Mary, Did You Know? Series

What would the revelation of Jesus accomplish within Mary, and anyone else who understands? Well, look at verse 34 again, when it says that Jesus will cause the “rising of many in Israel.” Anyone who believes in Jesus Christ will “rise.” This word rise is the Greek word “anastasin.” Have you ever seen the movie Anastasia? Well, the main character’s name comes from this word, and it means “resurrected.” Anastasia was resurrected and found from where she was thought to be lost; therefore, all who understand who Jesus is, will be found; they will no longer be lost in sin. Also, they will be resurrected into eternal life in Christ Jesus.

Mary Remembered His Words (Luke 24:1-10)

1 Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. 2 But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 3 Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

4 And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. 5 Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, 7 saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’” 8 And they remembered His words.

9 Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles.

In verse 9, we are told that one of the women at the tomb was Mary the mother of James. James was one of Jesus’ half-brothers, according to Matthew 13:55. Therefore, Mary the mother of James was also Mary the mother of Jesus. Verse 8 is the essential verse to consider. It says, “And they remembered His words.” Mary remembered the words that her son, Jesus, had spoken during His public ministry, and there can be no doubt that she pondered every word spoken by Jesus during his thirty-three years on earth. For instance, in Luke 2:49, Jesus said that He had to be about His Father’s business, and in verse 50 we are told that Mary and Joseph did not understand what He meant. Luke 2:51, however, says that His “mother kept all these things in her heart.”

In Luke 24:1-10, Mary was shown the true nature of her son, Jesus. She learned the truth about the Messiah. Instead of understanding Him as someone who would cause people to fall and rise by and earthly and militant form of power, Mary remembered what she had kept in her heart. She made the connection between what she had been pondering to what actually happened in this instance. Mary realized that Jesus would cause many people to anastasis or rise, not to earthly prestige and glory, but to rise into an eternal existence. You see, anyone who understands Jesus as the resurrected Lord, and who believes that He overcame death, will be resurrected with Him.