Mary holds a very small space volume wise in the NT, but she has a huge place in the history of Christianity. Think of the thousands of Jewish girls that had heard of Messiah around the dinner table. Their mothers had taught them one day Messiah would come, and a very special girl would be the honored vessel to bare him. Those conversations had been spoken in homes for hundreds of years. All Israel waited for the “Consolation of Israel.” Two thousand years ago, a young girl, most likely a teenager, had been betrothed to a young man. Betrothals had happened multiplied thousands of times before, yet this time all would be different. In Luke 1:27 Gabriel delivers the message to this young girl named Mary who is “highly favored, …blessed among women.” That’s the way it started. It would be overwhelming, yet this teenage girl says in 1:38, “Behold the handmaiden of the Lord, be it unto me according to thy word.” Let me share with you three words.

  1. Treasuring:“Mary kept (treasured) these things…” Her mind is like a treasure chest. It was filled with memories. No doubt the words that were spoken to her by the angel and the kindness of Joseph, her future husband. The protection of God and the honor bestowed on her as a lowly, poor girl. Less than a year ago she was just a young girl about to get married. It was the most important day in the life of a Jewish girl. Yet God had reached down and selected her. Her heart overflowed with joy.
  2. Thinking:“…and pondered them in her heart.” Two or three years ago, I had a great compliment given to me. Don’t know if he meant it to be a compliment, but I took it that way when he said, “you’re a thinker, aren’t you?” Shepherds wondered, but she pondered. There is a difference. Wondering could just be wowed and then move on to something else, but pondering is a serious mental activity. It considers facts and circumstances. Pondering means to “weigh it in your own mind.” Pondering means to “put things together.” Connect the dots. She would think about the circumstances and events. Sometimes we read a “who-dunnit” book and the author will connect the dots. Facts get put together and the puzzle then comes together. I think this was a lifelong pursuit of Mary. Pondering also means to “give space.” There must be room to let the idea expand and not be crowded out. That is easy to do at Christmas.
  3. Thanking:Luke 1:46-55. This is called Mary’s Song. It is called “The Magnificat.” Spurgeon preached a message on Mary’s Song and called it “A harp of ten strings.” He plucked ten thoughts from these verses and preached a message from them. Why don’t you take a moment and read the passage? This was a song she sang. Can you add music to these words in your own mind? Can’t you just feel the joy in these verses. Remember this young mother is just a teenager. She’s giddied at what God has done and is doing with her in life. Not silly, but giddy. Overjoyed at being a vessel God chose to use. Proverbs 4:26, “Ponder the path of thy feet.” What are you pondering this Christmas?