BLESSED
Let us analyze the meaning of the word blessed.
The thesaurus lists blessed as meaning holy, sanctified, sacred, hallowed, consecrated, set apart.
Granted, words can attain different meanings and be used in different contexts throughout different generations.
In this era, we equate blessing with gold, money, humongous houses, luxurious cars and first class treatments.
And we children of YAHWEH make a habit of sitting, ogling, staring and coveting the properties of others! We say and think that those with such are really blessed.
In scripture, the word blessing can be and is used to demonstrate wealth and other material things.
In Luke 1:28, we see angel Gabriel sent to Mariam also called Mary and delivering a message to her. In the message, he says that Mariam is ‘blessed’ and ‘highly favored’. Read it.
Roman Catholics appropriated this greeting and turned it into a prayer to their queen of heaven.
So, the angel, says she is blessed. This angel, Gabriel is from heaven so he is speaking according to the understanding of heaven.
In order to understand what he meant, let us look at what happened to Mary after she was declared blessed:
1. She became pregnant by the power of The HOLY SPIRIT and indeed the subject of innuendo and was almost dumped by her man save for the intervention of heaven.
2. She had to take time and visit dear cousin Elizabeth. Yes, things can get overwhelming.
3. She got married. And just as the time to deliver the baby, there is a census. Trip to Bethlehem on a donkey. Possibility of a push gift- Zero!
4. In Bethlehem, she had to give birth in a cattle shed surrounded by domestic animals. Kindly get rid of all the Christmas card ideas in your head..of a smiling Joseph and Mary staring at a cute cuddly baby with a light bulb hovering overhead. Picture cud chewing cows, defecating cows, chickens jostling for space, staring sheep, smell of grass and manure and darkness save for maybe a small lamp and the light from the star outside.
5. Next, it is Joseph waking her up..get up Mary, we got to go? Where to, at this time? Somebody is coming to kill the baby!.. No time to pack.. Grab what you can and we’re out of here. Running in the night away from danger. I hope she was not in her menses. Ladies, you understand.
6. Arrival in Egypt, foreigners, life a s a foreigner. She had not signed up for this.. but she had said let YOUR will be done.
7. Back in Israel, not her home, but Nazareth.
8. Growing family.
9. Trip to the Temple and The BABY that Angel Gabriel told her about is a pre-teen. HE gets lost. Like any normal mother, back when women were normal, loving and caring, she almost loses it. Where is HE? We got to go get HIM. And they get HIM , and HE says to them that HE was going about HIS FATHER’S business. Like any parent. They did not understand HIM.
10. Next, they get invited to a wedding. Like any mama, this her SON could do anything.. Especially anything she wanted…and HE did.. turned the water into wine.. At least that one time.
11. Next, she goes visit HIM and HE tells her that HIS mother and brothers are those who do the will of HIS FATHER.. HE does not come out.. no favoritism, no acknowledgment.. do the will of GOD. Matthew 8:19-21. Matthew 12:46- 50
12. Next, uprising in the family and community..Matthew 13:53-58.Mama, this our BROTHER, .. Mama, is HE ok? What’s up with HIM? Who is HE? We are going to ask HIM? Mark 3: 20..they thought HE was out of HIS mind and they went to take charge of HIM. This scripture precedes the one in number 12..
13. Next, HE is revered as a KING
14. Next, HE is arrested, tortured and crucified and buried. Talk about a mother’s worst nightmare coming true. On his death bed/post HE remembers her and makes arrangements for her to be with the disciple HE loved.
15. Next, HE rises again.. I am sure she thinks she has seen it all.. at this point
16. Next, HE goes up in the clouds..Like bodily.. Wow! my SON, my SAVIOR
17. Even after her death, her identity is stolen and misused but she rests in peace.
And that is the story of Mary the blessed..Mary, the set apart. No chariots, No palaces, No fancy clothes, No fame… just YAHSHUA, just JESUS..
Many are the afflictions of the righteous but YAH delivers HIM from all of them.
So, our beloved, precious Mariam did not open any of the following associations, platforms or support groups:
1. Mothers of crucified children.
2. I do not understand my SON
3. Mothers of Kings
4. How to handle disputes in the family and community as they concern your family
5. Mothers of strange child etc etc
The bible tells her that from the onset, her mindset was : YOUR will be done . YAHWEH is powerful and glorious.
It further tells us in Luke 2:19. When things got hard and tough, she probably remembered Luke 2:34-35. Nothing prepared Mary for the cross. Nothing prepares us fro the horrors we will endure as the blessed of The MOST HIGH, as the set apart of The MOST HIGH.
So, beloved, this is what we are to expect when heaven announces us as blessed.
Beloved, the scripture informs us, "And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire." Revelation 20:15.
Do you want to know JESUS as your personal Lord and Savior? Your eternity is at stake! JESUS has opened the door of salvation to every person. But there is coming a day when the door will be closed. Today is the day of salvation. Choose to be in the family of GOD. JESUS died so that we can spend eternity in Heaven with HIM. Don't delay! And if you want to begin a relationship with GOD or resume a broken one, say this: O GOD, I come to YOU today. I know I am a sinner. I believe that JESUS died on the cross to save me and HE resurrected on the third day. I repent of my sins and forsake them. I confess JESUS as my LORD and SAVIOR . I invite JESUS into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank YOU JESUS for saving me and making me a child of GOD. Amen
