Mary The Mother Of Jesus

Reading: Luke chapter 1 verses 26-56.

Ill:

• When NASA first started sending up astronauts,

• They quickly discovered that ballpoint pens would not work in 0 gravity.

• To combat this problem, NASA scientists spent a decade;

• And $12 billion developing a pen that writes in zero gravity,

• The pen also wrote upside down, underwater, on almost any surface including glass;

• And at temperatures ranging from below freezing to over 300 C.

• The Russians simply used a pencil.

• Quote: ‘Common sense is just not so common!’

Many Christians do not show too much common sense when it comes to Mary the mother of Jesus:

• It seems to me that Christians have always gone to extremes regarding Mary;

• Those who almost worship her, they have an over-emphasis on Mary.

• And those who almost ignore her! They have an under-emphasis on Mary.

(1). An over emphasises.

• This is especially true in the Roman Catholic Church;

• Now I’m not on a Catholic bash this morning – but on this topic they are completely wrong!

• The R.C. Church have a number of beliefs about Mary,

• Which I believe are wrong; they are an over-emphasis because they go beyond this book!

• These beliefs exalt Mary to a place and position;

• That the Bible just does not give her.

• And as a result, they cause us protestants;

• To react by going to the other extreme and almost neglecting her.

Mistake No 1: Mary as Mediatrix:

• This teaching asserts that Mary mediates the salvation that Jesus Christ won on the cross.

• It teaches that none of God’s graces come to us except through Mary.

• People who hold this view teach;

• That without Mary’s submission in the plan of God, there would have been no Jesus;

• No Jesus of course equals no salvation,

• So they would say; Mary is an essential player in the plan of salvation!

• So from this teaching comes the wrong doctrine;

• That asserts that Mary mediates the salvation that Jesus Christ won on the cross.

• This is a classic case of 2+2=5, Human logic and not biblical theology.

• It is not what the Bible teaches at all!

Note:

• The New Testament makes it quite clear (e.g. First Timothy chapter 2 verse 5).

• There is only ‘ONE mediator, between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus’

• He alone is the only one qualified;

• He alone the Bible teaches is our middleman, our umpire, our link with God the Father!

Mistake No 2: Mary as a perpetual virgin:

• Perpetual virgin simply means; Mary was a virgin when she gave birth to Jesus;

• And remained a virgin throughout her life.

• This teaching holds the view that;

• Mary never had sexual relations with Joseph after Jesus was born;

• And therefore she never had any more children.

• And so she remained a virgin perpetually (always).

Note: Yet once again if you examine the New Testament;

• It is quite clear that although Mary was a virgin when she gave birth to Jesus.

• She did not remain a perpetual virgin afterward the birth of Jesus.

• The Bible clearly shows us that Jesus had brothers and sisters.

• (Luke chapter 8 verse 19; Mark chapter 3 verse 31).

Ill:

• In fact one verse Matthew chapter 13 verse 55:

• Gives to us the four names of Jesus’ brothers ‘James, Joseph, Simon and Judas’

• The verse also uses the word sisters (plural), implying more than one!

• Mary may well have had at least six, maybe more children after Jesus was born.

• The fact that Jesus is called Mary’s ‘firstborn son’ (Luke chapter 2 verse 7);

• Would again suggest she had more children!

Mistake No 3: Mary and her Immaculate conception:

• This teaching is that Mary had no sin like other human beings.

• The logic being

• That in order to give birth to Jesus, who was perfect,

• In some way she had to be perfect herself.

• Unfortunately the same logic is not applied to the mother of Mary also needing to be perfect!

• i.e. Her mother etc etc etc.

Note:

• Once again the New Testament makes it very clear that this teaching is wrong;

• Romans chapter 3 verse 23; “For ALL have sinned”,

• The Bible clearly teaches that only three people have ever been without sin on planet earth;

• Two were created sinless Adam & Eve & One was born sinless Jesus Christ.

Mistake No 4: Mary and her Assumption:

• This teaching (declared 1950 by the R.C. Church) says;

• That Mary did not die like other people, but was taken directly into heaven.