Introduction

  • “plan to run a series dealing with great woman of the bible”
  • My mind went immediately to Mary
  • WHY? I MEAN she doesn’t play a role in the foundation of the early church, She is not often mentioned in scripture
  • But I realised that, bar Christmas, I cannot remember anyone specifically preaching about Mary
    • The reason for this that we have been sensitive about placing too much emphasis on Mary or putting her on a pedestal
    • And for good reason
    • Because she has been worshiped, and in the case of the Roman Catholic Church they have have attributed near divine status to her, all of which is well beyond what is warranted by the New Testament
    • In fact striking is the way Jesus himself deflects honour away from his mother in Luke 11
      • 27 ... a woman in the crowd called out, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.” 28 He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”
    • Jesus ranks obedience to the word of God above any special honour of his mother
  • And so as a reaction we have tended to shy away from looking at her
  • This morning what I would like to do is to set aside the big inaccuracies (I have no intention of dealing with them) and to remember her, to admire her, to be inspired by her, and to draw out THREE lesson which can be applied to our own lives
  • Mary was, at the end of the day a human, like you and I, and we can aspire to be like her
  • NOW, Mary is mentioned several time during scripture, but most noticeably in gospel of Luke, where Luke does more than just provide his eye witness testimony, but where he thoroughly investigates and documents others and pulls this together in a orderly account
    • Luke 1:1-3 “1 Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3 With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you,”
  • Luke is being very purposeful, conducting interviews and keeping detailed records
  • The net result is that he goes in to much greater depth of detail as to the account of Mary and Joseph, he provides great insights

Despite Mary’s Fears, She Trusted God’s Word

Luke 1:26-38

READ LUKE 1:26-29

  • So the first thing that we notice is that when the angel Gabriel appears to Mary her immediate reaction is one of FEAR
    • Angels are mentioned many times in scripture, but ONLY two angels are mentioned by name
    • The Archangel Michael is a warrior angel
    • The angel Gabriel is a messenger who was entrusted to deliver several important messages on God’s behalf
  • QUESTION: So what was the source of Mary’s fear?
    • It was not his APPEARANCE
      • Luke 2:9 “9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.”
    • It was his WORDS, his greeting
      • Lawrence walks over to you, rubbing his hands, and greets you!
      • Lilian starts with “Alister my boy…” I know I am in trouble…
      • Zena… “Really!”
      • Enough to strike terror though my heart
    • So what was it about his greeting that struck fear into her heart
      • Mary was a devout Jew, we see this in her adherence to Jewish ritual and tradition
        • Jesus presented as a babe for purification rites
        • As a family they travel to Jerusalem for Passover
        • And so she would have know that this was an angel and she knew angels were God’s messengers, and that whatever was coming next was going to require sacrifice
      • She was family of Zechariah and Elizabeth
        • Zechariah was a priest from the tribe of Levi
        • And Elizabeth was a descendent of Aaron
        • She would have be familiar with their story
        • Some six months before this, the angel Gabriel had appeared to Zechariah while he was burning incense in the temple
        • He was startled and he too was gripped with fear
        • The angel told him that his prayers were answered and that Elizabeth, despite her advanced years, was to bear a son, a forerunner to the Messiah
        • Zechariah, despite being a devout person, had doubted the angel’s words
        • And that as a consequence of his lack of faith he was struck mute
        • Now I don’t believe that Mary was fearful of being struck as mute, but rather she knew that with the appearance of Gabriel that a great responsibility was going to be placed on her
        • She must have suspected that what was to come next would change her life
        • It was going to require service, sacrifice and devotion
        • MEGAN MARKLE & HARRY:
          • Something that stuck me is she did not appear to know, before she married Harry that life as a royal would be hard
          • I am not her to draw judgement, nor criticise
        • Whatever the case, when the angel utters the words “you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you.” Mary is afraid
        • HOWEVER, although there are similarities between the two accounts, unlike Zechariah Mary’s fear does not give way to unbelief
          • She does not dwell on the fear, rather as the angel answers her question and explains the mechanics of the conception, she very quickly moves to to faith
          • She trusts in God’s word
        • She knew her circumstances and the potential fallout of being a virgin and unwed mother.
        • She knew the enormity of the burden that lay before her
        • BUT despite her fears, uncertainties, and questions, Mary makes a decision to TRUST in God’s divine plan for her life.
        • She completely surrenders her will to that of God’s will
          • I have no doubt that she would have wanted to turn and run
        • “I am the Lord’s servant, May your word to me be fulfilled.”
        • What magnificent words, complete surrender
        • Mary’s desire to serve God and surrender was greater than her fears
      • Like Mary, we too have real fears in our lives
        • Some of them are well founded!
        • Home security
        • Zena keeps on asking me to improve the security and I keep on telling her that I am security!
        • And we should take precautions to protect ourselves, but these fears should be healthy and not control our lives AND we should commit all of these things to him in prayer
      • BUT when it comes to fulfilling God’s purposes we should not allow our fears to control our actions
      • The account of Zechariah and Mary stand in stark contrast with each other
      • That does not mean that we don’t have questions and concerns, it does not mean that we have more questions than answers BUT rather that we should acknowledge these fears and then make a deliberate decision to place our trust in God’s word
      • Mary’s story stands as an inspiration
        • She leaned on God’s word and moved forward
        • She trusted on God’s leading and direction
        • She believed that God would keep His promises
        • AND SO SHOULD WE

In the Midst of Mary’s Trials, She Continued to Praise God

Luke 1:39-56

  • Mary’s faith was profound
  • Now just because we place our trust in God and His word it does not mean that we are going to have it easy?
  • Well in a sense yes, because
    • Matthew 11 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
  • But in a sense No
    • John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
  • Life is hard!
  • A decision to follow the Lord calling is not a life without trials, but rather a life where we trade our burdens for those of the world for HIS
  • And by doing so we trade difficulties without purpose for trials with meaning and purpose
  • The trials that we endure for Christ, are trials with eternal benefits and are necessary for growth
  • Where we pick up the account of Mary in verse 39 she is in the midst of trial
  • The full weight of being pregnant out of wedlock and all that it entailed in the society would have been bearing down on her and she packs up her things and goes to visit Elizabeth
  • READ: Luke 1:39-45
  • SIDE ROAD: So I have no idea how long the trip from Nazareth to the hill country of Judea might have been, a couple of days… a week… but whatever the case Elizabeth is six months pregnant and Mary cannot be more than a couple of weeks pregnant
    • But yet despite the early stages of pregnancy the bible account is very clear here that the child within Elizabeth's belly recognised the child within Mary’s belly
    • Is this a physical recognition… well I am going out on a limb here, but no rather this was a spiritual recognition
    • If you had any doubts as to the corruption of our world and the extent of its Godlessness, then all you need to do is hear the current debate in society on the role of abortion!
    • In just 20 short years the progressive political view point has moved from… abortion should be far and few between and only in extreme circumstances and not after a certain date… to where today they are pushing for an agenda where abortion should be allowed up until birth and the only factor is the mothers will…
    • REALLY
    • Let there be no mistake here, It is God that gives life, it is God that sustains life. At the pint of conception God injects into us a soul and spirit that are eternal, irrespective of the stage of development
    • All life should be treated with sanctity!
  • BUT BACK TO MARY. She is in the midst of the trial
  • Do you know what it is like to be in the midst of a trial? Are you currently in trial?
    • Is your health not what it once was?
    • Are you struggling with a husband or wife or a child that is doing their own thing?
    • And you don’t know what to do!
    • It is as if the trial is never ending or the events are rolling out in slow motion and you are powerless to stop or prevent the next wave.
    • YOUTUBE: TSUNAMI
  • Mary is in the midst of a life-changing event, she was pregnant out of wedlock; she was in the midst of an earth shattered event, she was to give birth to the long awaited Messiah
  • And what is she to do…. What does she do?
  • She sings praises God!
  • I reminded her of Zena. Worship music.
  • READ LUKE 1:46-56
  • This is kind of like a Julie Andrews moment
  • The song itself is modeled on the OT PSalms and in particular the Song of Hannah
  • And it is essentially broken into 2 parts
  • In the first part Mary Acknowledge God’s greatness and gives him all the honour, WHY, because he, and he alone deserves it
  • Mary praises God for His faithfulness in her life, but also for all future generations.
  • Mary understood the power of her praise, and that it would sustain her through her upcoming trials.
  • Her doubts and fears didn’t waver, but her songs of praise rang louder.
  • So what is the lesson for us and what can we carry into the weeks ahead… it is this
  • In the midst of our various trials, we must continue to find something to praise God for
    • What do you mean by this
    • When we are in the midst of a trial we tend not to look up, we tend only to see the bad, we tend to focus on the problem
    • There is always something to praise God for, and if we cannot see it, then we are being blinded, start with something, anything and very quick, as we look to Him, the floodgates will open and his mercy will quickly be revealed
  • We must continue to keep an active praise on our lips to encourage and strengthen our spirits.
  • God’s goodness and faithfulness is consistent and steadfast.

Mary’s Suffering Drew Her Closer to God

Luke 2:25-35

READ

  • An incredible story, where a devout and righteous man had been promised by God that he would not see death until he had seen the Saviour
  • Moved by the Holy Spirit, he enters the temple courts, he spots Mary and Joseph with their child, and he knows that this is the one they have been waiting for
  • He whips the boy into his arms and praises God
  • He
  • He then turns to Mary and speaks to her directly, and in a way it can be described as a prophecy
    • A message from God foretelling what will happen
    • This child of yours is going to disrupt the status quo, he is going to tear at the very social fabric of Jewish society
    • Because of this people are going to come at him, but in doing so their true motives are going to revealed
    • “And a sword will pierce your soul too”
  • Mary herself would suffer anguish as a consequent treatment of Jesus
    • the men of Nazareth sought to throw Him from the brow of their hill (Luke 4:29);
    • when she came, as in anxious fear, to check His teaching as the Pharisees charged Him with casting out devils through Beelzebub (Matthew 12:46);
    • “not even his brothers believed in him” (John 7:5). Lived with him for 30 years and did not believe
    • She witnessed Jesus endure intense ridicule and opposition, she took these things to heart, it was a source of immense suffering
    • when she stood by the cross, and heard the blasphemies and revilings of the priests and people (John 19:26).
  • Being the mother of Jesus was Mary’s greatest honor and also the source of great suffering
  • Mary carried a weighty burden and responsibility. As any mother would, Mary wanted only what was best for her son, but also endured great pain and suffering watching her son suffer.
  • In our suffering, God wants us to fully depend and lean on God.
  • Within our own strength, our personal suffering can attempt to consume us, but we must fully rely on the Holy Spirit to guide, carry, and sustain us through times of adversity.
  • God will comfort us in our suffering and is a consistent presence in our lives. Deuteronomy 31:8 states, “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
  • When adversity comes, God has given us an open invitation to come and find comfort and peace in God.

Not one of Jesus’ brothers is mentioned as a disciple during his pre-crucifixion ministry. But after his resurrection and ascension, there they are in the upper room worshiping him as God (Acts 1:14).