Mary's Treasure

Pre-intro: Read to children from Luke 2

During the holidays we often turn our attention to the Nativity – the “holy family”

During the holidays, the five-year-old was showing his little brother around the Christmas display at the church. “Here are the shepherds,” he explained knowledgeably, “and there are the sheep and the cows and the wise men. And here is Mary, she’s Jesus’ mother. And that’s Mary’s husband, Virg.” A teacher, who was nearby, overheard and offered a correction. “Mary’s husband was named Joseph, dear,” she said, “not Virg.” The five-year-old wrinkled his brow. “Then how come,” he wanted to know, “the preacher always talks about Virg and Mary?” (James Dent in Charleston, W.Va. Gazette)

Many look to Mary as the treasure of heaven, the mother of God. She is unfortunately viewed as a co-mediator, co-redeemer, the Queen of Heaven…

Our culture is all too familiar with the prayer:

Hail Mary, full of grace. Our Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

In November 2004, a stale grilled-cheese sandwich sold for $28,000 in an eBay auction because the sandwich purportedly had an image of Mary supernaturally etched in the burn marks of the toast.

A few months later, thousands of worshipers in Chicago built a makeshift shrine to Mary in the walkway of a freeway underpass because someone claimed to see an image of her in salt stains on the concrete wall of the abutment.

No doubt, Mary is a woman to be respected and honored.

An angel declared her favored, her cousin recognized her as blessed. Months later she is huddled in a cattle barn, cradling the Son of God, listening to shepherds, and “treasuring all these things, pondering them in her heart.”

What was Mary’s Treasure?

Her virginity?

No! Her virginity as an unmarried, single girl spoke to her virtue. But when confronted by the promise of God she didn’t see her virginity as an asset but a hindrance. (see Luke 1:34)

Luke 1:30–34 NASB95PARA

The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. 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 said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?”

…

The virgin birth was necessary for God’s plan

“Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned (in Adam)…” (, NASB95PARA)

“For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.” (, NASB95PARA)

…but a wife who remains a virgin is not virtuous, it’s disobedient.

“God blessed them; and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply…’” (, NASB95PARA)

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Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

Mary did not dishonor God or her husband.

tells us that she remained a virgin until after the birth of Jesus. UNTIL…

“Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary, and His brothers, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?” (, NASB95PARA)

The point of Mary being a virgin is not her virtue, but God’s power.

Her audience with Jesus?

Many point to On the third day a wedding took place in Cana of Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and 2 Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding as well. 3 When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother told Him, “They don’t have any wine.” 4 “What has this concern of yours to do with Me, woman?” Jesus asked. “My hour has not yet come.” 5 “Do whatever He tells you,” His mother told the servants.

But NO! Throughout Christ’s earthly ministry, Mary appeared in only three scenes. On two of those occasions, Jesus Himself explicitly repudiated the notion that her earthly authority over Him as His mother entitled her to manage any aspect of His saving work. He did this without showing her the least bit of disrespect, of course, but He nonetheless clearly and completely disclaimed the idea that Mary was in any sense a mediator of His grace.

“Woman…” In spiritual matters, her earthly role as His mother did not give her any right to attempt to manage His mission as it pertained to fulfilling the Father’s will on the Father’s timetable. As a man, He was her Son. But as God, He was her Lord. It was not her business to command Him in spiritual matters. The way He spoke to her simply reminded her of that fact without showing her any real disrespect.

(cf “And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?)

Her position (Mother of Heaven)?

NO! This pagan concept is never even alluded to in Scripture. In fact, just the opposite…

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27 While Jesus was saying these things, one of the women in the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, “Blessed is the womb that bore You and the breasts at which You nursed.” 28 But He said, “On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.”

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31 Then His mother and His brothers arrived, and standing outside they sent word to Him and called Him. 32 A crowd was sitting around Him, and they said to Him, “Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are outside looking for You.” 33 Answering them, He said, “Who are My mother and My brothers?” 34 Looking about at those who were sitting around Him, He said, “Behold My mother and My brothers! 35 For whoever does the will of God, he is My brother and sister and mother.”

An earthly transfer: 26 When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple He loved standing there, He said to His mother, “Woman, here is your son.” 27 Then He said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.

That act epitomizes Mary’s relationship with her firstborn Son. She was His earthly mother; but He was her eternal Lord.

Mary’s Treasure is the Redemption Delivered to Her Through the One She Delivered

As a mother, she had once provided all Jesus’ needs, but in the ultimate and eternal sense, He was her Savior and provider.

46 And Mary said: “My soul exalts the Lord, 47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. 48 “For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave; For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed. 49 “For the Mighty One has done great things for me; And holy is His name. 50 “And His mercy is upon generation after generation Toward those who fear Him. 51 “He has done mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart. 52 “He has brought down rulers from their thrones, And has exalted those who were humble. 53 “He has filled the hungry with good things; And sent away the rich empty-handed. 54 “He has given help to Israel His servant, In remembrance of His mercy, 55 As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and his descendants forever.”

Savior (implies the need of being saved)

Holy is His name (recognizes the “set apart” nature of God)

Mercy (identified as being in need of help…)

This privilege came at a high cost to Mary personally, because it carried the stigma of an unwed pregnancy. Although she had remained totally and completely chaste, the world was bound to think otherwise. Still, knowing the cost and weighing it against the immense privilege of becoming the mother of the Christ, Mary surrendered herself unconditionally, saying simply, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” ()

Mary surrendered to the call of God and it changed it her life. There’s only one virgin birth – the first Advent of Christ. But God still calls and requires our response. Mary, who gave birth to Jesus needed the second birth that Jesus would provide.

Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation? Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day rule the nations? Did you know that your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb? This sleeping child you're holding is the great I am…

Mary, did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new? This child that you've delivered, will soon deliver you?

I think she really did. Do you?