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.
3. Scripture saturated
Mary was a girl who knew her Bible. She was well versed in the Messiah. Her song (called the Magnificat, Luke 1:46-55) alludes to several Scriptures from 1 Samuel, Psalms, Isaiah, Micah and Exodus. She ended, “to Abraham and his descendants for ever, even as he said to our fathers.”” Luke 1:55, NIV. No wonder with a mother saturated in God’s word that our Savior so often referred to Old Testament stories and characters, or asked, “Have you not read?” Little surprise Jesus could rout Satan with 3 quotes from Deuteronomy, prefacing each with , “It is written.” No need to ask where our Lord was taught these Scriptures that he loved so well. With such a mother, whose heart and life were full of them, we can understand. The scholar who astounded the religious leaders at the age of 12 began in the teaching at his mother’s knee.
4. Homemaker
““Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas?” Matthew 13:55, NIV.
“Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” Mark 6:3, NIV.
Her family numbered at least nine, including father, mother, Jesus, 4 other sons and at least 2 daughters. Think of the work this entailed. The delicate figure so often statued as Mary is a far cry from the hard working wife of Joseph. “She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.” Proverbs 31:27-30
5. Secret Keeper
“But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” Luke 2:19, NIV.
“Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.” Luke 2:51, NIV.
How easily the tongue passes along “secrets” and even exaggerates. It has been suggested that the reason the cavity in our tooth feels larger when we put the tip of our tongue in it is because of the natural inclination of the tongue to exaggerate. A lady known for her gossip approached the preacher after church, “In repentance, I’d like to place my tongue on the altar.” Knowing her too well, he replied, “I’d like to help you but the altar is only 15 feet long!” How many opportunities did Mary have to exaggerate and gossip, so many, but she did not.
6. Sufferer for Righteousness’ sake
Parents did not believe Mary
Joseph did not believe Mary. “Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.” Matthew 1:19
How long have y’all been married? How old is Jesus?
30 years later the question of Jesus’ paternity was thrown in His face when His opponents said to Him,“We are not illegitimate children,” John 8:41, NIV.
His own brothers who thought Him different may have also wondered.
Mary knew what it was to suffer reproach for Christ, to be persecuted for righteousness’ sake. “Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.” John 15:20, NIV. Mary knew what it was to suffer reproach for Christ, to be persecuted for righteousness’ sake.
7. Sacrificed her son so others could be saved
“Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.” John 19:25, NIV. Imagine going through that ordeal- A sword did pierce her soul
May God grant us mothers who will give of their children to the Lord’s work so that others might become Christians. If mothers give their children to fight in the military, should not Christian mothers be willing to give their sons to bring tidings of peace across the world? A mother mentioned to an acquaintance that she had a daughter who was a missionary. Exclaimed the friend, “It must worry you to have a girl on the other side of the world.” The mother replied, “She doesn’t worry me at all. The daughter that give me anxiety is the one at home.”
As we honor Mary, let us not forget that she was a sinner and needed a Savior, as everyone does. She will be in heaven, not because Jesus was her child, but because He was her personal Savior through her faith in Him.
