Considering My Treasure Reverend Anthony R.

Locke
May 9th, 2010 Mother’s Day
at the First Presbyterian Church of Tucker
Luke 2:41-52 Apostle’s Creed Series 04 English Standard Version
41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.
42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom.
43 And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in
Jerusalem. His parents did not know it,
44 but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search
for him among their relatives and acquaintances,
45 and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him.
46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and
asking them questions.
47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.
48 And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why
have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great
distress.”
49 And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my
Father’s house?”
50 And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them.
51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his
mother treasured up all these things in her heart.
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.1

Recently the government put tax dollars to work trying to answer one of the more difficult
mysteries of our universe. What is the most beautiful word in the English language. So they
surveyed 102 countries which didn’t speak English. That way respondents would pick the most
beautiful word and not the word they like to say the most often.
Number two in the top ten was passion, followed by smile, love, eternity, fantastic, destiny,
freedom, liberty and tranquility.
But number one on the list, the most beautiful word in the English language, according to
people who do not speak our language, is the word Mother.
Father wasn’t even in the top 100. I got beat out by lollipop which rated number 42. Lollipop
is more beautiful a word than Father? Hiccup was 63 and whoops was 56. Twinkle was 23.
Let me do my own test right now. Is twinkle really more beautiful than Father? Really?
Regardless, mother was deemed the most beautiful word over all other English words.
And it’s a two way street. We love mothers, and our mother’s treasure us.
Mary, who was divinely chosen to be the earthly mother of our Lord, treasured her little boy
Jesus. Frequently, she stored up memories in her heart. All mothers do that.

1 The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. 2001. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
 Verse 51, And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart. Moms notice the little
things and wonder, consider, and think about how that personality trait will impact the child’s
future. Mary dreamed about what her son would become. As Jesus grew into manhood Mary found
great joy and pride in who He became.
Who wouldn’t be proud of a son who, verse 52, increased in wisdom and in stature and in
favor with God and man.
Mary was so proud of her son that in John chapter 2 Mary told the servants at the marriage
feast to do whatever Jesus commanded. Every mom wants to be that confident in her child’s
decisions. Mary knew from experience that whatever Jesus did would result in a blessing.
That’s still true. Even when Jesus seems to go missing, when He doesn’t respond to our call,
when He can’t be tracked or found, as the faithful Son He is doing the right thing. Ponder that for a
minute. Jesus always glorifies God and works to bring God’s best and God’s goodness to us.
Pondering this truth will lead us to faith and to treasure Mary’s Son. To treasure means to
ponder or consider. Literally it means tossing together. In today’s language we might say that Mary
was tossing around in her heart these events, trying to hit upon the right meaning.
What meaning do you give to the life of Jesus? What does His future look like? Do you think
the Bible told the truth that God has given Him a name which is above every name and at the name
of Jesus every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus is Lord?
What does your future look like because of your relationship with Jesus?
Mary knew certain things about her future with Jesus in it. Simeon told her in Luke 2 that
Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, . . . and a sword will pierce
through your own soul also.
How many mothers can tell that story? The hopes and dreams do not all come true. Even the
son of Mary was born unto trouble as the sparks fly upward. If she had dreams of Jesus settling
down, getting married and living a quiet life, she was surely disappointed.
Mary had the great sadness of watching her son die under the condemnation of the religious
and secular courts. Like many mothers she was heartbroken over the path her son’s life took.
But isn’t the meaning of Jesus’ life found in His death? His moments on the cross when He
was suffering for our sin was the reason He was given to Mary to be born. When we toss around in
our heart and mind the suffering of the Son of Mary we hit upon the real meaning, the key that
makes the rest of His life make sense. Jesus died that we might live.
If you believe this then Jesus will become your greatest treasure. Every mother considers her
children her treasure, but Jesus can also be your treasure this morning. Guys, Jesus is our treasure.
When we ponder His life, death, resurrection and ascension He becomes our greatest joy.
And I assure you that any mother who comes to church on Mother’s Day wishes this for her
children. That we would find in Jesus our reason for life itself.
What about us this morning? Are we reading this Bible to learn about the true value of Mary’s
son? Mary is one mother who would counsel us to do so. I bet we all know another mother who
would give us the same advise.
May God bless us all to listen to the counsel of our mother and find in Jesus our greatest
treasure. Amen.