“Songs of Reflection” from the lesson series Music of Christmas, December 2021

our Scripture

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

Luke 2:19 NASB
 Luke 2:19 NET
 Luke 2:19 NLT
 Luke 2:19 NCV
 Luke 2:19 MESSAGE
Luke 2:19 KJV
 Luke 2:19 NRSV
 Luke 2:19 HCSB
 Luke 2:19 NIV
 Luke 2:19 RVA60

 

our Lesson

If there is a theme threading through this year’s lessons, it should become more than crystal clear during these thoughts. Our passage considers a portion of Luke’s account of the gospel story. While the Christmas season is a time of celebration, it is also a time to treasure and to ponder. There are several interesting concepts in this phrase in this short verse. Let’s consider some important things first.

 

The word that many translations render “treasured” has a military flavor. In many contexts, the word would be translated “guarded,” as a prisoner is guarded preventing escape. Mary exerted intense mental effort to store information in order to have continual access to it.

 

Do you keep scrapbooks? We kept photo albums and scrapbooks for all of our children. We have records of the births of each child, pictures of birthdays and celebrations, along with mementos of significant events along the way. We don’t want our memories to escape.

 

The tense of the Greek verb is the imperfect tense, which means that action is on-going. Mary continued guarding all of these things. She may have said nothing, but she continued pondering them in her heart. The verbs are in a participial form, again stressing the continued actions.

 

The verbs have a prefix with them that stresses “together with.” The idea is that Mary is throwing these things together in her heart, comparing one thing to another, letting one thing explain another. She begins to see everything through a particular lens, and the lens grows and changes with every event.

 

“Ahh, this explains everything! Now this makes sense!”

 

The phrase is interesting and fun to think about. If it had only occurred once, we would grin at the thoughtful and perceptive writer that Luke was proving to be. But he uses the phrase a second time down in verse 51. Luke wants us to pay attention to what is happening.

 

Notice also the events that occur between the two verses. I do not think it is an accident what the Scripture records after it tells us that Mary treasures and ponders the things of Christmas.

 

First Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the temple for ceremony required by Law (Leviticus 12:2-4). Forty days after the birth, a purification ceremony was required for Mary. At the same time, if the child were the first-born male, a special ceremony of dedication and sacrifice was required (Exodus 13:2). Mary and Joseph were trying to follow the Law.

 

Simeon, perhaps the attendant priest for the day, looked for the restoration of Israel because he was a righteous and devout individual. Upon seeing the baby, Simeon broke into praise and blessing to God, declaring that he has seen the salvation of the Lord. Simeon provides incredible information for Mary to “guard” – claiming that Jesus would be a revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for the people of Israel.

 

Mary and Joseph are amazed at was Simeon said. But Simeon is not finished. “Listen carefully,” he continued. “This child is destined to be the cause of the rising and falling of many in Israel. He will be a sign that will be rejected. He will be a sword that will pierce your own soul as well” (Luke 2:34-35 NIV).

 

Anna, a widow in the temple, continued the events that amazed Mary and Joseph. She began to speak of the child, giving thanks to God. She was thankful and excited that the Lord was finally bringing about the redemption of Jerusalem.

 

But Luke tells us about a third event in this setting. The event takes place twelve years later. It is the only biblical record we have of an event in the childhood of Jesus. Luke reminds us that Mary and Joseph went to Jerusalem every year. We would expect such dedication from Mary and Joseph. They were meticulous in keeping the Law when Jesus was born. We would expect the same fervor throughout. There were three pilgrimage festivals which were kept by the faithful. At each setting, when possible the faithful would return to the Temple in Jerusalem. The Passover was one of those feasts.

 

When the feast was over, Mary and Joseph along with others, began the journey to return to Nazareth. They had traveled a day away from Jerusalem when they noticed they had not seen Jesus. They looked for him among their relatives and friends. They returned to Jerusalem looking for him, and found him in the temple courts, talking and listening to the rabbis. Luke adds the commentary, “All who heard Jesus were astonished at his understanding and his answers” (Luke 2:47).

 

Mary and Joseph did not completely understand what Jesus was doing or saying, but Mary “guarded” all of these things in her heart.

 

I wonder what Mary treasured.

 

Think about the things the Scriptures have recorded for us about the events to this point. Mary has had lots to treasure.

 

  • Mary had to consider how God was working in her life. From angelic messages to confirmation from family, Mary had to be reflecting on God’s sometimes miraculous intervention in her life, especially regarding the birth of her son.
  • Mary had to consider the amazing things that people were telling her about Jesus. Respected individuals were using words like salvation, redemption, and Messiah. Even at this early an age, the message was filled with conflict. Jesus would bring some together, but would cause others to stumble. There would be great joy, but there would also be great pain.
  • Finally, Mary had to be amazed when she considered God’s greater plan. Faithful Jewish people had long awaited the coming Messiah. Understanding that she was playing a role in God’s larger plan must have been a humbling, yet thrilling experience. Mary was being used by the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

 

I wonder what sense Mary made of what was happening. I wonder how often she thought about the things she was guarding in her heart.

 

What do you treasure about your Christmas? How do those treasures fit into God’s scheme? Is all that you put in your scrapbook pictures of the presents? Or do you pause to remember what God has done for your family through the presence of His Son? Do you notice how the Lord has been weaving the events of your lives into the tapestry of His will?

 

Not everything that God does at Christmas is “merry and bright.” Some of the events pierce deeply to our soul. Christmas does not ignore our pain; neither does it allow us to wallow in them. Treasure the events and the people; guard their memories in your heart.

 

Don’t let the Savior and His work in your family be nothing more than a page in your scrapbook that gathers dust.