Bruce Collins, Evangelist

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Mary, the Mother of the Lord

And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. (Matthew 2:11 NKJV)

Mary was Privileged

Mary had the privilege that only one woman has had in this life.  She had the privilege of being the mother of the Lord Jesus.  What must that have meant for her?

Her child was God, even as a baby.  While He was called Son of Man, He was also called the Son of God.  He was the One that was to be worshiped.  Mary was honored and reverenced by both men and women and by the Lord.  But she was not God.  She was not sinless.  She needed a Savior (Luke 1:47).  The wise men brought gifts to the Lord.  They worshiped the Lord.  They did not bring gifts to Mary and worship Mary.  But Mary thought deeply about what was happening. We read, “But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart (Luke 2:19 NKJV).”

Mary was His Caretaker

She was concerned when he stayed behind at 12 years of age to listen to the teachers in the temple.  He listened and asked questions.  He must have been asked questions because the teachers were astonished at His answers.  But Mary was concerned about His welfare.  I would have thought He should have told His mother that He was going to stay behind.  He thought she should have understood that He would want to linger in His Father’s house and that at 12 he would have reached maturity and should be about His Father’s business.  This was not Joseph’s business, but the business of His Father who was in heaven.

We don’t know all that went on in the house of Mary and Joseph, but we know that He was willingly subject to his parents and that Mary treasured or thought about all these things in her heart.  Luke records, “Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart. (Luke 2:51 NKJV)” She pondered the visit of the visit of the shepherds and she treasured the fact that her Son was about His father’s business, but she was still the mother of this One who was God made known in the flesh (1 Timothy 3:16).  Whatever she observed as she raised Him, she knew that when they ran out of wine at the wedding in Cana of Galilee, that He could and would meet the obvious need.  She must have seen things most mother’s never see.  She told the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it!”  Wouldn’t it be nice if we were that simple today?

Mary was also the one with a Pierced Heart

Simeon had told her when the Lord was being dedicated in the temple, “Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. (Luke 2:34-35 KJV).”  I wonder what it must be like to know that you are raising a sinless, obedient, child who is going to be the sacrifice that fully satisfies God with regard to the sin issue, and to know that He is going to be despised and rejected.  What must it have been like to ultimately see this precious One die on a felon’s cross?  She was a real trophy of faith and grace.  She was singled out for this responsibility because the Lord knew she could be trusted to raise the Lord.

Christian Mothers Today

Mary had the unique privilege of understanding how the story would end with her child.  That must have encouraged her when He was rejected and when He was falsely accused.  She did her part as a mother faithfully as near as I can tell.  Mother’s today don’t have the same privilege of knowing how the end of the story is going to be written for their children, but to be a mother is a great privilege.  To be a loved mother (as Mary was) is a greater privilege (See John 19:26).  Every Christian mother who raises children should consider herself a maid servant of the Lord (Luke 1:47).  You have been given a precious responsibility.  You are important.  Remember as long as your children live, the final story has not been written.  If your children make you proud, pray for them.  If your children cause you grief, pray for them.  Be glad that the Lord chose you to be your children’s mother.

Bruce Collins

Meditation for the week May 12, 2019

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