Mother of the Messiah

Do you remember what it felt like when first learned that you would be a mother?

Do you remember what it felt like when first learned that you would be a mother?

Mothers, do you remember what you felt when you learned you were expecting your first child? It was probably a mixture of a lot of emotions right? Excitement, joy, fear, being overwhelmed by the responsibility that would come along with it. You might have questioned if you could take care of a little human being that would be totally dependent on you.

Most likely you learned after you had your child that it was not as daunting as it seemed in your mind. Then again at times perhaps you might have thought after having the baby “what have I gotten myself into?” No mater what you felt then being a mother is a big, important, stressful, joyful, awesome opportunity.

Imagine how Mary must have felt when she learned that she would be Jesus’ Mother.

Imagine how Mary must have felt: As you think back to what it felt like to learn you were expecting your first child try to imagine what Mary, the mother of the Messiah must have felt when Gabriel told her she would miraculously become pregnant as a virgin and give birth the the Messiah.

Mary is one of the greatest examples for Mothers of all time.

The are a lot of examples of Mothers in scripture both good and bad. But Mary has to be one of the greatest examples there is because of who she was the mother of and the fact that God chose her specifically for that task.

Mothers today can gain a lot from looking at Mary as the mother of Christ. In doing it is not just that Mothers will look at Mary and be overwhelmed with the feeling of needing to do better but comforted and encouraged that Mary was like them. Not perfect but still chosen by God to carry out the important task of raising little people to be godly people. Let’s look at ...

Mary

Luke 1:26–29 ESV

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.

It is impossible to really understand how awesome it must have been to hear this news from an angel. But notice it says she was greatly troubled by the greeting and what it might mean.

There was obviously something coming after this. Have you ever had someone greet you with praise (like your children) and you know that something is coming next. You might even ask “what do you need” as you wait for whatever comes next. There was obviously something coming next.

Luke 1:30–37 ESV

And 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 call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Luke 1:30-3

Her initial reaction to the news is understandable considering that she was a virgin. But the angel essentially said that nothing is impossible with God. He sites Elizabeth being pregnant in her old age as an example.

But the child that Mary would be the mother the one! We know that Mary felt a great sense of joy and privilege to be able to be the one to do this. She did feel favored. Look at her response in verse 38...

Mary’s response to the news is a great lesson for all parents.

Luke 1:38 ESV

And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Mary saw herself as a servant of the Lord in taking on the responsibility of being Jesus’ Mother.

Responsibility in serving Christ as a Mother.

Mary gratefully received the responsibility of being Jesus’ mother -

Luke 1:46–47 ESV

And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

Raising children is a huge responsibility but a wonderful privilege as well -

Psalm 127:3 ESV

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.

Our culture has influenced our view of children unfortunately a little to much. Our culture views children as either as so important that everything revolves around them or that they are an inconvenience to our own personal life goals.

Children are a responsibility given to us by God. We need to make sure that we are taking that responsibility as something seriously.

But more than that maybe we need to make sure we do not get overwhelmed and discouraged with the responsibility but know that we can do it with God’s help.

Responsibility: Responding with your ability.

Mary saw herself as serving the Lord in being Christ’s mother.

- Mary was willing to humbly serve God through being Jesus’ mother.

Luke 1:38 ESV

And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

We might look at Mary and think what an awesome and overwhelming thing to be the Mother of Jesus and serving Him everyday in that way but do not forget that everyday as you serve your children as a mother through teaching them, disciplining them, loving them, giving, helping and doing all the things you do as a mother YOU ARE SERVING CHRIST AS WELL.

- When you serve your children as a Mother you are serving Christ.

You are serving God as you take on the responsibility of being a godly mother.

Responsibility can be a word that is negative in our minds because it brings up feeling of hard work and things that we do not necessarily like to do but must do. But let’s think of it another way

Responsibility is responding to a need with your ability. One of the best ways of thinking of responsibilities I have heard came from a speech I listened online from a Vietnam veteran. He told the story of when he was fighting in Vietnam...

We were up on this hill and we were outnumbered twenty to one. The enemy was coming up the hill to kill them. They could not call in reinforcements because of a thick fog. But if we blow up half the hill you can go down that side and get away. But we need five of you to stay back and slow up the enemy so that they don’t flank the ones that are escaping.The question was who would be the five. So his commanding officer came to him and a few others and said we have to do this, it is our responsibility. What do you mean the soldier said. The commanding officer said “do you know what responsibility is? It’s a word made up of two words, “response” and “ability.” Responsibility isn’t something someone puts on you or forces you to do. It is using your abilities to respond to the needs that others have who need us. (So they did and saved the lives of their soldiers.)

While a story about war does not seem to have much to do with being a parent (or maybe it does, Haha, maybe dealing with your children seems like that sometimes) He tells about how that principle impacted him later in life as he and his wife had the opportunity to adopt four disabled children at once so that they were not split up. He was over sixty at the time and was reluctant…and do you know how his wife got him to agree? She said...”it is our responsibility.”

We have the ability to be the mothers (and fathers) our children need. We need to have the response in faith of taking on the task.

With that in mind how overwhelming the responsibility factor is might be increased a little bit. But there is an important thing to remember about Mary and yourself as you think about that...

While you serve as a mother remember Mary was not perfect as she served as a mother.

Imperfection in serving Christ as a Mother.

Mary’s imperfection is demonstrated in her forgetting Jesus in Jerusalem.

Luke 2:43–45 ESV

And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him.

Luke 2:43–47 ESV

And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.

Jesus parents accidently leave Him in Jerusalem.

Anytime you feel like an imperfect parent just remember this passage and the fact that Jesus’ parents left the Messiah for three to five days. And I say five days because one days journey from Jerusalem, one days journey back, and three days looking for Him. Possibly...

Can you imagine this. (And I know some of you can, haha, because you have left or lost your children…) (We have too…Lydia in a department store, hiding in the clothing rack…that 15 minutes felt like an eternity…) So I do not even want to imagine what it must have felt like on that second day of searching....

So again anytime you feel like you are not perfect remember not even Mary did a perfect job. She made mistakes. She was not perfect. This is an important point to make that all parents need to hear...

God does not need you to be a perfect mother or a perfect parent for Him to do great things through you and your children.

He is simply asking you to do your best and be faithful because he is with you as you raise your children.

Think for moment about the story of Joseph and Mary losing Jesus in Jerusalem. The point is not the imperfection of the parents but the perfection of savior. Jesus was in the temple doing about His Father’s business. Mary and Joseph were obviously doing a pretty good job and God took this incident to glorify Christ.

Jesus was in the temple doing about His Father’s business. Mary and Joseph were obviously doing a pretty good job and God took this incident to glorify Christ.

God can make even our mistakes something that we and our children learn from.

- We need to remember that Christ’s promise to be with us always, not matter what as we make disciples applies to our children as well.

As we do our best trusting God’s help (which makes the most difference) we will find...

Joy in serving Christ as a Mother.

Mary treasured all of these things in her heart -

Notice what is says after all these things. They went to Nazareth, Jesus continued to obey them and Mary treasured everything in her heart.

This is not the only time that scripture uses this phrase. This is the second time Luke tells us Mary treasured the events of her as Jesus’ mother in her heart.

Mary also treasured in her heart the events surrounding Jesus birth -

The myriad of angels singing, the shepherds visiting and all that the people said.

Let the treasures in your heart that you have stored up from being a mother bring you joy.

No matter the difficulty keep in mind those things that have brought you joy about serving God as a mother. All the things that you have seen God do in your children’s lives. The love that they have given you, the love you have given them.

Slow down, stop even, put down your phone, take a break from all the pressing things and just be present with your children. Watch them play, play with them, really see them in all their incredible character and personality and creativity and joy...

One of the greatest mistakes that I have made as a Father is allowing other things get in the way of me seeing just how incredible my children are. Last week I laid down in the floor and just watched Layana play, in all her innocence, it was like a little bit of heaven. The other night I laid in bed thinking about all the things that I love and Lydia and Lilly...

Slow down and take notice of the amazing human beings God has blessed you life with and you will find so much joy.

Please do not let comparison or imperfection or busyness or distraction or stress take away the joy God has built into the blessings of children.

Let the love and joy lead you as you continue to be the godly parent God has called you to.

Children today stop and realize how blessed you are to have a Mother who loves you and shows you the love of Christ every day.

Prayer for Mothers