Treasure and Ponder

Courtney Johnson

Central Truth

We do well to treasure up, ponder, and take time to reflect on all that God has done and is doing in our lives. When we do, our faith is strengthened, and we trust Him through the next trial.

But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.

The Birth of Jesus Christ

1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when^{1

2:2
Or This was the registration before} Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed,^{2

2:5
That is, one legally pledged to be married} who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.^{3

2:7
Or guest room}

The Shepherds and the Angels

8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”^{4

2:14
Some manuscripts peace, good will among men}

15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 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.

21 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Footnotes

[1] 2:2 Or This was the registration before
[2] 2:5 That is, one legally pledged to be married
[3] 2:7 Or guest room
[4] 2:14 Some manuscripts peace, good will among men

It was Christmastime, sometime after midnight. The house was dark and quiet as I rocked my first-born son. He was six weeks old. I was still exhausted, but the fog of sleeplessness had begun to lift. A small verse settled into my thoughts: "But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart." (Luke 2:19)

How often have we read the birth narrative and missed this little verse at the end? I don't even know how I remembered it (aside from spiritual intervention). In an attempt to not make too much of Mary, perhaps we make too little and neglect to see ourselves in her. At that moment, I related to Mary as a new mom and felt the swell of those emotions.

But Mary had much more weighty things to ponder than I did. She was remembering the words of the angel, "He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. . . . [O]f His kingdom there will be no end." (Luke 1:32-33). She was likely remembering Elizabeth's baby leaping in her womb at Mary's greeting to Elizabeth (Luke 1:41). Perhaps she was thinking of the story relayed by the shepherds just moments before.

She would have been familiar with the prophecy of the coming Messiah: "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son" (Isaiah 7:14). Maybe she even recalled the prophecy of His coming death in Isaiah 53. All of these things I imagine she pondered.

It's often through the pondering of a collection of words or events that one decides to follow Christ. In addition, after going through difficult circumstances, it is in pondering those events later that we can often see a bigger picture. When we spend time pondering all God has done, we can see that God is working all things according to His plan and our good (Romans 8:28).

In the words of Psalm 143:5: "I meditate on all that you have done;
I ponder the work of your hands."

1. Have you pondered God's gift of His Son as a sacrifice for your sins? Have you accepted that gift?

2. If you have accepted that gift, take some time now to ponder the events that brought you to that decision. How did God protect you leading up to that decision?

3. Think back to a difficult season in your life. Can you now see God's hand in that season in a way you couldn't at the time? How does that impact how you can face future trials?

4. Imagine you are Mary holding your newborn baby but with the full knowledge of His future. How would you feel? How is the fact that God limits our knowledge of the future a demonstration of His love for us?