Why Mary?
Three Characteristics of Godliness
Illustrated in Mary’s Life
Mary, the mother of Jesus, is known better than any other female character in the Bible. She has been the best-known woman in the world since the days in Bethlehem; and after centuries, the statement still stands, “Blessed are you among women!” (Luke 1:28) Every person in the Bible has their story in the Bible not so that we could learn about them particularly, but to learn from their walk with God.
There is much to be learned from Mary.
First of all, Mary teaches us the submission of godliness. In Luke 1:38, we read these words, “Then Mary said, ‘Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.’ And the angel departed from her.”
From the very beginning of Mary’s relationship with Jesus, it was all about submission. When the angel Gabriel came to Mary with the news that she was to be the human mother of the Messiah, Mary had no warning, she had no preparation, she had no timeline, she had no precedent.
The entire dialogue between Mary and the angel took place in Mary’s home. When the angel intervened in her life, Mary learned she would bear a Son and that His name would be Jesus. And she was told that this birth would be unlike any other child ever born—she was to have a Child without having a relationship with a man—He would be a Child of the Holy Spirit.
And how did Mary respond to the news that she was to become the mother of the Messiah? She said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” In other words, “Lord, I don’t understand this. I don’t comprehend it, but whatever You desire, be it unto me according to Your word.
”Clearly, whoever God would’ve chosen should be a virgin that the glory of God might be miraculously demonstrated. She should also be a peasant in keeping with the humble nature of the Lord’s birth. Mary was all of these things. She honored and obeyed the will of her Father, providing His only Son a home from which He could emerge to launch the work that would define all of human history.
The Child Jesus crawled and walked behind Mary in His infancy; and then, in time, she walked behind Him. In fact, she walked behind Him all the way to the cross and all the way to the tomb. Mary teaches us the submission of godliness!
Mary Teaches Us the Surprise of Godliness
When Gabriel made his startling announcement to Mary concerning the birth of Jesus, here is how Mary first responded. “When she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was” (Luke 1:29). Mary had no preparation for this assignment: God surprised her with the message of His plan for her life. And when the shepherds told Mary and Joseph what the angel had said about Jesus at His birth, she became quietly pensive. We read, “And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart” (Luke 2:18-19).
Mary collected all these truths and deposited them within the deep recesses of her heart. She did not discuss them with others; she just thought them through herself.
Mary teaches us the submission of godliness and the surprise of it. But finally, we need to pause from the joy and gladness of Christmas and remember that Christmas is only meaningful in light of the fact that it is the beginning and not the end.
Mary also teaches us the suffering of godliness; we move from the announcement of Jesus’ birth to the agony of His death. There’s no reason for the cradle if there isn't any cross. And so, the transition from the birth of Jesus to His death is a normal and natural one. Jesus Christ was born to die. That’s why He came to this earth.
In the last moments of His life here on this earth, He turned His thoughts away from the events on the cross to concern for His mother.
Jesus turned to John in one of the last moments on the cross and concerned Himself with the well-being of Mary.
“When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, ‘Woman, behold your son!’ And He said to the disciple, ‘Behold your mother!’ And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home” (John 19:26-27).
And the Scripture says that when they left the place of crucifixion, John took Mary to his own home. It has to be one of the most tender moments in all of the New Testament record.
Jesus' first three words from the cross were about others. “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” “Today you will be with me in Paradise.” And “John, that’s my mother; you take care of her.” The record concerning Mary and John is filled with insights about godliness translated into our culture and into our very homes.
We have much to learn from this godly woman. Here’s the remarkable thing as it relates to Mary. Mary was the mother of Jesus, but she needed Jesus to be her Savior as much as every one of us. The Magnificat reveals this truth: “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior” (Luke 1:46-47). As fantastic as this is, the Savior who was born in the womb of Mary had to be born again in the heart of Mary. And the Savior whose birth we celebrate during this season is a Savior who must be born in our hearts as well. He comes into our hearts from the outside.
Merry Christmas – through all the wonderfulness of Christmas, I pray that you will spend time reflecting on the truth of what Christmas means to all of us!
Illustrated in Mary’s Life
Mary, the mother of Jesus, is known better than any other female character in the Bible. She has been the best-known woman in the world since the days in Bethlehem; and after centuries, the statement still stands, “Blessed are you among women!” (Luke 1:28) Every person in the Bible has their story in the Bible not so that we could learn about them particularly, but to learn from their walk with God.
There is much to be learned from Mary.
First of all, Mary teaches us the submission of godliness. In Luke 1:38, we read these words, “Then Mary said, ‘Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.’ And the angel departed from her.”
From the very beginning of Mary’s relationship with Jesus, it was all about submission. When the angel Gabriel came to Mary with the news that she was to be the human mother of the Messiah, Mary had no warning, she had no preparation, she had no timeline, she had no precedent.
The entire dialogue between Mary and the angel took place in Mary’s home. When the angel intervened in her life, Mary learned she would bear a Son and that His name would be Jesus. And she was told that this birth would be unlike any other child ever born—she was to have a Child without having a relationship with a man—He would be a Child of the Holy Spirit.
And how did Mary respond to the news that she was to become the mother of the Messiah? She said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” In other words, “Lord, I don’t understand this. I don’t comprehend it, but whatever You desire, be it unto me according to Your word.
”Clearly, whoever God would’ve chosen should be a virgin that the glory of God might be miraculously demonstrated. She should also be a peasant in keeping with the humble nature of the Lord’s birth. Mary was all of these things. She honored and obeyed the will of her Father, providing His only Son a home from which He could emerge to launch the work that would define all of human history.
The Child Jesus crawled and walked behind Mary in His infancy; and then, in time, she walked behind Him. In fact, she walked behind Him all the way to the cross and all the way to the tomb. Mary teaches us the submission of godliness!
Mary Teaches Us the Surprise of Godliness
When Gabriel made his startling announcement to Mary concerning the birth of Jesus, here is how Mary first responded. “When she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was” (Luke 1:29). Mary had no preparation for this assignment: God surprised her with the message of His plan for her life. And when the shepherds told Mary and Joseph what the angel had said about Jesus at His birth, she became quietly pensive. We read, “And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart” (Luke 2:18-19).
Mary collected all these truths and deposited them within the deep recesses of her heart. She did not discuss them with others; she just thought them through herself.
Mary teaches us the submission of godliness and the surprise of it. But finally, we need to pause from the joy and gladness of Christmas and remember that Christmas is only meaningful in light of the fact that it is the beginning and not the end.
Mary also teaches us the suffering of godliness; we move from the announcement of Jesus’ birth to the agony of His death. There’s no reason for the cradle if there isn't any cross. And so, the transition from the birth of Jesus to His death is a normal and natural one. Jesus Christ was born to die. That’s why He came to this earth.
In the last moments of His life here on this earth, He turned His thoughts away from the events on the cross to concern for His mother.
Jesus turned to John in one of the last moments on the cross and concerned Himself with the well-being of Mary.
“When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, ‘Woman, behold your son!’ And He said to the disciple, ‘Behold your mother!’ And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home” (John 19:26-27).
And the Scripture says that when they left the place of crucifixion, John took Mary to his own home. It has to be one of the most tender moments in all of the New Testament record.
Jesus' first three words from the cross were about others. “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” “Today you will be with me in Paradise.” And “John, that’s my mother; you take care of her.” The record concerning Mary and John is filled with insights about godliness translated into our culture and into our very homes.
We have much to learn from this godly woman. Here’s the remarkable thing as it relates to Mary. Mary was the mother of Jesus, but she needed Jesus to be her Savior as much as every one of us. The Magnificat reveals this truth: “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior” (Luke 1:46-47). As fantastic as this is, the Savior who was born in the womb of Mary had to be born again in the heart of Mary. And the Savior whose birth we celebrate during this season is a Savior who must be born in our hearts as well. He comes into our hearts from the outside.
Merry Christmas – through all the wonderfulness of Christmas, I pray that you will spend time reflecting on the truth of what Christmas means to all of us!
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