| MARY THE MOTHER OF JESUS: Bridging The Gap Between Hearing Mind And Doing Muscles Luke 1:26-45 |
When it comes to Bible people of character and action, a sometimes overlooked person would be
a Jewish young woman, Mary the mother of Jesus. As is the case with Apollos (lesson #6), the
lesson of her life may be missed uness we do some reading line by line. In his inspired account,
Luke writes of Mary as being "highly favoured." This means graciously accepted, and much
graced. Why was Mary so highly favoured?
a Jewish young woman, Mary the mother of Jesus. As is the case with Apollos (lesson #6), the
lesson of her life may be missed uness we do some reading line by line. In his inspired account,
Luke writes of Mary as being "highly favoured." This means graciously accepted, and much
graced. Why was Mary so highly favoured?
(1) MARY WAS A VIRGIN Luke 1:26-34. And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was
sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
27. To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the
virgin's name was Mary.
28. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is
with thee: blessed art thou among women.
29. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner
of salutation this should be.
30. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
31. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his
name Jesus.
32. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give
unto him the throne of his father David:
33. And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no
end.
34. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
27. To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the
virgin's name was Mary.
28. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is
with thee: blessed art thou among women.
29. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner
of salutation this should be.
30. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
31. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his
name Jesus.
32. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give
unto him the throne of his father David:
33. And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no
end.
34. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
Fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14, the first thing about Mary is that she was a virgin. She had
not fallen into the world's idea that to be hip or cool means getting some experience in sex before
marriage. She kept herself until after marriage. Here is a role model for children and teens who
took God at his word. God thought so highly of her that He selected her to be the mother of our
Lord Jesus Christ
not fallen into the world's idea that to be hip or cool means getting some experience in sex before
marriage. She kept herself until after marriage. Here is a role model for children and teens who
took God at his word. God thought so highly of her that He selected her to be the mother of our
Lord Jesus Christ
To go to the extreme of exalting and idolizing Mary is a blight to her legacy. [For more on this,
you may consider Web Links page, Link BT, while there do search for "Maryolotry."] What
makes Mary outstanding is not inventions of man such as "perpetual virginity" (she conceived
children the natural way after Jesus' birth, Matthew 13:55-56). Rather, it is the fact that she took
God at His word. This is obscured when men imagine all kinds of mystical connections with
Mary. Along with her husband Joseph, a carpenter (Matthew 13:55), the couple appeared to be
godly intelligent simple working people. They were humbly obedient to the word of God.
you may consider Web Links page, Link BT, while there do search for "Maryolotry."] What
makes Mary outstanding is not inventions of man such as "perpetual virginity" (she conceived
children the natural way after Jesus' birth, Matthew 13:55-56). Rather, it is the fact that she took
God at His word. This is obscured when men imagine all kinds of mystical connections with
Mary. Along with her husband Joseph, a carpenter (Matthew 13:55), the couple appeared to be
godly intelligent simple working people. They were humbly obedient to the word of God.
Mary understood that fornication is a "sin against God" (Genesis 39:9), as under the original
patriarchal law (See lesson #18 section II, on laws from Adam to now under Christ). And as
under the old testament Israelite law, it is a violation against others (Deuteronomy 22:28-29).
Finally the new testament law of Christ shows that fornication is also a violation of one's own
self (1 Corinthians 6:13-15). Overcoming self means not sinning against God, others, or self.
patriarchal law (See lesson #18 section II, on laws from Adam to now under Christ). And as
under the old testament Israelite law, it is a violation against others (Deuteronomy 22:28-29).
Finally the new testament law of Christ shows that fornication is also a violation of one's own
self (1 Corinthians 6:13-15). Overcoming self means not sinning against God, others, or self.
(2) MARY WAS A DOER Luke 1:35-39 And the angel answered and said unto her, The
Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee:
therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
36. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this
is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.
37. For with God nothing shall be impossible.
38. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.
And the angel departed from her.
39. And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of
Juda;
Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee:
therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
36. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this
is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.
37. For with God nothing shall be impossible.
38. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.
And the angel departed from her.
39. And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of
Juda;
The key phrase in that passage is when Mary said, "Be it unto me according to thy word." As
James says, we are called to be "not hearers only, deceiving your own selves," but to "be ye
doers of the word" (James 1:22). Mary is a doer on her way to visit older cousin Elisabeth (Luke
1:36), who was six months pregnant with John the Baptizer (Luke 1:5-25, which would therefore
make him a cousin of Jesus, six months older).
James says, we are called to be "not hearers only, deceiving your own selves," but to "be ye
doers of the word" (James 1:22). Mary is a doer on her way to visit older cousin Elisabeth (Luke
1:36), who was six months pregnant with John the Baptizer (Luke 1:5-25, which would therefore
make him a cousin of Jesus, six months older).
When the angel Gabriel told Mary that God had chosen her, she did not yet fully grasp it, but of
course then did believe and accept the responsibility. Later, "being great with child", with Joseph
she made the 65-mile journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem (to be taxed or registered by Caesar,
Luke 2:1-5). The baby Jesus was delivered while in Bethlehem. No special doctors or hospital or
even a Motel 6. In fact, His "cradle" was a cattle trough in a barn, which is what a "manger" is
(Luke 2:6-7).
course then did believe and accept the responsibility. Later, "being great with child", with Joseph
she made the 65-mile journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem (to be taxed or registered by Caesar,
Luke 2:1-5). The baby Jesus was delivered while in Bethlehem. No special doctors or hospital or
even a Motel 6. In fact, His "cradle" was a cattle trough in a barn, which is what a "manger" is
(Luke 2:6-7).
Perhaps up to two years after Jesus was born, Mary got word that king Herod wanted to kill her
son who was born The King. So she and Joseph hit the road again, this time over 200 miles to
Egypt. Then God told them when it was safe to go back, after Herod died. Without murmuring
or complaining, Mary and husband with the child Jesus in tow headed back home to Nazareth in
Galilee (Matthew 2:1-23), thus fulfilling another prophecy about Christ.
son who was born The King. So she and Joseph hit the road again, this time over 200 miles to
Egypt. Then God told them when it was safe to go back, after Herod died. Without murmuring
or complaining, Mary and husband with the child Jesus in tow headed back home to Nazareth in
Galilee (Matthew 2:1-23), thus fulfilling another prophecy about Christ.
(3) MARY WAS A BELIEVER. Luke 1:40-45 And entered into the house of Zacharias,
and saluted Elisabeth.
41. And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in
her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:
42. And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and
blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
43. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44. For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my
womb for joy.
45. And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which
were told her from the Lord.
and saluted Elisabeth.
41. And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in
her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:
42. And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and
blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
43. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44. For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my
womb for joy.
45. And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which
were told her from the Lord.
We do not have to wonder why Mary was blessed. Her cousin Elisabeth told us. "Blessed is she
that believed." Mary was pure, she was a doer, and she was a believer. Like it says of Abraham
in Romans 4:20, she "staggered not at the promises of God through unbelief: but was strong
in faith, giving glory to God." Mary went through things that throw unbelievers for a loop. With
trust in God and quiet strength she never gave up. For us she is an example of overcoming.
that believed." Mary was pure, she was a doer, and she was a believer. Like it says of Abraham
in Romans 4:20, she "staggered not at the promises of God through unbelief: but was strong
in faith, giving glory to God." Mary went through things that throw unbelievers for a loop. With
trust in God and quiet strength she never gave up. For us she is an example of overcoming.
When Jesus was grown and did the first of His miraculous signs confirming who He was, Mary
was there. And just before Jesus turned the water to wine, Mary made another statement that
showed she had Overcome Self. Now Jesus was her son, but above that He was her Savior. She
told the servants at the marriage in Cana, "Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it" (John 2:1-11).
In such simple words that a child can understand, that says it all! Just do what He says!
was there. And just before Jesus turned the water to wine, Mary made another statement that
showed she had Overcome Self. Now Jesus was her son, but above that He was her Savior. She
told the servants at the marriage in Cana, "Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it" (John 2:1-11).
In such simple words that a child can understand, that says it all! Just do what He says!
When Jesus hung from the cross, Mary was there, unable to do anything for the Son now. But,
in an revealing show of the human personality of Jesus (lesson #26), Jesus requited his mother's
care for him. Mary heard Jesus tell the beloved John (the apostle, not the forerunner) who was
also there, to take care of Mary as if she were his own mother (John 19:25-27). "Her children
arise up, and call her blessed...", Proverbs 31:28. After "losing" her son Jesus, Mary did not
lose her devotion to God. In Acts 1:14, weeks after the death of Christ, she was with some other
disciples in an upper room. They were praying and waiting on the Savior's promise to come
shortly from on high. This would bring all together God's plan for salvation in the church of
Christ (Acts 1:8-14; 2:1, 5, 16ff, 22, 33, 38, 39, 47).
in an revealing show of the human personality of Jesus (lesson #26), Jesus requited his mother's
care for him. Mary heard Jesus tell the beloved John (the apostle, not the forerunner) who was
also there, to take care of Mary as if she were his own mother (John 19:25-27). "Her children
arise up, and call her blessed...", Proverbs 31:28. After "losing" her son Jesus, Mary did not
lose her devotion to God. In Acts 1:14, weeks after the death of Christ, she was with some other
disciples in an upper room. They were praying and waiting on the Savior's promise to come
shortly from on high. This would bring all together God's plan for salvation in the church of
Christ (Acts 1:8-14; 2:1, 5, 16ff, 22, 33, 38, 39, 47).
OvercomingSelf.net
Help Your Self article#8