Going to the Heart: Mary’s Ponderings

Some things are for telling and other things are for pondering.

We’ve now come to the end of Part 1 of Following Jesus through the Gospels – the birth and childhood of Jesus. As we pause to reflect on this journey, I’m struck by a quiet moment in the story that often gets overlooked: Mary’s response to the events surrounding Jesus’ birth and early life.

In Luke 2:19, we read, “But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart.” This simple phrase captures a profound act of faith and reflection. It’s a reminder that even in the midst of the most significant events, there’s a place for quiet contemplation.

So, as we conclude this first part of our journey, let’s take a moment to ponder Mary’s ponderings. Let’s explore what it means to treasure and ponder God’s word, and how this practice can shape our own faith journeys.

Mary Kept and Pondered Things in Her Heart

This phrase about Mary pondering things in her heart shows up twice in Luke’s gospel. The first time is right after the shepherds visit (Luke 2:19), and the second is after the incident when 12-year-old Jesus stayed behind in the temple (Luke 2:51).

That second instance is particularly interesting. Jesus had been missing for three days, and when Mary and Joseph finally found him, he was sitting with the teachers in the temple. When they expressed their concern, Jesus responded, “Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” Luke tells us that they didn’t understand what he meant, but “his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.”

Mary wasn’t just collecting memories – she was engaged in deep, private meditation. As Matthew Henry puts it, “She said little, but kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.” She was laying the evidences together, keeping them in reserve to be compared with discoveries that would come later. Mary knew her story was unfolding, and it wasn’t time to speak yet.

Think about what Mary had already been through. When she first became pregnant, she was the subject of suspicion, criticism, and likely gossip. People would have assumed the worst about her. But she kept silent, leaving it to God to clear up her virtue. She didn’t defend herself or try to prove her innocence. Interestingly, Jesus would later do the same thing – remaining silent when he was falsely accused.

Now, at Jesus’ birth, her vindication was being shown through heavenly hosts and humble shepherds, but it still wasn’t time for her to speak. It wasn’t her place to boast about what God was doing. As Proverbs 27:1-2 says, “Don’t boast about tomorrow; for you don’t know what a day may bring. Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.” Mary understood that word of mouth would be her recommendation – let others tell the story.

Matthew Henry makes an important observation: “The truths of Christ are worth keeping; and the way to keep them safe is to ponder them. Meditation is the best help to memory.” This echoes Psalm 1:1-2, which describes the blessed person as one whose “delight is in the law of the LORD. On his law he meditates day and night.” Mary was that person – delighting in what God was doing, meditating on it day and night, letting it sink deep into her heart.

The Heart of Meditation

In both Luke 2:19 and 2:51, the word “treasured” is used. In the ESV, it says, “But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.” And in verse 51, “And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.”

This word “treasured” is key. It means she kept these things safe, like a precious jewel. She didn’t just store them away – she held them close, reflecting on them, and letting them shape her understanding.

This is exactly what Psalm 119:11 tells us to do: “I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” Mary was doing this with the truths of God’s word – hiding them in her heart, letting them guide her, and keeping them safe from the world’s noise and confusion.

The Balance Between Telling and Pondering

So where does this leave us? Mary’s example shows us that there’s a time for both. The shepherds went out immediately and told everyone what they’d seen and heard. That’s important – the good news needs to be shared. But Mary took time to ponder, to let things sink in, to understand what God was doing.

We need both. We need to share what God is doing, but we also need to take time to reflect, to let God’s word settle deep in our hearts, and to examine what’s really going on inside us.

Points to Ponder

Let us ask ourselves:

Share your thoughts and reflections in the comments below!

Footnote: This post represents the author’s original reflections and takeaways from the Scripture passage. Artificial intelligence was utilized to research background information, and then refine and structure these thoughts into a cohesive and engaging blog post, while preserving the author’s core ideas and interpretations.