Mary the mother of Jesus
And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ. (Matthew 1:16 NKJV)
Who was She?
“Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary (Luke 1:26-27 NKJV).”
Mary was a chosen vessel of the Lord. She was a virtuous young lady, but she had to bear the stigma of getting pregnant before she was married. Even though she was virtuous and the mother of the Lord Jesus, she still needed Him to be her Savior. See Luke 1:47. While she was a virgin when the Lord was conceived, she was not a virgin afterward as some think. She had other sons and daughters. See Matthew 13:55-56. These sons and daughters would have been the Lord’s half-brothers and sisters.
We have reverence for Mary. But we worship the Lord Jesus. Never once are we told to worship Mary or to pray to her. That would be a violation of the first of the ten commandments. That would be idolatry.
“But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart (Luke 2:19 NKJV).”
Mary was a woman who thought about things. The shepherds had found the Lord just as the angel had said. The angel of the Lord had told the shepherds, “I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:10-11 NKJV).” They had told this to Mary. Somehow the shepherds had spread the news the Christ child had been born and there were those who marveled, and I think it is implied that they marveled publicly. But Mary just pondered what had happened and what she had been told. Sometimes it is best to stay silent and let the Lord work out His plan without our interfering. I think Mary was like that.
Mary was going to have a Broken Heart
“Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, ‘Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. (Luke 2:34-35 NKJV).’”
When Simeon who was waiting for the birth of the Lord saw the Lord in the temple, he had good news and bad news. The good news was that he had seen the salvation of the Lord as God had promised him. The bad news was that Mary was going to have her heart broken. While he doesn’t say it, he knew that ultimately religious bullies and liars would deliver the Lord to the Romans to be crucified. Think of it! The religious leaders were “strong bulls of Bashan” (Psalm 22:12) and they found false witnesses. Religion is cruel, but the Lord is compassionate. Religion wants others to die for their cause. But Christ died for us. What a contrast!
But Mary was going to see the Lord on that cross. I cannot imagine how that must have hurt. And yet, she knew that this was her Savior.
Our Occupation is with the Lord
We need to remember that it is the Lord that died for our sins, not Mary. It is the Lord whom we worship, not Mary. But it would be great if those of us who claim to be Christ-followers were as humble and obedient as she was. Think of it! She not only had the privilege of bringing our Savior into the world, she had the privilege of raising Him. He must have been “different” from his half-brothers and sisters.
She was privileged but so are we. Today we have the privilege of becoming children of God by believing in Him, that is, by trusting Him. See John 1:12. If you haven’t done so already, I hope you will ponder these things in your heart. I have Bible studies where people have all kinds of objections to believing what God has said. I always tell them; you need to take that up with your creator, not with me. I didn’t plan the way of salvation. God did. And I believe God.
Bruce Collins
Meditation for the week of December 22, 2018