Pause and Ponder With Mary

By Jen Finley

Have you ever pondered about Mary’s pondering? Luke 2:19 explains that after the shepherds visited the newborn King, His mother Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

Picture Mary for a moment, as the angel Gabriel first appears to her. She was “greatly troubled at his words” (Luke 1:29). As Gabriel begins to lay out God’s unique plan to Mary, that she would give birth to the Son of God, we often rush to applaud her submission as she responds, “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled” (Luke 1:38). And her response is a wonderful example of how we should respond to God’s calling in our lives.

But first, let’s take a moment to ponder what thoughts must have been ruminating in her mind during that encounter. Although we don’t know exactly how long this divine meeting lasted, we’re given a glimpse into the conflicting feelings she must have experienced as she spoke with Gabriel.

She was understandably confused and disturbed. Yet Scripture gives us another picture of her in this moment. She was thoughtful. The New Living Translation of Luke 1:29 explains that “Mary tried to think what the angel could mean.” She listened, she questioned, and she pondered.

“We can only imagine how often she remembered, and pondered, how her life had changed with the birth of this Son.”

Can you imagine Mary pondering all that had happened, even as her Son grew up? Maybe as she watched the children playing in the hay, she thought about the manger that once held her son.

Or maybe, as she walked with Joseph to the Temple to offer sacrifices, she saw the sheep in the outer courts, and was reminded of the shepherds who came and worshipped Him.

Maybe when the stars were shining at their brightest in the night sky, she reflected on the brightest star she ever witnessed, with the arrival of the kings from the East.

She treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

She must have pondered Simeon’s words that “a sword will pierce your very soul” (Luke 2:35).

She must have pondered Jesus’ response when she found Him, as a 12-year-old, teaching in the Temple, after searching for Him for three days: “Didn’t you know that I’d be in My Father’s house?” (Luke 2:49)

As He was growing up, and as she followed His ministry, even following Him to the cross, we can only imagine how often she remembered, and pondered, how her life had changed with the birth of her Son.

“How often do we ponder the miracle of this Advent season?“

Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. This leads me to wonder: How often do we ponder the miracle of this Advent season?

It’s easy to get caught up in the busyness of the season. But how often do we really pause to ponder the significance of the birth of our Savior? How often do we take the time to really consider how this child is our Immanuel, our God with us?

It’s the birth of Christ the King! A Child is born to us! And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, our Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6–7). But do we pause to consider what those names, those attributes, really mean? How do these descriptions of Jesus impact our lives today?

As we prepare our hearts for the celebration of our King, may we respond with thoughtful contemplation. May we pause and ponder the birth of our Savior. And may our pondering draw us closer to Him.

Jen Finley is the lead pastor of John Wesley Free Methodist Church in Indianapolis. She previously served as the church relations director for International Child Care Ministries (ICCM) and as the director of outpatient services for a psychiatric hospital in the Chicago area. She is a licensed clinical professional counselor with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology/religion and English from Greenville University and a Master of Arts degree in counseling from Roosevelt University. She has been married for 25 years to Jeff, this magazine’s executive editor, and is the mother of Drew, a high school freshman.