What Did Mary Know?

What did Mary Know (pt 2)?

CCCAG 12-22-24

Introduction:

Several years ago, there was a little bit of controversy about the Virgin Mary regarding a song that came out called, “Mary Did you Know?”

In that song, the lyrics ask Mary several questions about what she knew about the child that she was carrying.

Questions like-

Did you know he would walk on water?

Give sight to a blind man

Calm a storm

That HE has walked “where angels trod”

That this child that she delivered, would soon deliver her?

And When you kiss your little baby, you’ve kissed the face of God?

That last thing- that will blow your mind. Everything that has to do with taking care of an infant Mary did for the baby Jesus- for God HIMSELF.

These last few weeks, Mary was in the news again-

Netflix released a movie called Mary that is being promoted as a dramatic and accurate portrayal of the Virgin Mary’s birth through the birth of Jesus. They said- “This is the story that you’ve never really heard”

So, I made some popcorn and watched it …well most of it. My TV can only have so many things thrown at it before it breaks after about 90 minutes, I started to skip ahead a little and catch the high points because I know people will ask me about it.

So my movie review- it’s garbage.

Biblical accuracy- 1/10 stars. I gave it one star just because they got one thing right- there was historically a woman named Mary, and she did become pregnant with Jesus. Joseph is in the movie too, but after that- junk.

I had a whole page of errors written but decided not to use it this morning. However, if you want a short list check my Facebook Post from a week ago Wednesday night and my comments about it for the run down. And it’s not even a complete list. Since I wrote this portion of the message, a biblical scholar named Mike Winger did a 2-hour takedown of this movie on YouTube if you really want the gritty details.

For many of us, Mary is a bit of an enigma surrounded by mystery, especially if you are not Catholic. In the protestant church, we have often avoided talking a lot about Mary just because of the veneration of her within Roman Catholicism.

But Mary is a very important figure in our faith, and we should recognize that and remember her because she was the person chosen to birth the Savior of the world.

As we study this incredible woman of faith today, I will be highlighting for you the HOLY SPIRIT’s work in this woman. I know often when Joseph and Mary are spoken of, we focus on how obedient to God’s call they were, but often fail to see that it was really the HOLY SPIRIT’s empowerment to both of them that enabled them to fulfil God’s plan for Jesus to be born.

A few weeks ago, we went through the town of Bethlehem, and why it was so important that the Messiah would be born there.

Today, we will be looking at the woman that God chose to have this honor of carrying him from Infancy and raise HIM to be a Godly man.

Luke 1:26-36

In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary.

28 The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."

29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.

32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."

34 "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"

35 The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. (NIV)

Prayer

In the Christmas story, we focus a lot on Mary and Joseph, and of course Jesus as a baby.

But here was another person never talked about that was there, and was the most active part of everything going on during that time.