TREASURING AND PONDERING

" But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart." (Luke 2:19, NASB)

Mary is one of the greatest individuals of all time, given the honor of giving birth to the very Son of God. She was "highly favored," and the Lord was "with" her (Lk 1:28). The Scriptures make it apparent that she was also a spiritually thoughtful person, taking note of key matters that were said in her presence. Take, for example, the evening of our Savior's birth. Holy angels made that Divinely planned birth to some shepherd who were watching their flocks in "the same region." The message was marvelous. "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths, and lying in a manger." This was followed by a praising of a "multitude of heavenly hosts who sang, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." Immediately, the shepherds sought out the new born king, finding him with Joseph and Mary, lying in a manger just as the angels said. After seeing the infant, "they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child." We are told that those hearing their words "wondered," or were amazed "at the things which were told them by the shepherds" (Lk 2:10-18). Mary's reaction, however, was quite different. Mary "treasured up," or kept, all of these things, pondering them in her heart. This means she frequently and repeatedly thought about them, summoning them into her mind, thinking about them, and  mulling them over in her mind. She meditated upon them, ruminating, revolving them about in her mind, seeing fresh aspects of them, and probing them with her intellect. Who is able to tell what marvelous things came to her as she thought upon those few words spoken by the shepherds. They were not given an abundance of words, but they were given an abundance of truth. They heard a message of gladness for "all the people." They heard of a Savior who was "Christ the Lord." They were given "a sign," and heard the expressions of a "multitude of heavenly hosts." They heard about God receiving "glory in the highest," and "peace" and "good will toward men." Mary deliberated on the whole matter, refusing to lay the words aside. She made place for them in all of her thinking. What a noble example she is for us all! The Gospel which we have heard is much more than the shepherds heard and reported. It is worthy of treasuring up and pondering.