Not Just Stories - Part 7

Pondering and Treasuring

Author Kathy Crabtree calls John 1:10 “The Greatest Plot Twist Ever”

John 10:10 NKJV

10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Let’s Take a Look at Mary after Jesus was born.

Luke 2:15–19 NKJV

15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.

Luke 2:45–51 NKJV

45 So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. 46 Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. 48 So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.” 49 And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” 50 But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them. 51 Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart.

Luke 2:19 HCSB

19 But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them.

Luke 2:19 NIV

19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

Luke 2:51 NIV

51 Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.

Treasure: To keep carefully for use at a later date

Ponder: To reflect after the fact to for greater understanding

4 Things to Ponder about Your Miracle

1) The method

John 9:1–7 NKJV

1 Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. 4 I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. 7 And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing.

Jesus was passing by:

Siloam = Sent

It was created by King Hezekiah - a tunnel from the Gihon Spring

Pool of Siloam’s name in Hebrew means “The Pool of the One Who Will Be Sent”

Feast of Tabernacles

2) The timing

Stop going to the common solution that is not working.

Remember the paralyzed man who was there for 38 years?

With God All Things Are Possible

But there’s even more to the story…

Each fall the Jews celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. The last day of this feast is called “The Great Day of the Feast.” On this day, the priests would perform a special ritual in which the nation would cry out for their Messiah to come.

Beginning at the Temple located at the top of Mt. Moriah, the High Priest would lead a long line of priests as they sang their way down a wide descending boulevard (see picture above) to the Pool of Siloam, located at the bottom of Mt. Moriah.

At the pool the High Priest would fill a special pitcher with water. With great pomp and ceremony, the High Priest would then take the long climb back up the boulevard to the Temple at the top of Mount Moriah.

He then would take the pitcher of water to the Brazen Altar of Sacrifice and pour the water on it while reading Isaiah 44:3 about the future Messiah coming to Israel:

“For I will pour out water on the thirsty land

And streams on the dry ground;

I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring

And My blessing on your descendants;” Is. 44:3

Isaiah 44:3 NKJV

3 For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, And floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, And My blessing on your offspring;

The crowd would fall silent as they prayed for the Messiah to come and pour His Spirit on them. But this particular year, Jesus had come stealthily to Jerusalem without His Apostles. And it was at this moment He boldly broke the prayerful silence by loudly proclaiming:

“...If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” John 7:37-38

John 7:37–38 NKJV

37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”

Jesus was answering their cry for their Messiah to come. The prophetic ritual of pouring the water from the “Pool of the One Who Is Sent” and praying for their Messiah had been answered!

But the crowd was confused. Some were amazed by His miracles and teaching. Others were adamant He was not the Messiah because He was from, they thought, Galilee and the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem. They didn’t realize He was actually born in Bethlehem.

The next day Jesus showed up at the Temple and confounded the Pharisees with His incredible oratory. Not being able to answer, they made a deep, deep dig at Jesus being born of fornication—supposing Mary had gotten pregnant before she was married. Then they said He had a demon. Finally they tried to stone Him.

Jesus slipped away from their grasp, and as He left the Temple area he saw the blind beggar sitting on the sidewalk. I have to think Jesus was smiling as He healed him right under their phariseetical noses and then tells him to go wash in the Pool of Siloam—The Pool of the Sent One.

3) The message

Stop going to the common solutions that are not working.

Remember the paralyzed man who was there for 38 years?

Luke 1:36 NKJV

36 Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren.

Luke 1:37 NKJV

37 For with God nothing will be impossible.”

Matthew 19:23–26 NKJV

23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” 26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

With God All Things Are Possible

4) The purpose: To build up a treasure to draw from in times of need

Treasuring:

Perhaps the best translation:

Luke 2:19 “Mary was preserving all these things, pondering in her heart.” (Young’s Literal Translation)

Anyone ever eaten preserves?

Strawberry, pear, peach, Elder John makes “Black & Blue”

Isaiah 12:3–6 NKJV

3 Therefore with joy you will draw water From the wells of salvation. 4 And in that day you will say: “Praise the Lord, call upon His name; Declare His deeds among the peoples, Make mention that His name is exalted. 5 Sing to the Lord, For He has done excellent things; This is known in all the earth. 6 Cry out and shout, O inhabitant of Zion, For great is the Holy One of Israel in your midst!”

When you recognize the treasure:

You will draw.

You will praise.

You will declare.

You will sing.

You will shout it out!