OceanSide church of Christ

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MARY, THE MOTHER OF JESUS

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.     Sometimes seemingly insignificant people are called upon to do very significant things.

1.       A despised brother who rises to second in command in Egypt and saves his people (Joseph).

2.       A young shepherd lad who is anointed to be a great king in Israel (David).

3.       A young virgin who is selected to be the queen of Persia and saves her people (Esther).

 

B.      In this lesson, we want to talk about another seemingly insignificant woman who was chosen to become a mother.

1.       The woman’s name is Mary.

2.       She was selected to become the mother of Jesus.

 

I.                    HER INSIGNIFICANCE

 

A.     She was of the tribe of Judah (Luke 3:33).

 

B.      She lived in the town of Nazareth in Galilee (Luke 1:26).

1.       One described Nazareth with these words:  “It was a nondescript dot on the map with not much to offer…” (ANCIENT NAZARETH, HOME TOWN OF JESUS, with Bible study questions (jesus-story.net).

2.       One estimate of the population of Nazareth in the first century was 400.

 

C.     She was espoused to a man by the name of Joseph (Matt. 1:18; Luke 1:27).

 

To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.

 

1.       Joseph was also from the tribe of Judah (Matt. 1:2).

2.       Joseph was a carpenter (Matt. 13:55).

3.       They were not rich as indicated by the sacrifice they made at the temple at the time of Jesus’ birth (Luke 2:24).

 

D.     Without her connection to Jesus, Mary would not have been known to us.  She would have been just another Jewish wife among thousands in Israel.

 

E.      LESSON:  Most women today are living lives of seeming insignificance.  They are not known to the world.  They do not believe that they ever will be known in a public way.

 

II.                 HER EXALTATION

 

A.     The appearance of an angel (Luke 1:26-28)

 

And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, name Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.  And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee:  blessed art thou among women.

 

1.       Angels did not appear unto very many individuals.

2.       Angels certainly did not appear to women very often.

a.       The angel of the Lord appeared to Hagar when she was cast out by Sarah (Gen. 16:7).

b.      The angel of the Lord appeared to Manoah’s wife (Jgs. 13:3).

3.       The angel who appeared to Mary is Gabriel. 

a.       He is one of two named angels in the Bible.  The other named angel is Michael.

b.      He has appeared to two other people.

1)      Daniel, the prophet (Dan. 8:16)

2)      Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist (Luke 1:19)

4.       She was told she was “highly favoured” and that she was “blessed” among women.

a.       These were not words that she had anticipated that day.

b.      Luke 1:29 tells us that she was “troubled at his saying.”

1)      Strong (1298):  to disturb wholly, agitate (with alarm)

2)      Thayer:  to agitate greatly

3)      Vine:  to agitate greatly

c.       Certainly, she would want to know “how” she was favored and blessed.

 

B.      The announcement of the birth of a Son (Luke 1:31-33, 35)

 

And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.  He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord shall give unto him the throne of his father David:  and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end…The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the highest shall overshadow thee:  therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

 

1.       Mary was told by Gabriel that she was soon to become the mother of the expected Messiah of Israel.

a.       Four thousand years had passed since the prophecy given in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:15).

b.      Around two thousand years has passed since Abraham was told that in his seed all families of the earth would be blessed (Gen. 12:1-3).

c.       Now, out of all the woman who lived in Israel, Mary was selected to give birth to the Christ.

2.       The whole announcement is overwhelming.

a.       A virgin birth

b.      A birth facilitated by the Holy Spirit

c.       He would be called great.

d.      He would be called the Son of the Highest and the Son of God.

e.       He would be a king and sit on David’s throne ruling over the house of Jacob

 

C.     The actualization of the promise (Luke 2:6-7)

 

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.  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.

 

1.       Jesus was born in a normal manner.

2.       When He was born, he was just a little baby like any other baby.

3.       As Mary held, nursed, and ministered to this little baby, how often did she think:  “I am holding the Christ.  I am holding the Son of God.  I am holding the King of the Jews.”

 

 

III.              HER EXAMPLE

 

A.     Mary is a very unique example of a first-time mother.  As we examine her life with Jesus, there are several things that all mothers can use as a model for their lives.

 

B.      Areas of emulate:

1.       Deep trust in God

a.       Can you imagine Mary having to trust God regarding the virgin birth?

1)      Numerous issues could arise:

a)      Her relationship with Joseph.  We know this almost came to an end (Matt.1:18-19).

b)      How to explain this to her parents.

c)       What would her community have to say about this matter?

2)      She had to trust God with both the pregnancy, the reactions, and the outcome.

b.      Trusting God in difficult times is not always easy to do.  The psalmist exhorts us to keep our trust in God (Ps. 37:5-7a).

 

Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.  And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.  Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him…

 

2.       Obedience to God in all things.

a.       Mary’s obedience is seen in several ways.

1)      She named the child Jesus as she was commanded (Luke 2:21; Matt. 1:25).

2)      She circumcised Jesus according to the manner of the Law (Luke 2:21).

 

And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcision of the child…

 

3)      She purified herself according to the law and offered a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law (Luke 2:22-24).

4)      She “went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast” (Luke 2:42).

5)      She made sure Jesus was properly trained as the Law required (Deut. 6:6-7; Luke 2:52).

 

And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

 

b.      Obedience to God is a vital practice for all mothers.

1)      1 Samuel 15:22

 

…Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

 

2)      Mary set an example before her precious Son.  He definitely followed in her footsteps (John 14:31).

 

…and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do.

 

3.       Mary endured with her Son.

a.       To say that Jesus was unique is an understatement. 

1)      His claims were unique.

2)      His teachings were unique.

3)      His works were unique.

4)      His life was unique.

5)      His mission was unique.

6)      NOTE:  His uniqueness did not go over well with the Jewish leaders of His day.  In fact, they became His bitter enemies.

b.      Mary was always there for Jesus and supporting Him.

1)      When Jesus was twelve and was found at the temple, He told His parents that He must be about His Father’s business.  Luke 2:51 tells us:  “…but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.”

2)      When Mary and Jesus were at the wedding feast in Cana of Galilee, Mary was the one who solicited the help of Jesus.  She told the servants:  “Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it” (John 2:5).

3)      When Jesus was crucified, Mary was not far away.  No, she stood at the foot of the cross close enough for Jesus to be able to speak to her (John 19:26).

 

…he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!

 

4)      After our Lord’s resurrection and ascension, the apostles went to Jerusalem to await the promise from on high.  Mary was part of that crowd gather in the upper room (Acts 1:14).

 

These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

 

c.       Moms, our children need us to support them.

1)      They will go through hard times.

They will become discouraged.

They need to know that we are in their corner.

2)      NOTE:  We cannot and should not support them in their sins.  In those times, we encourage them to repent.  We are supporting their spiritual lives and seek to save their souls in those times.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.     Because Mary was chosen to be the mother of Jesus, many have exalted her higher than God exalted her.

1.       They tell us she never had another child.

2.       They tell us that she never sinned.

3.       They tell us that she is at the right hand of Christ right now as a mediator.

4.       They tell us that we can petition her in prayer.

5.       They tell us that she is worthy of worship and adoration.

 

B.      Mary was just a human being who had great favor and grave responsibilities placed upon her. 

 

C.     When Mary went to the home of Elisabeth, she made an interesting statement that has been overlooked by many (Luke 1:46-47).

 

And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

 

1.       Mary admits she was a sinner.

2.       How do we know?  She stood in need of a Savior.

 

D.     All mothers stand in need of a Savior.  Salvation can only be obtained through one (Acts 4:12).