 |
| He was born as payment for us all! |
I would like to share some of these thoughts about the people who surrounded that first Christmas. I will try to stick closely to what the scripture teaches, but also stir us to contemplate about the possibilities and wonder of those events and the people involved.
I am dwelling on "Mary" this week. The scripture says that she was a virgin pledged to a man named, "Joseph". We don't know her exact age, but probably very young, due to the history and customs concerning marriage of her time. We first meet her when she encounters the angel "Gabriel". Gabriel is sent by God to deliver an important message to this young woman. As he delivers the message (Luke 1:30-33, NIV) it says that she is "greatly troubled at his words". I would be too, wouldn't you? He tells her that the child she will carry "will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, his kingdom will never end." (Luke 1:32-33, NIV)
First observation: Instead of letting the words soak in about his reign never ending, Mary begins to question the logistics about how all this will happen. And isn't that just like us? We may be convinced that the Lord is giving us some task to accomplish, but instead of trusting in His faithfulness to complete it, we desire to know all the in's and out's on exactly how it will happen! Gabriel has the perfect answer to her question in this trust issue, "For nothing is impossible with God." (Luke 1:37, NIV)
Fast forward to the end of her nine month pregnancy. It is the time of her baby's birth, and she is giving birth in a stable of all places! Not quite the "Comfort Suites" she had envisioned! The shepherd's have just paid a visit and began proclaiming the "Good News" about the birth everywhere. Now we come to my all time favorite verse concerning the Christmas story "But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." (Luke 2:19, NIV)
Second observation: Isn't that what we moms do? We treasure up each little event when it happens to our children! I remember all the plays, the awards, the sports events, the times when they were reciting some poem or verse and I was busting my buttons. This is not intended to be a slam to men, but they do not do this! I am always saying to my husband, "remember when one of our kids did this or that?" And usually it takes him some time to recall it. But we treasure these things ladies!
When Mary and Joseph dedicated Jesus at the temple in Luke 2:33 it says, "The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him." But notice the next verse, Simeon, a devout and righteous man, tells Mary, "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too" (Luke 2:34, NIV) A sword? Just like the one her son was pierced with upon his death? No, a hurt so deep that no one could touch! Perhaps some of you can relate to that.
Third observation: We moms desire others to see all the wonderful things that we see in our children and it hurts us when they don't! I wonder if Mary remembered Simeon's words as she saw her son so badly beaten and hanging on a cross?
Fast forward a few years, Jesus is now 12 years old. His parents have taken him to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. Jesus stays behind to speak in the temple but they were unaware that he had done so. When they finally find him, Mary says to him "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you."
Fourth observation: Did you ever lose a child for a minute in the store and panic? I mean they were right there and then they were not? Yeah, me too! It used to be that they would page you over the loud system and call you to the front of the store and as you went forward to claim your wayward child, you would feel like the biggest loser mom ever! But instead of feeling that way, Mary must have suddenly had an "ahh haa moment" and a glimpse of what the future of her son looked like. Jesus says to her "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?" Notice Mary's response in Luke 2:51 again the same phrase, "But his mother treasured all these things in her heart." Amazing isn't it?
Bear with me, I know this is lengthy today, but I am almost there. In Matthew 12:46, Mary and his brothers were wishing to speak with Jesus. Someone said "Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you." Jesus says, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" "For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother." My tendency as a mom is to say "Ouch, that hurt!" But we know that Jesus, due to his sinless nature, meant no disrespect to his mother. We see this to its fullest when he saw to her needs as he was suffering on the cross by giving her to his disciple John. (John 19:26-27) But he was making a point that God's plans are always greater.
Fifth observation: I have been having some conversations with moms of teenagers. It is hard for us as moms to realize that the boys and girls we have raised, are now being called to become the men and women that God have called them to be. Just as God has worked in us, He is working in them and we have to let them go.
As Mary saw he son hanging on the cross and witnessed "bullying" at its ultimate peak, I really don't know how she stood it! It causes me such pain and it breaks my heart just to think of it! My mind immediately goes to my own children and how I would feel. But God gave me a thought this past week that I can not get out of my mind. We do not know how long Mary lived. I imagine John took very good care of that woman! But as Mary was ushered into the gates of glory, she immediately sees her son, the one she carried, the one who she raised, the one she saw suffer and suffered for us all, sitting at the right hand of the Father! What a sight! I am sure she finally understood Gabriel's words to her that first day, "He will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." How does one respond to that? I don't know, but I imagine she just fell at His feet, as we all shall one day! What a wonderful conclusion to a simple woman used by God!
 |
| The Christmas card I designed for this year. |
No comments:
Post a Comment