The Mother's Prayer

Luke 2:19 reads: “But Mary treasured up all these words, pondering in her heart what they might mean.” - Luke 2:19 NET

Mary

What does it mean to treasure and ponder in her heart?

What did Mary treasure in her heart? Let us answer the question what she treasures first, then we will answer what it means.

Let us count backwards some of the things she treasured:

• She was just visited by a group of shepherds.

• Elizabeth told her how she is pregnant with child at an old age.

• She remembers how an angel and come to her to tell her should be pregnant with the Messiah

• She remembers how an angel came to Joseph to tell him to marry her.

Later after Jesus was lost in the temple for three days, Luke said it again. “Mary treasured these memories.”

She knew this little baby in her arms is special and she treasured those memories.

So, what does it mean to treasure and ponder? While the Bible doesn’t say, I think it the following:

• As Jesus slept as a baby in her arms, she remembered and prayed for her little baby.

• Every night she would stand at the head of his bed and pray for God’s guidance.

• When Jesus came running home because the other children teased him for being a baster child. She reminded him how special he is.

How do I know this? Because of Jesus reply when Mary and Joseph found him after being lost in the temple for three days. Do you remember the story?

Jesus Lost in the Temple

Jesus was twelve and Joseph and Mary took him for the first time to attend the Passover. When Passover was completed, Joseph and Mary traveled for a day before they discover Jesus was missing. They went back to look for him. Three days later they finally found him with the temple priests and scholars. Let’s read the interaction in Luke 2:48-51.

“When his parents saw him, they were overwhelmed. His mother said to him, “Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously.” But he replied, “Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” Yet his parents did not understand the remark he made to them. Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. But his mother kept all these things in her heart.” - Luke 2:48-51 NET

Jesus told his parents that he is special. Where do you think that came from? It came from Mary telling him every day that he is special.

Mary treasured and pondered these things in her heart.

Mother’s Pray Everyday

As he grew, I’m sure Mary prayed for Jesus every day. When he was a teenager. As his profession was a tekton - which is a day worker. When he went into ministry. Everyday Mary prayed for his son.

I’m sure your mothers do the same for your children. My mother tells me all the time that she prays for me every day. She prays for me, my brother and sister, her in-laws and all her grandchildren.

Mother’s Prayer Carry Special Powers

Did you know that a mother’s pray carries special powers? Yes, a mother’s prayer is honored by God in a special way. How you say?

This has to do with God’s anointed authority structure. Let’s turn to Eph 5:22.

“Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord, because the husband is the head of the wife as also Christ is the head of the church – he himself being the savior of the body.” - Ephesians 5:22-23 NET

Then further down, Paul tells the children:

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” - Ephesians 6:1-2 NET

There is a hierarchical structure that God has ordained. Jesus is on top, then the husband, next the wife and then the children.

“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.” - Romans 13:1-2 KJV

Some of the modern version translated this to governmental power but that is not what it says in the Greek. The King James Version actually has it correct.

We are supposed to follow the God ordained authority structure. This hierarchical structure is not only a structure of authority but also a structure of protection.

“Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.” - Hebrews 13:17 KJV