Mary and Her Treasure

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

And it came to pass that Mary born the child Jesus in a manger. Shepherds came to see the baby for an angel of the Lord appeared to them saying, "For unto you is born this day... Christ the Lord.".  When they witnessed these things, they glorified and praised God, while Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. (ref. Luke 2:8-21)



I could only imagine what Mary had gone through. Since the angel appeared to her, she was put up to a lot of uncertain situations (in view of men).  She got pregnant before marriage, which could've led to stoning her to death. She labored on her way to Bethlehem with Joseph, wherein she also gave birth and laid her newly born baby in a manger; for there was nowhere else to stay.

But she didn't focus on all these hardships.  Mary definitely felt and experienced the pain and troubles, yet it hardly affected her faith.  She wasn't looking at the manger where she gave birth, but at the baby through whom the salvation of the Jews and Gentiles was promised!  What greater joy could there be?

Do we not see that in her time, the "good news" had not happened yet? She didn't understand how it will happen, but she believed it will. She pondered on the turn of events, not the insignificant ones, but the things that matter. The things that concerned about what the Lord promised to Israel. She thought about it deeply and many times.  

She didn't only ponder, but also "treasure" it in her heart.  "To treasure" means to keep or regard as precious or highly valuable.  If we define the word as a noun, a treasure is something being more than "important", but is of worth. And for Mary, the birth of Jesus worth her eternal life. And she kept remembering it like a treasure in stored- she kept it safe and guarded in her heart.

In our Christian walk, trials may come.  It may weaken or strengthen us. Temptations will always try to pull us down. Yet there is a promise to overlook these difficulties. And as Mary chose to magnify Christ during her tough times, so should we.

I've come to comprehend more of who Christ is in my life when I look to Mary's heart. Jesus is the treasure that is of immeasurable worth and significance. Without Him, I am nothing. There is nothing to look forward to, nothing to aim for. This life would just be a series of emptiness, living to die anyway. But because of God's faithfulness, He sent His Son to give us something of worth- because even our very life cannot be counted worthy. We are damned to eternal death because of our sin. But God sent His Son Jesus to save us from sin and death; thus to live a life of purpose and abandon the days of nothingness.

Today, I exalt God for the treasure He has given me. The treasure that will not rot or fade away. 

For He is eternal and will forever be my Lord and Savior.

Jesus, You are my treasure.

Reading: Luke 2