Question
eight: Mary is now a mature woman with
multiple children and many of them are grown. Mary appeared in only three scenes during
Christ’s earthly ministry. Briefly identify and describe these incidents.
Luke 2:1-20 King James Version (KJV)
And it came to pass in those
days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world
should be taxed. 2 (And this taxing was first made when
Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3 And all went to be taxed,
every one into his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from
Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David,
which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5 To
be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 6 And
so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she
should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son,
and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there
was no room for them in the inn. 8 And there were in the same
country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by
night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the
glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And
the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of
great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is
born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And
this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling
clothes, lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the
angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,14 Glory
to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
Mary thought about all the things she had heard from God and now with the shepherds. It is an amazing thing. Mary was not the proclaimer, she was the preserver.
Luke 2:21 And when eight days were
accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was so named of the angel
before he was conceived in the womb. 22 And when the days of
her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought
him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;
23 (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy
to the Lord;)
(Mary had a natural birth, not a
supernatural. These verses answer some
of the concerns in other religions that place Mary in a higher position)
24 And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in
the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons. 25 And,
behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man
was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost
was upon him. 26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy
Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 And
he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the
child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, 28 Then
took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, 29 Lord,
now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: 30 For
mine eyes have seen thy salvation, 31 Which thou hast prepared
before the face of all people; 32 A light to lighten the
Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. 33 And Joseph and
his mother marveled at those things which were spoken of him.
(Mary and Joseph had a limited
understanding of what was going to occur in their life with this child)
34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother,
Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and
for a sign which shall be spoken against; 35 (Yea, a sword
shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may
be revealed. 36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the
daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had
lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; 37 And
she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the
temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. 38 And
she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him
to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. 39 And
when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they
returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.
40 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with
wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him. 41 Now his parents
went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. 42 And
when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the
feast. 43 And when they had fulfilled the days, as they
returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his
mother knew not of it. 44 But they, supposing him to have been
in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk
and acquaintance. 45 And when they found him not, they turned
back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. 46 And it came to pass,
that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the
doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. 47 And
all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. 48 And when they saw him,
they were amazed: (they had a gut wrenching gasp) and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast
thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing
(in anguish). 49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye
sought me? wist ye not that I must be
about my Father's business? (in the Greek, have you not been paying
attention?) 50 And they
understood not the saying which he spake unto them. 51 And he
went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his
mother kept all these sayings in her heart. (she watched thoroughly and now
looked for the way his path would lead) 52 And
Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
John 2 King James Version (KJV)
And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: 2 And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. 4 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.5 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. 6 And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.
7 Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And
they filled them up to the brim. 8 And he saith unto them, Draw
out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. 9 When
the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not
whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of
the feast called the bridegroom, 10 And saith unto him, Every
man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk,
then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now. 11 This
beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his
glory; and his disciples believed on him. 12 After this he went
down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and
they continued there not many days.
Mary has seen him grow and she
understood that he could do this. Mary had been growing in her knowledge of God
and his Son. Her thought was earthly, but
Jesus was referring to the spiritual. They stayed as a family there for many
days.
Mark 3 King James Version (KJV)
And
he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered
hand. 2 And they watched him, whether he would heal him
on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him. 3 And he
saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth. 4 And
he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil?
to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace. 5 And
when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the
hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And
he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other. 6 And
the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians
against him, how they might destroy him.
7 But Jesus withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea: and a great multitude from Galilee followed him, and from Judaea, 8 And from Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and from beyond Jordan; and they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they had heard what great things he did, came unto him. 9 And he spake to his disciples, that a small ship should wait on him because of the multitude, lest they should throng him. 10 For he had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had plagues.11 And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.
(Jesus had worked so much in healing that the nation of Israel was being healed! )
12 And he straitly charged them that they should not make him known.13 And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him. 14 And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, 15 And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils: 16 And Simon he surnamed Peter; 17 And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder: 18 And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite, 19 And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him: and they went into an house. 20 And the multitude cometh together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread. 21 And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself. (His family wants to drag him out of there, perhaps considering him to be out of his mind or perhaps they were trying to spare him from the crowds since he wasn’t eating. They had heard that either he was a lunatic, Lord, or liar and they were reacting to these statements)
22 And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.
23 And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan? 24 And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 26 And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end. 27 No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house. 28 Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: 29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation. 30 Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.
31 There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him. 32 And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee. 33 And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren? 34 And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! 35 For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.
(He wasn’t being cruel, but laying an equality of those that were there. We need to understand that the family was human, full of human concerns and a sin nature. Was there jealousy? How else did they fall short? How much turmoil was in their lives? We need to look at the bigger, spiritual picture in our own lives too.)
John19:25-27
25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his
mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When
Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he
saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! 27 Then saith he
to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her
unto his own home.
We needed to see that Mary was a human woman, a mom. She had to experience and try to understand the cruelty being done to her son, the miracles that he performed, all the experiences with the people that had their lives touched and changed by her son, the Christ.
Mary’s song of praise reminded Colette of a situation in her life. She gave a testimony of her cousin, who had injuries and had to go into a convalescent home and is now able to see her parents who are in the same home. Through all of this Colette is seeing the praise of God allowing these to be together at the end of their lives.
