young girl of faith who is given a difficult and epic role — to be the mother of the Son of God.
She and her betrothed Joseph are given one miraculous supernatural message after another, whether through angels or people and they must know its God.
At one point, the Bible tells us Mary “treasured all these things in her heart.”
We’ve heard or read this phrase a hundred times, and we can often look over it as too familiar.
But we should we our contemporary selves not take the time Mary and Joseph did to ponder and explore this miraculous story and the glory of God, further?
What does Mary’s “treasuring all these things in her heart” say about how we reveal Christ today?
In the Gospel of Luke, the story begins with the angel Gabriel appearing to Mary and announcing that she will conceive and bear a son, Jesus, who will be the Son of the Most High.
Mary, initially perplexed, accepts this divine calling with humility and faith.
Subsequently, she visits her relative Elizabeth, who is miraculously expecting a child, they share in a moment of joy, praise for the work of God in their lives.
As the narrative progresses, Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem due to a decree from Caesar Augustus, who has ordered a census.
It is in Bethlehem that Mary gives birth to Jesus in a humble setting — a manger — because there is no room in the inn.
Shortly after Jesus’ birth, angels appear to shepherds in the fields, proclaiming the good news of the Savior’s arrival.
The shepherds then visit the holy family and share the angelic message about the significance of the child they have just witnessed.
Amidst these extraordinary events, Luke 2:19 provides a real 1st century glimpse into young Mary’s deep emotional and spiritual response to the unfolding story.
The verse states, “But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”
This reflection captures for us today Mary’s deep contemplation and thoughtful consideration of all these miraculous events surrounding the birth of her son.
This verse highlights Mary’s contemplative nature, emphasizing her role not only as the mother of Jesus but as a woman of deep faith and spiritual insight.
She could have easily been overwhelmed by these epic events, but she, as Luke states, instead, sat, pondered and meditated on the events and their meaning.
Her response is a model of lasting obedience, faithfulness and contemplation in the face of extraordinary occurrences beyond all human pale to comprehend.
The Gospel of Luke the continues to unfold the narrative of Jesus’ early life as a child growing up, and maturing, in ministry, in ultimate sacrifice for humanity.
Mary’s role remains significant throughout, from her initial acceptance of the angelic message to her presence at key moments in Jesus’ earthly journey.
What Did it Mean for Mary to Treasure All These Things in Her Heart?
Mary’s incredibly mature act of treasuring and pondering as a teenage mother reflects a deep and profound spiritual reflection which sets us a high example.
The miraculous nature of Jesus’ conception, the angelic announcements, and the visitations from shepherds all pointed to the extraordinary nature of Jesus.
Her response indicates that at her age she recognized the divine significance of these events and patiently sought to understand the deeper spiritual meanings.
Mary, as the mother of Jesus, played a central role in the unfolding of God’s plan for salvation.
By pondering, treasuring these events, this young teenager Mary acknowledged the sovereignty of God, creative handiwork of God in her life, and in the world.
Her contemplation suggests a recognition these were not mere coincidences but rather direct divine interventions holding profound implications for humanity.
The events surrounding Jesus’ birth were shrouded in mystery, divine purpose.
Mary, in pondering and treasuring these things, plumbed the depths, embraced the incomprehensible mystery of God’s plan for humanities final redemption.
She recognized that her role as the mother of the Messiah was part of a grand and intricate narrative that had been steadily unfolding throughout history.
Her response can also be seen as an expression of gratitude.
Gratitude for the angelic messages, the visitations of shepherds, and the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem.
By pondering and treasuring these moments, this young Mary acknowledged the fullness of blessings bestowed upon her and expressed unyielding gratitude and obedience to God, for being chosen as a vessel for God’s redemptive plan.
Mary’s act of treasuring and pondering implies a greater personal and intimate connection with the divine.
It suggests that she did not merely witness these events passively but actively engaged with them on a spiritual and emotional level.
Her mother’s heart became a repository for the sacred moments that unfolded around the birth of her son.
Treasuring these things in her heart might have also served as that essential source of strength and guidance for Mary in the future when Calvary came.
As Jesus grew and matured and embarked on his earthly ministry, Mary’s reflections on the miraculous events surrounding his birth likely provided a foundation of faith and resilience for the toughest challenges that lay ahead.
She contemplated, she pondered, she treasured them all, which speaks of an inclusive nature to each event as part of a whole, both for her individually, for her family, for the nation of Israel, and for generations ahead and the world.
She did not reject any part of the message she didn’t like but received it all.
Further, she didn’t consider these things intellectually, as if she would one day write a long theological treatise or submit Doctoral dissertations on the events.
Mary acted like these wonderful events should impact the state of her heart, and others, and she valued these revelations where they mattered: in her heart.
How Do Jesus and the New Testament Teach Us the Importance of Our Hearts?
Jesus’ teachings in the New Testament consistently emphasize the importance of truth in the hearts of believers.
Jesus speaks of the types of people who are blessed at the beginning of the famous Sermon on the Mount, what we call the Beatitudes. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (Matthew 5:8).
Speaking of our whole heart, Jesus responds to the question, “What is the greatest commandment?” with the following answer: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30).
Mary didn’t simply acknowledge her heart but used her heart to focus on the truth of the events around her. We must address our hearts with truth.
In John 8:32, Jesus declares, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Here, truth is not merely a collection of facts but a transformative force that liberates individuals from the bondage of sin and ignorance.
The idea of know here is an intimacy, a oneness.
We must let truth deal with our hearts because the heart is the problem.
In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus links the condition of the heart to the words spoken:
“But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. For out of the heart come evil thoughts — murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.”
Matthew 15:18-20 English Standard Version
18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. 20 These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”
This underscores the importance of cultivating a truthful and righteous heart to produce words and actions aligned with God’s will.
Jesus used parables to deal with the importance of receiving the truth in our hearts.
In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus likens the good soil to those who hear the word of God and understand it.
This understanding is rooted in truth, emphasizing the necessity of truth in the receptive heart for spiritual growth.
Later in the New Testament, Paul writes the following about God’s love in the first letter to the Corinthians. “Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.”
This highlights the inseparable connection between love and truth.
Genuine love is grounded in truth, and living truthfully is an expression of authentic love.
Where do we find God’s Truth? In His dynamic, living, powerful revealed Word.
How Can Christians Today Reveal Christ to the World?
Revealing Christ to the world through treasuring God’s Word and truth in our hearts is a powerful way for Christians to embody the teachings of Jesus and share the transformative impact of faith. What are some of these principles?
1. Live out biblical principles.
Mary didn’t hear and say amen and then leave to do her own thing.
God’s Truth revealed through Christ Jesus is meant to be lived out daily.
Luke 9:23-24 English Standard Version
Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus
23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.
This includes demonstrating sacrificial love, compassion, humility, and justice in our daily interactions.
By aligning words and actions with those in our biblical teachings, we become true living testimonies of the revealed transformative power of God’s Word.
2. Integrity in character. Mary treasured it all.
This is integrity.
We can reveal Christ by exemplifying honesty, kindness, and ethical conduct in all aspects of life.
A character shaped by God’s Word becomes a beacon of light in a world often marked by moral ambiguity.
3. A heart for service.
Mary submitted to the Word of God through the angel to serve God and others.
The teachings of Jesus emphasize service and selflessness.
We can reveal Christ by actively engaging in acts of kindness, generosity, and service to others.
This outward expression of love mirrors the selfless love modeled by Jesus and draws people to the transformative message of the Gospel.
4. Sharing the gospel. Mary received the Word in her heart but also in her womb, becoming a vessel for God to work through for salvation for others.
Treasuring God’s Word includes a commitment to sharing the Good News with others – Christians can reveal Christ by effectively communicating the message of salvation and the transformative power of a relationship with Jesus.
5. Being born again. Mary was the first embodiment of the incarnation.
God created a new life within her, and Jesus was both human and divine.
As both God and man, Jesus was the first of a new race of people, the born again, the new creation.
We cannot reveal Christ without the incarnation, God in our hearts.
We must rest in this new, divine nature he shares with us.
6. Responding to adversity with faith.
For Mary, following the Word of God meant she would face adversity and difficulty, but she faced it with faith and trust.
The same is true for us.
We are promised difficulty by Jesus, but we are also promised we can overcome those difficulties with Christ (John 16:33).
He has overcome the world, and so will we if we continue with Him.
By facing adversity with faith, resilience, and trust in God’s promises, we reveal Christ’s sustaining presence even in difficult circumstances.
7. Cultivating a joyful spirit.
After getting a confirmation of God’s power and word when meeting with Elizabeth, Mary sang a song blessing God for his redemption and salvation.
The joy that comes from treasuring God’s Word is infectious.
We can reveal Christ by cultivating a spirit of joy, gratitude, and contentment.
This joy becomes a dynamic living testimony to the transformative impact of God’s Word upon the ever fickle and finicky sin blasted human heart.
By embodying the teachings of Jesus and sharing the transformative power of God’s Word, believers become powerful agents of change and ambassadors of their Savior Christ in a world that desperately needs all the light of the gospel.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 119:1-16 The Message
119 1-8 You’re blessed when you stay on course,
walking steadily on the road revealed by God.
You’re blessed when you follow his directions,
doing your best to find him.
That’s right—you don’t go off on your own;
you walk straight along the road he set.
You, God, prescribed the right way to live;
now you expect us to live it.
Oh, that my steps might be steady,
keeping to the course you set;
Then I’d never have any regrets
in comparing my life with your counsel.
I thank you for speaking straight from your heart;
I learn the pattern of your righteous ways.
I’m going to do what you tell me to do;
don’t ever walk off and leave me.
* * *
9-16 How can a young person live a clean life?
By carefully reading the map of your Word.
I’m single-minded in pursuit of you;
don’t let me miss the road signs you’ve posted.
I’ve banked your promises in the vault of my heart
so I won’t sin myself bankrupt.
Be blessed, God;
train me in your ways of wise living.
I’ll transfer to my lips
all the counsel that comes from your mouth;
I delight far more in what you tell me about living
than in gathering a pile of riches.
I ponder every morsel of wisdom from you,
I attentively watch how you’ve done it.
I relish everything you’ve told me of life,
I won’t forget a word of it.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 