Treasuring the Mysterious Work of God

One of the birthday traditions we have in our house is to retell our kids about the events leading up to their birth. It’s a fun way for Danielle and me to relive those moments with the kids. After all, while they were each present, none of them remember - at least not like we do.

We get to remember back to the day and a half of waiting in the hospital for one to come, the instant verbal skills of another, and the shift change the happened just as the third was ready to be born.

There is something about looking back and remembering that brings us joy as a family.

In many ways, it’s not unlike what many of us do around Christmas as we get a rare glimpse into the events leading up to the birth of a child. For most of us, unless we are close to someone who is pregnant, we might only hear of the good news of the pregnancy and then the joyous news of the birth. But here, with Jesus we get some very intimate details of fear, wonder, blessing, betrayal, and even murder. The birth of Jesus was a big deal!

The Gospels of Matthew and Luke give us two different but equally beautiful examinations into the birth of Jesus. Luke seems to focus on Mary and the Shepherds. Matthew focuses on Joseph’s point of view and the Magi or wisemen. Luke tells us a bit about Jesus’ presentation in the temple and some sparse details about his boyhood years. Matthew talks about King Herod’s vicious response to the birth of Jesus and the dreams that prompted Joseph to take his young family to Egypt and then back to Nazareth.

But as we read through the birth narratives, there are two separate times that Luke records something interesting.

Luke 2:19 ESV

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

And then again, at the end of the chapter, Luke writes:

Luke 2:51 (ESV)

And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.

I’d like for us to consider the first of these “treasuring” texts for the remainder of our time.

Mary treasured all these things...

Treasured

Meaning:

kept safe

preserved or retained - did not let it go.

protected

Application:

treasuring expresses value

Mary didn’t just experience the birth of Jesus, she treasured it. She reflected on all of the events.

How often in our lives do we race from minute to minute, day to day, week to week, etc. and fail to look back and reflect on what God is doing?

treasuring takes time

As Luke is interviewing Mary - likely decades after Jesus’ death - the details of these things must have still been fresh.

All these things

The first time that Luke records this treasuring, it’s right after the shepherds visit. It could be that she simply paid attention to the peculiar details of their visit. But that could also refer to the various things she had experienced.

Before His birth

the angel’s initial visit (Luke 1:26-38)

Visiting with Elizabeth (John’s leaping) (Luke 1:39-56)

the journey to Bethlehem (Luke 2:1-5)

His Birth and Presentation

His birth - Luke 2:6-7 - it is interesting that there are very few details here - just that his cradle was a feeding troff. The details we might think about are left out here. Luke’s account focuses on getting to Bethlehem.

the visitors - shepherds, angels (Luke 2:6-20) - as i mentioned before - Luke’s first comment about Mary treasuring “all these things” followed the visit of the shepherds. Shepherds were quite low on scale of first century society. These people were often out in the elements for countless hours. They would be dirty and smelly. And yet these are the first ones that God chose to announce the birth of His son. While society at that time might not have valued shepherds, God did. God has a shepherd’s heart. He cares for his people as a shepherd cares for his flock.

Jacob saw God as His shepherd - Gen. 48:15 “And he blessed Joseph and said, “The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day,”

Isaiah prophesied about the shepherding activity of God: Isaiah 40:9-11 ....“Behold your God!” Behold, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.”

The Psalmist called God his Shepherd: Psalm 23:1-3 “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”

I don’t know if this is all of what Mary treasured, but she certainly paid attention to who God invited and how they responded.

The news of the birth of royalty is typically proclaimed first among the nobility, but God announced Jesus’ birth to shepherds - proclaiming that this is “good new of great joy which will be for all people.”

the presentation in the temple (Luke 2:21-24) - I can imagine Mary sitting down with Luke and recounting this day. “Luke - we were so poor, we couldn’t even afford the proper offering of a lamb when we presented Jesus in the temple. We scraped together what we could to present a couple of birds as our offering.”

Simeon and his strange words (Luke 2:25-35) - destined for the rise and fall of many - a sword would pierce “your” soul - maybe Mary’s?

Anna and her joy over Jesus. (Luke 2:36-38)

His Childhood

The journey back to Nazareth (Luke 2:38-40) -

Jesus as a boy in the temple - his gifting (Luke 2:41-50) - desire to be in the temple

Jesus’ submission to them as parents - even though he is God/Messiah (Luke 2:51-52)

Luke records that not only did Mary treasure these things but she held onto them by...

...pondering them in her heart.

In their day, paper or papyrus was not as common as all of the writing things that we have today. Maybe she did record things somewhere. It’s certainly unlikely that she had a photo album or a scrap-book, but in the very least, she “pondered” them.

It’s interesting - that word that is translated “pondered” into English is only used 6 times in the NT. The other times that it is used it’s translated as “converse, conferred, encounter, helped, and met.” Which, what is required for all of those things to happen? Someone else! So as Mary is “pondering” it’s as though she is talking to herself about “all these things.”

So What

I think we have “all these things” recorded because of the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. But we also have them because Mary treasured, or kept the events and encounters. She valued them.

I believe that we would do well to follower her example. We need to treasure the mysterious ways that God is working in our lives. Treasure those encounters. Treasure those comments. Treasure those people.

Pay attention to the conversations

Reflect on the patterns.

contemplate on the people God uses in your life

slow down

talk to yourself - we’ll - maybe silently - maybe out loud.

write things down - reflect on the ways that God is working. Pray that God would give you eyes to see and a mind to understand how he is working.

If you’re not yet a follower of Christ, if you’re wondering what all of the fuss is about this baby who was born over 2000 years ago - take time ponder why God would take on human flesh; why he would go through all of the trouble and the condescension? He did that so you could be made right. You see, as we discussed last night, Jesus came to die - to pay for your sins and mine - and then rose victoriously. The best way you can treasure what God did is by believing - repent of your sin and trust in Him.

Let’s pray

Benediction:

Romans 15:13 ESV

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.