Matthew’s gospel highlights the angel speaking to Joseph about the coming birth of King Jesus but barely mentions Mary at all. On the other hand, Luke features the angel Gabriel and Mary in a lengthy dialogue in Luke 1:26-38. In the heart of their conversation the angel tells Mary, “‘And behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most-High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.’ But Mary said to the angel, ‘How will this be, since I am a virgin?’ The angel answered and said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; for that reason the holy Child will be called the Son of God’” (Luke 1:31-35).
The phrases that always catch my attention and cause me to ponder when I am reading Luke chapters 1-2 are the words, “Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart” and “His mother treasured all these things in her heart” (Luke 2:19,51). I can’t help but wonder what was going through this young virgin’s mind? She has an angel speak to her and tell her she is going to have a baby without ever being with a man. The angel continues their consecrated conversation with the promise that the baby will be the Divine Son of God from heaven. Add to that the unborn baby John the Baptist leaping in Elizabeth’s womb when Mary arrives at their house, a multitude of angels surrounding the birth of Jesus, and shepherds testifying to Joseph and Mary that angels announced to them the arrival of God’s Son. Luke finishes all of those details by writing, “But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart” (Luke 2:19). No kidding! You think! Overwhelming! It’s almost more than Mary can take in! The joy of the miracle from God is beyond words – maybe that’s why she treasured in her heart and no words are recorded?!
Fast-forward 33 years and we picture Mary at the foot of the cross. The same baby Jesus she held in her arms as an infant is now being held to a cross with nails. I don’t know how she could handle it without totally collapsing emotionally and physically. But there’s more! Spin forward three more days and Mary sees Jesus alive from the dead! Jesus has gone from Son to Savior. I just don’t know how Mary could handle all of that! What great faith.
Read Luke 2:1-19 and then listen to When Her Heart Remembered by Michael Card. Ponder the attached photo of Mary holding baby Jesus and holding crucified Jesus after the cross.
Luke 2:1-19
Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all the people were on their way to register for the census, each to his own city. Now Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was betrothed to him, and was pregnant. While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock at night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood near them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. And so the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will 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.” And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army of angels praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace among people with whom He is pleased.”
When the angels had departed from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem, then, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. When they had seen Him, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it were amazed about the things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.
