Why Mary

Why Mary - Three Characteristics of Godliness Illustrated in Mary’s Life

Luke 1:28 NLT

Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!”

Prayer

Introduction:

If you were to make a list of the godliest characters in the Bible, Mary would have to be one at the top of the list. She is likely the most well-known woman in the Bible, and her life gives us some great examples. I love that God puts characters in the Bible, even those who make a mess of things. Mary led a life filled with both joy and sorrow. Her story is included in the Bible not just so we can learn about her, but so we can learn about her walk with God. She gives us an example to follow!!

There are 3 observations I want to make this morning about Mary, the mother of our Lord Jesus

1. Mary Teaches Us the Submission of Godliness

Luke 1:38 “Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.”

Mary learned submission early on

She had this bizarre encounter with the angel Gabriel who told her that her life was about to change

Her plans were completly uprooted

She had to be just a young girl with no examples to follow.

No one had ever told her about what to do if an angel came and visited you

It was all new territory for her!

Look again at her beautiful response:

“I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.”

Mary was saying I really don’t understand all of this, but I am your servant and will do as you have instructed.

Mary must have wondered why God would choose her. There didn't seem to be anything special about her. According to many standards, she was probably right. But look at how God used this ordinary, small-town girl to show the world what it means to be obedient to the call of God.

She was a woman of the Word and she was a woman of faith

She was a poor girl, showing the humility of Christ’s coming to live amongst us

According to God’s plan - she was the perfect candidate for this mission!

As a child, the Lord Jesus would walk behind his mother, Mary.

But as he grew up into the man, Jesus, she would follow Him.

Not only would she follow him in His earthly ministry, but she would follow behind Him as he walked to the cross.

Mary teaches us what it means to have godly submission.

You see, you can submit to many things, but there is only real hope and salvation in submission to Jesus.

There comes a moment in everyone’s life, where God asks us to do something.

It may not even make sense at the time

God has asked me to do things that don’t make sense:

Like the time he had me leave a big tip at Skippers

Or He had me talk to people at Burger King

Or He had me give mints to the bank teller

Or He had me talk to a lady in the park on SSI

When God asks you to do something, what will be your response?

Will it be like Mary, Let it be done unto me?

Not only does Mary teach us the submission of godliness,

2. Mary Teaches Us the Surprise of Godliness

Walking with Jesus is the best adventure you can ever have here on Earth.

I have tried a lot of things and found nothing that compares to living for God. I have drank and got drunk and stayed out all night and nothing compares to walking in the Spirit. I praise God every day for saving my soul.

Life with the savior does not come without surprises, however.

You see God doesn’t give you the whole picture.

Truthfully, You and I can’t handle it.

God didn’t give Mary all the answers. Look what the Bible records how she reaacted to the angels message:

Luke 1:29 “Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean.”

This wasn’t in her plan, yet God used her greatly as she followed.

Our walk with God is much like that in that He doesn't always tell us the whole plan, He gives us step-by-step directions. Each day is a surprise to us but not to God!

Mary may have been surprised but let’s look further on in the story:

Luke 2:18–19“All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.”

she kept what the angel told her in her heart. When you hear a word from God, you hold on to that!

Not only does Mary teach us the submission of godliness and the surprise of godliness, but she also:

3. Mary Teaches Us the Suffering of Godliness

Christmas is such a joyous time as we come together and celebrate the birth of our Savior! It’s a time of the year that we really need. But you cannot forget that the reason Jesus was born was to save us from our sins. You cannot have Christmas without Easter. You cannot have the birth without the death and the cross of Calvary.

Dr Jeremiah says “when you realize that the cradle and the grave have a straight line drawn between them, then Christmas becomes more profound and more meaningful.”

Mary teaches us the suffering of godliness.

We can’t stay at the announcement of the birth; we have to move to the agony of His death. “There’s no reason for the cradle if there isn’t a cross.

Jesus was born so that He could die. It was in His death that He took our place and reconciled us to the Father.

Even as Jesus was dying, He was thinking of others!

Let's look at 7 statements Jesus made from the cross:

The First Word

Luke 23:34 “Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.”

They certainly had no idea that they were killing the Son of God. They killed him in such a gruesome way and thought nothing of it, gambling for his clothes. Yet, Jesus, the Prince of Peace, asked God, the Father to forgive them anyway! How awesome is our God?

The Second Word

Luke 23:43 “And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.””

There were two criminals, one mocked him and the other believed. Jesus gave that man salvation even in his last hour. He’s still doing that!

The Fourth Word

Matthew 27:46 “At about three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?””

God turned his back on his only Son, because he made him to be the payment for our sin.

The Fifth Word

John 19:28 “Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, “I am thirsty.””

The Sixth Word

John 19:30 “When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”

The Seventh Word

Luke 23:46 “Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last.”

Maybe you’ve been keeping track and thought that I couldn't count. It was left out on purpose because, in some ways, it just doesn't seem to fit along with all the other statements. Let’s look at it:

The Third Word

John 19:26–27 “When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home.”

Here it is while Jesus hung on the cross dying, beaten and ripped open, he looked and saw his dear mother and made provision for her.

Even in his dying moments, Jesus was making arrangements.

He did that for Mary and He did that for us.

He has never lost sight of what He was sent to do.

Though He is God and is totally sovereign, He is also Immanuel, God with us.

The road for Jesus and Mary was always going to be one filled with submission, surprises and suffering. Look at the prophecy that Simeon spoke when Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the temple.

Luke 2:34–35 “Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, and many others to rise. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.””

30 years after this prophecy was given, Jesus was crucified.

Mary knew more pain in her life than most of us will ever know. A sword most certainly did pierce her soul.

The life of her son must have flashed before Mary’s eyes as she watched him die. The long trek to Bethlehem, the ordinary days in Nazareth, the coming of age, the going to Jerusalem, the wedding at Cana, and now the crucifixion.

There were many people in and out of Jesus’ life, and all of them left, but Mary was there until the very end, showing us what faithfulness looks like.

We have much to learn from this Godly woman. She is quite remarkable. Though she was the mother of Jesus, she needed Jesus as her Savior. So do we. As the beautiful song says, “The child that you delivered will soon deliver you!”

Jesus did that for her, and he did it for anyone who will call on him as Lord.

Will you do that today?

If you haven’t accepted Jesus’ offer of salvation, you can do that today? Will you call on him, if you come, there will be someone who would love to come pray with you.

Maybe you just need to have a conversation with Him today, come and we’d love to join you.

We are going to give you time to respond and then I want to come back and close out in prayer.

I love The Magnificat: Mary’s Song of Praise:

Luke 1:46–55 “Mary responded, “Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed. For the Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me. He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear him. His mighty arm has done tremendous things! He has scattered the proud and haughty ones. He has brought down princes from their thrones and exalted the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with empty hands. He has helped his servant Israel and remembered to be merciful. For he made this promise to our ancestors, to Abraham and his children forever.”