Honoring Mary

HoHum:

“The virgin’s name was Mary.” Luke 1:27, 28, NIV. What exalted names some have placed on Mary- Most Holy Mary, Virgin Mother of God, Mother of the Word Incarnate, Mother of Mercy, Advocate of Sinners, Dispenser of Divine Grace, Door of Heaven and Intercessor, Queen of Heaven? Heaven forbid that she be called the Queen of Heaven! That phrase is used in the book of Jeremiah of the goddess Ashtoreth. Mary is not Ashtoreth, the wife of Baal. Mary, Queen of the Apostles? Oh, this is hardly the case in the Bible.

WBTU:

Mary had a helper role.

“When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”” John 2:3

““Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked. Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”” Mark 3:33-35, NIV.

“A woman in the crowd called out, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.” He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”” Luke 11:27, 28

“When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing near by, he said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.” John 19:26, 27, NIV.

The dying thief requested forgiveness, not of Mary who was at the foot of the cross, but of Jesus. “Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”” Luke 23:42, NIV.

After the resurrection, as far as the Bible is concerned, Jesus never appeared to Mary during those forty days before the ascension. Only time Mary is mentioned after the resurrection occurs during the 10 days before Pentecost. “They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.” Acts 1:14, NIV. This last glimpse of her in the Bible finds her praying along with the disciples, who likewise are praying to God the Father through Jesus Christ; Mary is not mentioned among the Divine.

We go from one extreme to another. Mary is never mentioned to Mary is everything. Even so Mary deserves recognition. “The angel went to her (Mary) and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”” Luke 1:28, NIV. Her cousin Elizabeth greeted her in this same way. “In a loud voice she (Elizabeth) exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!” Luke 1:42, NIV. In Mary’s song, Mary prophesied, “From now on all generations will call me blessed,” Luke 1:48, NIV.

“Give everyone what you owe him:... if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.” Romans 13:7, NIV. Let us honor Mary. For her beauty, brains, culture, education, wealth, social status? None of these are worthy of honor. Even so, she did not have them

Thesis: What are the qualities for which she should be honored?

For instances:

1. Virgin

““The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”--which means, “God with us.”” Matthew 1:23, NIV.

“to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.” Luke 1:27, NIV.

““How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”” Luke 1:34, NIV.

We have movies today called the 40 year old virgin that gives amazement that someone 40 years old could ever be a virgin. Need to experience the thrill of casual sex and the younger the better. Now, Mary was not 40 years old but the Bible holds up virginity as something to be honored, not something of which to be ashamed. Well, Mary lived in the back water town of Nazareth so she had limited opportunity to do anything like this. No, Nazareth lay in the path of caravans going from Capernaum to seaports. Some girls used the traveling routes to have affairs with unattached men. I am sure that when Mary refused to go, other girls may have told her she was old fashioned and missing something. Mary stuck to her ideals. God blessed her for her purity. How many in our society are virgins when they get married? In our day of looseness, let us underline Mary’s purity. Is not her best known title- the Virgin Mary.

2. Submissive

““I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.” Luke 1:38, NIV. Mary could have offered objections to this arrangement such as, “I am unworthy, just a plain Hebrew girl from a family without social or political standing. How could I be mother of the Savior when our home is so poor? The Messiah should have several nurses and governors but we cannot afford one.” Or more likely, “I cannot because what would the townspeople say, what will Joseph say when I tell him? It will be too humiliating.” To follow the Lord she was even willing to give up Joseph. He might not believe her story and disgrace her publicly (which almost happened). Even so, the Lord came first. “for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant” Luke 1:48, NIV. Notice the use of servant again.