Mary
Notes
Transcript
There are mixed opinions on whether or not a pastor should break in a sermon series to speak on a topic on certain holidays. While I don’t do this for all holidays and celebrations, there are some that I feel are important enough for us to pause, reflect, and see what God’s Word has to say to the topic.
Today is a day set aside to honor mothers… I feel this is both a role that has impacted all of us and it is also a role that was established and put in place by God.
I felt today it would be fitting to look at Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ. In Luke 1:42-43 we see Elizabeth greeting Mary saying:
And she cried out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! “And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me?
Elizabeth would honor Mary the mother of her Lord. Today I hope we can do the same.
We find that when it comes to Mary… there are two extremes.
1) Worships her as almost equal with Christ…
2) Others disregard her as just another woman.
I feel both are wrong.
We need to give honor to this woman that God chose to be the mother of His Son Jesus Christ! But who was she really?
Who was Mary?
Who was Mary?
The Statler Brothers wrote a Christmas song entitled “Who Do You Think?” it starts this way...
There are people who are whispering
And the rumors are running wild
There's a woman who's not married
But she's gonna have a child
Her name is Mary, she's a virgin
From down in Nazareth, now listen close
She's gonna marry a man named Joseph
But the baby's father is The Holy Ghost
And who do you think could believe such a thing
Could believe that the story is true
And who do you think could believe such a thing
Well, here's hopin' to Heaven you do
If we were to take a journey several days north of Jerusalem, up in the hills we would come across a small little town called Nazareth. Nathaniel one of the twelve would declare in John 1:46
Nathanael said to him, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
It was a town outside of the Jewish mainstream and had a less than desirable reputation. It was from this place we find Mary:
Allow me to make her a real person for you:
A young girl from a poorer family
A small town girl population a few hundred or so
Small enough that gossip spreads quick to all
An interesting maybe awkward wedding day…
She is engaged… in the betrothal period
She and Joseph were betrothed… husband and wife legally, yet during this time they remain chaste until the wedding ceremony.
To separate during this time would require divorce
She is excited no doubt planning her future with her husband!!! (a good man, look at father’s day)
She is a virgin… from the line of King David (Luke 1:26-27)
Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
Gabriel’s greeting perplexed her… Luke 1:28-30
And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God.
WHY? Why am I a peasant girl favored with God almighty?
I am young, a nobody really, why am I special?
We are not told why… do we really need to know
Why did God give you the child or children he gave you?
Why did you have the mother God gave you?
She may have even wanted to ask the questions… yet his next words would forever change the course of her life...
Life would become complicating and difficult
What had been promises of old would be happening
The angel reveals something that Mary would understand the great significance of Luke 1:31-33
“And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.”
Mary would carry the promised Messiah, a promise going back to the garden of Eden!
Almost 2000 years earlier promised to Abraham… then to David…
Now as a descendant she would carry the promised Messiah!
Mary then ask a question, not from doubt but clarification… Luke 1:34
Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?”
The angel answers and gives such a beautiful clarification.
He uses words like overshadow (Moses and the tabernacle)
His Spirit will come upon you!
The child would be human… but His Father would be God Almighty! Luke 1:35-37
The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God. “And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. “For nothing will be impossible with God.”
The statement of Elizabeth would be a sign showing God was working! “Nothing is impossible with God!”
Mary’s Response shows her humble heart… Luke 1:38
And Mary said, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
Mary’s Character of Heart
Mary’s Character of Heart
Not sure whether she left right away then spoke to Joseph or spoke to Joseph and then left for Elizabeth’s home. Either way she went to visit for three months.
To confirm what the angel stated
To celebrate with her
To maybe get away some, reflect… and then write out a song on her heart Luke 1:46-55
And Mary said: “My soul exalts the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. “For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave; For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed. “For the Mighty One has done great things for me; And holy is His name. “And His mercy is upon generation after generation Toward those who fear Him. “He has done mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart. “He has brought down rulers from their thrones, And has exalted those who were humble. “He has filled the hungry with good things; And sent away the rich empty-handed. “He has given help to Israel His servant, In remembrance of His mercy, As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and his descendants forever.”
She begins by praising God… correct direction of praise (we praise God not man, nor Mary)
Mary is a Saint… is are all who believe in the finished work of Jesus Christ and place their faith in Him!
She addresses God as savior… Mary too needed a savior, a Messiah!
Her humility through this is so amazing!
Notice through this song she gives praise and glory for the work that GOD IS DOING AND HAS DONE!
God had to do the work, we were incapable of doing it. We needed a savior and God was working:
Through a young virgin woman
In a town so small Luke has to describe where it is
With a step dad that was simply known as a carpenter
Nazareth, Bethlehem, Mary, Joseph, a baby?
Why work this way???
Why so humble as the Son of the Most High? Creator? King? God?
WOW, WOW, WOW!
One of the things I love about Mary’s song “The Magnificat” Magnify
A great deal of this song is quoted scripture from the old testament!
A mom who knew the scriptures, POWERFUL!!!
Amazing, when she wanted to magnify God for sending His Messiah, the only words that could remotely do it justice… were the words of God!
This woman Mary, would be the mother of our Lord and Savior… Jesus Christ!
Mary, The Mother!
Mary, The Mother!
No doubt… her first born would be unlike any other child, any other man!
Mary had other sons and daughters… but their brother Jesus PERFECT:
For He was the Son of God. But Mary would ponder on these things, treasure them in her heart… Simeon would let her know that her heart very soul would be pierced!
Moments treasured and pondered as a mother:
The announcement of the conception
The birth and shepherds message
The child’s dedication in the temple and Simeon’s prophecy
The gifts and message from the Magi
The time they lost Jesus as a boy in Jerusalem…
faithful parents to the things of Scripture yet they lost Jesus!
But find Him in His Father’s house teaching
Mary ponders…
We find this mother watching her son die on the cross for all sin… including her sins!
We find her with others praying in the upper room as Jesus sends the Holy Spirit on the church
The mother who gave birth to the Savior now is there when Christ gives new birth to His church!
We also see her when her son begins His ministry work give some great motherly advice… John 2:5
His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”
I am confident that the heart of this mother would still utter those words to those of us here today.
What a blessing that down through the ages we have had mothers who direct their children to Jesus Christ and teach their children to follow His Word!
God chose Mary to be the mother of His Son Jesus Christ. God has also chosen you moms to be the mothers of your child or children. For each of us here today… God chose your mother for you as well. Let’s take this day to honor not only our moms, but the amazing and honored role of motherhood.
Happy Mothers Day