I'm not sure you realize this or not, but the song you just sang has mighty words.
!
Help me to learn the important lesson of abiding in you.
Of course, that's a good prayer.
That's a mighty prayer.
That's an important prayer, but it's not always an easy prayer.
It doesn't always lead to easy things.
That the work that God has to do in our life so often leads us through hard places, hard things, and that's good for us.
So God, would you do that?
Would you draw us close?
Teach us to abide.
Well, Mary serves as a wonderful example of that lesson of welcoming the Lord Jesus to do that work for her.
And we're going to see that this morning.
These snapshots of her life as God is helping her to grow in faith and grow in relationship.
And we're going to see that through the testimony of her life as we look at it in the Gospel of Luke.
I would encourage you to turn there with me.
Luke chapter 1.
It's on page 855 if you're using the Pew Bible.
But I want to do say happy Mother's Day to those of you who are mothers here.
Those who have mothers.
I suppose that all of us can celebrate in some way Mother's Day.
But I also do want to acknowledge that Mother's Day, while it is a time of celebration for many of us because of the investment of our mothers in our lives.
And maybe God is giving you the joy of being a mother and being a part of that experience.
There are definitely blessings about Mother's Day.
But there's also challenges.
And I want to acknowledge just that it comes sometimes with mixed emotions.
Sometimes it comes with hardness.
Some of you who don't have moms that really treated you with the kind of grace that moms should administer.
And some of you perhaps have been trying to be a mom and have not been able to be a mom yet.
And I know that there's heartbreak in that.
There's pain in the experience of wanting to be a mom.
And God, for whatever reason, has withheld that.
And some of you, I know, are coming off of fresh experiences of losing a mother.
And that relationship was sweet.
But those memories of losing your mother are fresh and hard.
And I just want to acknowledge the joys and also some of the pains and heartbreak that comes with this day.
But we want to capitalize on this moment because motherhood is so essential, so special in the eyes of the Lord.
That God himself has gifted us with children.
And that is a blessing from him.
And we want to acknowledge not only the privilege but also the responsibility of motherhood.
And call mothers to the kind of life that is exemplary.
The kind of life that can be used by the Lord.
And really it's the kind of life for all of us.
That God is helping all of us to draw close.
Draw me close, Lord.
Teach me to abide.
Right?
So we're going to see this morning the joy of motherhood, I trust, as we look at these snapshots of Mary.
And seeing how God is moving her faith.
You see, Mary was blessed by God.
She was blessed because God blessed her.
She enjoyed the benefits of that blessing.
Not because she earned it, but because of God's grace on her life.
It is, by the way, a grace that God has made available to all of us in this room.
His grace extended through his son, Jesus.
And it is what Mary got to experience and enjoy herself.
So this morning we're not coming to talk about Mary because Mary in any way is meant to be revered.
Mary is meant to be worshipped in any way.
Mary would stand alone as this model mother that we need to follow after.
But she does set a pattern.
Not of drawing attention to herself, but of drawing attention to the Lord Jesus.
And that's why we look at Mary.
We look at Mary because Mary wants to direct our attention to Christ.
And it was through her obedience and faith and love and humility that we see in her someone to emulate.
Someone to enjoy and appreciate.
We've been working through the book of Acts.
And I want to just begin with this.
We're going to begin with this and end with this.
As we call attention to the work of God in Mary's life.
We see in Acts chapter 1 verse 14.
It says this.
Mary will have learned the joy of drawing close and being instructed on how to abide.
She moves really from being a mother to being a disciple.
She moves from being one who is in charge and in control to one who is devoted and worshipping.
And humble service and obedience to her Lord, her Savior, Jesus Christ.
We see her in the very first parts of the book of Acts.
God has done a work of transforming work in her life.
And we're going to see as we look through her life this example of humble faith in the Lord.
It is an innocent faith.
Sometimes it's a naive faith.
And of course it's a faith that needs to be instructed.
But Mary is willing to work through that process.
And we see that God is moving her and working in her life to help her to be the kind of disciple that is following after the Lord Jesus.
Mary is a mother worth following.
Not because she had it perfect.
Not because her life was all together.
But because in her brokenness, in humility, she sought to follow after the Lord.
We're going to see this morning six marks of Mary's life.
Six marks that help us see this faith that's working in her.
And it's a faith to emulate for ourselves as well.
We'll begin in Luke chapter 1.
We're going to see that she's a mother worth following because she receives God's word humbly.
She receives God's word humbly.
I'm going to draw that truth from Luke chapter 1 verse 38.
It says this,
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.
These words, while simple, demonstrate the resilience and the steadiness of her faith.
It was innocent.
It was new.
She was still young.
And yet, in the things that she had heard from the angel, she decided to press in and to trust.
To really understand what's going on.
Let's move back just a little further in our story.
And you remember, moving back to the beginning of this gospel, the gospel of Luke.
You remember that there had been 400 years of silence.
400 years without a prophetic voice.
400 years where God had not spoken to his people.
And yet, we see at the beginning parts of this story that while God seemed distant, his people were still faithful.
And the spotlight zooms in on this couple.
A couple.
Zachariah and Elizabeth.
And we see their faithfulness that's coming to the forefront.
We see that Zachariah is a priest.
And he's married to his wife Elizabeth.
He not only comes from a priestly line.
But we find that they're here in Jerusalem.
And Zachariah has been chosen.
A very unique responsibility.
He's been chosen by Lot to enter into the temple.
And to offer sacrifices.
To offer incense on the altar.
Under the Holy of Holies.
This is going to be a sign.
A symbol.
An illustration of the prayers that are ascending before the Lord.
And Zachariah will go into the temple.
And while he's offering incense.
He gets this message from the angel Gabriel.
Who says,
Your prayers have been heard.
And because of his prayers being heard.
He's going to have a son.
Now that might seem very extraordinary.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the story.
But those of you who know.
Zachariah and Elizabeth.
Are well beyond the age of childbearing.
It says,
On multiple occasions.
In the very first parts of the first chapter.
They are well advanced in years.
And not only that.
Elizabeth is barren.
Their time for having kids is over.
At least as far as they're concerned.
But now their prayers.
To have a baby.
Are finally going to be answered.
And six months later.
Now Gabriel will make another visit.
To a young woman named Mary.
We find that in verse 26.
It says this.
In the sixth month.
The angel Gabriel was sent from.
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 oh favored one.
The Lord is with you.
And the contrast that we find here.
In the text.
Are meant to be startling to us.
That Elizabeth.
Was well advanced in years.
And Mary is quite tender.
A family of notoriety.
Zachariah and Elizabeth.
And this young girl.
Of a humble estate.
No credentials.
A couple who had prayed for years.
To have a baby.
To no avail.
And Mary.
Who hadn't even considered.
About having a baby at all.
And here they are.
But there are similarities.
And the similarities.
Are also deliberate.
Both are visited by an angel.
Both are selected.
As significant representatives.
Of the Lord.
Both will have a baby.
Through impossible circumstances.
Both are meant to showcase.
The wonder of God's ability.
To answer promises.
In unique ways.
Find that Mary is betrothed.
To a man.
In this.
In this day and age.
The first century.
Marriage would.
Would consist of two distinct stages.
An engagement.
Which was called a betrothal.
And the actual.
Wedding itself.
And Gabriel will say to Mary.
Greetings.
Oh favored one.
The Lord is with you.
This word favored.
Is the word for grace.
See she's been chosen by God.
To enjoy the benefits.
Of God's particular.
And unique grace.
Not because she possessed.
A measure of holiness.
Not because she deserved it.
In any way.
But because it was.
In fact grace.
God's unmerited favor.
To her.
And what will follow.
Is this testimony.
Of Mary's.
Humble surrender.
To God's plan.
We find in.
In verse 30.
The angel said to her.
Do not be afraid.
For you have found favor.
With God.
And behold.
You will conceive.
In your womb.
And bear a son.
And you will 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'm only a virgin.
And the angel said to 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 is called barren.
For nothing.
Will be impossible.
With God.
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.
Two truths.
I want to just draw out briefly.
We see.
This.
Acknowledgement.
Of human impossibility.
Mary understands.
The impossibility.
Of this situation.
How can this be?
I don't know a man.
And then her response.
To the angels.
Reply.
The Holy Spirit.
Will come upon you.
And as a result.
Of this message.
From the angel.
The humility.
And the humble response.
The acceptance of Mary.
To say.
I.
Am the Lord's servant.
Let it be to me.
According to his word.
The Greek.
The word.
Bond servant.
Is the word for slave.
She has resigned herself.
To be available.
She has committed herself.
To the very word.
The.
This impossible word.
That was given to her.
By the angel.
She is a willing vessel.
The choice is up to him.
Not to me.
I am.
Willing to.
To do.
What God has.
Said is right.
I will do.
What the Lord.
Deems best.
We can easily imagine.
The kinds of challenges.
That Mary.
Must have.
Thought about.
In that moment.
What are my parents.
Going to think.
About this news.
What is Joseph.
Going to do.
When he hears.
That I'm pregnant.
What is the community.
Going to say.
When they find out.
That.
That there's a baby.
Growing inside.
God.
How in the world.
Am I going to be able.
To cope.
With all the pressure.
That's going to be upon me.
But her.
Humble response.
Demonstrates.
Mary's willing.
Submission.
To the word of God.
She hears the word.
She receives the word.
She willingly.
Accepts the word.
She doesn't push back.
She doesn't oppose.
She doesn't resist.
And Mary serves.
As an example.
To us.
Of hearing God's word.
In responding.
In humility.
Uncertainty.
She didn't say.
Or as.
As some of us.
Would say.
Well I did it my way.
I'm going to.
Work this out.
On my own.
I'm going to.
Figure this out.
No.
Mary.
Has a heart.
Of willing.
Surrender.
And while she.
May not understand.
All the implications.
Or all of the.
The challenges.
That she will face.
She says.
I'm willing.
I'm ready.
I'm available.
You see.
We may face times.
Of real uncertainty.
But.
But like Mary.
We need to.
Also receive.
God's word.
And trust.
That God's word.
Is not only true.
But God's word.
Is best.
And while we may not.
Understand the implications.
Of following.
And obeying God's word.
We press in.
We humbly accept.
We humbly.
Receive it.
See.
A godly mother.
Does not have to understand.
Everything.
She just has to.
Willingly.
Surrender.
Abandon herself.
To what God has said.
She is a mother.
Worth following.
Because she receives.
God's word humbly.
But she is also.
A mother worth following.
Because she rejoices.
In God's plan.
Sincerely.
We see that.
In the next scene.
Mary will make her way.
To her.
Relative.
Elizabeth.
We find that in.
Verse 39.
Of chapter 1.
In those days.
Mary arose.
And went.
With haste.
Into the hill country.
To a town.
In Judah.
You see.
Mary and Elizabeth.
Have so much in common.
They have so much to share.
So many joys.
So many experiences.
But what stands.
At the forefront.
Of.
Their attention.
Is joy.
In God.
Not fear.
Of rejoicing.
Not complaining.
Of faith.
Not worry.
Of confirmation.
About what God is doing.
And not abandoning themselves.
To confusion.
It's celebrating.
And blessing.
Not the shame.
Living in shame.
And Mary's praise.
Is especially Godward.
It's saturated.
In the scripture.
It's permeated.
In the truth.
Of God's word.
It's.
It's steeped.
In the messages.
Of the Lord.
And it comes through.
Her life.
We see.
That she's been meditating.
On the word of God.
And it spills out.
In praise.
To God.
Through song.
I want to give you.
An opportunity.
Just to listen.
To these.
Verses.
In song.
As we.
Just listen.
For a moment.
To this word.
From the seeds.
Of family worship.
My soul.
Thank you.
My spirit rejoices in God, my Savior.
My soul magnifies the Lord.
And my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior.
For He has looked on the humble estate of His servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed.
For He who is mighty has done great things.
For me and holy is His name.
My soul magnifies the Lord.
And my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior.
My soul magnifies the Lord.
And my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior.
And His mercy is for those who fear Him.
From generation to generation.
To generation.
My soul magnifies the Lord.
And my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior.
My soul magnifies the Lord.
And my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior.
My Savior.
Those words are drawn directly from our text today.
Can you hear the heart of Mary
exploding in praise to the Lord Jesus?
And that song that we find in Luke chapter 1
is drawn out of the scriptures.
There are as many as 31 different Old Testament passages
that Mary will go to to access.
The word of God has been pouring into her life.
And so when pressure comes,
what comes out is praise.
Praise to God through the word of God.
Mary is a mother worth following
because she rejoices in God's plan sincerely.
She's also a mother worth following
because she treasures God's word deeply.
Treasures God's word deeply.
That truth is drawn out of Luke chapter 2 verse 19.
This is where we see this.
It says,
But Mary treasured up all these things,
pondering them in her heart.
She treasured God's works deeply.
Well, as you know,
familiar with the story,
Mary and Joseph make their way to Bethlehem.
A census is being taken.
And this couple have come to be registered as a family.
Well, because Joseph was of the tribe of Judah
and because he was of the family of David,
and so they come to Bethlehem.
They come to Bethlehem as in response
to the census that had been taken.
We find in Luke chapter 2,
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus
that all the world should be registered.
This was the first registration
when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
And all went to be registered,
each to his own town.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee,
from the town of Nazareth,
to Judea,
to the city of David,
which is called Bethlehem
because he was of the house
in lineage of David,
to be registered with Mary,
his betrothed,
who was with child.
And while they were there,
the time came for her to give birth.
And she gave birth to her firstborn son,
wrapped him in swaddling clothes,
and laid him in a manger
because there was no place for them in the inn.
And in the same region,
there were shepherds out in the field,
keeping watch over their flocks by night.
And you know that that night scene
was punctuated by light.
It was punctuated by voices.
It was punctuated by speaking
and praising of God.
As the angels would say,
glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those
with whom he is pleased.
So the shepherds make their way to Bethlehem.
They go to see the baby.
They go to worship.
They make known the saying
that had been made known to them
by the angels.
And this is where we get to this statement
in Luke chapter 2, verse 19.
Mary treasured up all these things,
pondering them in her heart.
This word treasured means that she kept them.
It meant that she preserved them.
It meant that she did not let them go.
It meant that she allowed those truths,
those works of God,
to settle in.
She meditated on them.
She reflected on them.
She didn't just pass them by.
She understood that something significant
was taking place.
And she allowed the truths
and the wonder of the moment
to spill into her life
and to transform her thinking.
She did not dismiss or hold lightly
the great work of God
that was unfolding right in front of her.
And she pondered,
which means that she gave serious reflection.
It's the word for casting together,
putting all the pieces together.
She meditated on God's words and works.
She recognizes the promises
that God had given to her
just a few months earlier,
however impossible they seemed,
were unfolding in reality
right in front of her.
And as she sees this work of God,
this clear work of God,
she doesn't just let it pass her by.
She allows it to settle in.
Her heart is learning to wonder
at the greatness and glory of the Lord.
And this is a crucial lesson
for us to learn as well.
Because when we see
the clear hand of God,
it's essential,
it's vital for us,
not just to let those things pass us by,
but to let those truths,
those wonders,
those moments of God's greatness,
His power,
His answers to prayer,
the things that He does
that make us see
how wonderful He is,
to let those settle in.
Let those truths of God's faithfulness
take root in our life.
And let those seeds grow.
And as the roots
go down into our life,
and those roots of faith
begin to flourish,
it will be an anchor for us
in the storms
when the wind begins to blow,
when the crisis comes,
when the heartache hits hard,
the roots of faith
have anchored themselves
and provided strength
and stability
and endurance
and refuge and help.
See, Mary was a mother worth following
because she treasured
God's Word deeply.
But she also is a mother worth following
because she obeys God's will faithfully.
We find that in the next several verses,
this obedient heart.
But even before we get to verse 21,
we need to remind ourselves
of what happened
in the first part of chapter 2.
Well, why does Joseph and Mary
find themselves in Bethlehem
to begin with?
Well, it's because
they're following a human edict.
They're following a census.
They're obeying orders,
as it were.
This mandate for a census
from the Roman authorities,
these occupiers,
these oppressors.
And what are Mary and Joseph doing?
Not resisting.
Their hearts are compliant.
There's submission there.
This is inconvenient,
to say the least,
that Mary is in the hardest parts
of her pregnancy,
and she's about to give birth.
She's great with child.
This is not a convenient time
to pull up stakes
and move to a new place.
But they're trusting in God.
They believe in His sovereignty.
And because of their faithful obedience,
God places them exactly
where they're supposed to be
in Bethlehem.
This is the grand design,
what the prophets had promised,
what they had foretold.
And through their willing obedience,
Mary and Joseph find themselves
in the very center of God's will.
As we continue to see
their compliant hearts,
we see how faithful
and obedient they are
in verse 21.
At the end of eight days,
it says in verse 21,
when He was circumcised,
He was called Jesus.
The name given by the angel
because He was conceived
in the womb.
Well, why eight days?
Well, because the law of Moses
instructed that He would be circumcised
on the eighth day.
And this dedication ceremony
had two parts.
The first was circumcision,
which was the sign of the covenant.
It was the way for Jesus
to express that He was a part
of this covenant family,
this promised family.
He belonged to God.
And then we find in verse 22,
this second part,
this time of purification.
And when the time came
for their purification,
according to the law of Moses,
they brought Him up to Jerusalem
to present Him to the Lord.
And this would have happened
33 days after His circumcision,
on the 40th day after His birth.
And Mary and Joseph would go up again
to the temple to perform
the rites of purification
that we find in verse 23 and 24.
As it is written,
in the law of the Lord,
every male who opens the womb
shall be called holy to the Lord
and offer a sacrifice
according to what is said
in the law of the Lord,
a pair of turtle doves
or two young pigeons.
You see, their purification
required three elements.
First was Mary's purification,
which we find involves sacrifice
in the temple.
Also, the redemption
of the firstborn,
which involved giving five shekels
to the priest.
And then the consecration
of the firstborn son.
And this was a ritual
which would have dedicated
Jesus' life to God.
He belongs to God.
His life belongs to Him.
And this was not only good,
this was essential.
You remember that Jesus fulfilled
all the law and the prophets.
How did He do that?
Well, in the initial phases
of His life,
He did that because of the obedience
of Mary and Joseph.
That Jesus was passive in this.
Jesus was the one
who was brought to the temple.
Jesus is the one
who was circumcised.
Jesus is the one
who was consecrated to God.
We find in verse 39
how total their obedience was.
And when they had performed
everything according
to the law of the Lord,
they returned to Galilee
to their own town of Nazareth.
Their obedience was complete.
Their obligation was fulfilled.
And their obedience
wasn't momentary.
It was a consistent pattern
of their life,
which we see in Luke 2,
verses 41 and 42.
His parents went to Jerusalem
every year
at the feast of Passover.
And when He was 12 years old,
they went up according to custom.
This is a continuing pattern
of their obedience
in bringing Jesus to the temple
as was required by the law.
Every Passover,
the males were to come
to the temple
to carry out their religious duties.
Mothers,
don't underestimate
the importance
of obedience to God.
That even when
you don't understand
what the end,
what the finish line is,
there is a significance
even in ordinary obedience.
Mary and Joseph
did not always have angels.
They didn't always have shepherds.
They didn't always have songs.
But they did have God's Word.
And they faithfully
and humbly followed
God's Word.
And God used that instrumentally.
Not only to get them
where they needed to be,
but to fulfill His Word
in His Son,
Jesus Christ.
Mary is a mother
worth following
because she obeys
God's will faithfully.
But also because
she surrenders
to God's plan willingly.
We find that
in verse 34 of chapter 2.
And Simeon blesses them
and said to Mary,
his mother,
Behold,
this child is appointed
for the fall and rising
of many in Israel
and for a sign
that is opposed.
A sword will pierce
through your own soul also
so that thoughts
from many hearts
may be revealed.
There was lots of joys.
There was much joy
in the early parts
of Mary's life.
There was much rejoicing
over what God
had accomplished.
But Simeon offers
this warning,
Mary,
even in your obedience,
even in this son,
how amazing he is
and how God
will use him instrumentally
that you will not only
experience joy
but you'll also
experience pain.
There will be sorrow.
Mary,
there's going to be heartbreak.
Mary,
your own soul
is going to be pierced.
And I want you
to understand,
Mary,
that this is coming
but this is by design.
This is God's plan.
And it was their devotion.
Joseph's and Mary's devotion
that led them to this place.
It led them to the temple again.
And it was this time
of purification
that we see
where Simeon,
this devout
and religious man
who is coming
into the temple,
he recognizes Jesus
even though he's very young
and says,
ah,
finally,
the consolation,
the salvation
has finally come.
We see that in verse 29.
These are Simeon's words.
Lord,
now you are letting
your servant
depart in peace
according to your word
for my eyes have seen
your salvation
that you have prepared
in the presence
of all peoples
a light for revelation
to the Gentiles
and for glory
to your people Israel.
Jesus was the answer
to the world's problems.
He would bring salvation.
He would bring light
to the Gentiles.
He would usher in glory
for the nation Israel.
But it was going to come
at a cost.
It was going to come
with great heartache.
And with these words,
Mary ponders again.
She reflects again.
I believe she worships again.
We see that in verse 33.
And his father and mother
marveled at what was said.
They were amazed.
They were astonished.
They recognized that God
was instrumentally working
in this situation.
But the glory,
the glory that Jesus
would ultimately experience
and the nation
would ultimately experience
would come at a cost.
It wasn't going to come
the way they expected.
And this is the piece
that I want to emphasize
just in this moment.
We find that in verses 34 and 35.
Reading this again.
And Simeon blessed them
and said to Mary
and his mother,
Behold, this child
is appointed for the fallen
rising of many in Israel
and for a sign that is opposed
and a sword will pierce
through your own soul
so that thoughts
from many hearts
will be revealed.
Jesus' life in ministry
would be a stumbling block.
The people won't understand.
They won't appreciate.
Matter of fact,
the people will resist.
They will oppose.
And ultimately,
Jesus will be killed.
The nation's violent rejection
of Mary's son
would cause Mary to suffer.
Simeon would graphically picture
this pain and grief
she would endure
when her own soul
would be pierced through
because of how her son
was treated.
This prophecy hangs over
Mary's motherhood
from start to finish.
And the blessing
of carrying Christ
will culminate
in deep sorrow.
But salvation
must be purchased
through a price.
We know that the wages
of sin is death
but the gift of God
is eternal life
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
I wonder this morning,
do you know
this salvation?
Have you enjoyed
and experienced
the salvation
that was purchased
by our Lord Jesus Christ?
And while he was killed
and while he suffered
he extends to us
this offer,
this invitation for us
to enjoy the benefits
of this sacrifice
because of our sin.
We deserve the punishment
of death.
But Jesus,
having lived a righteous life,
came to offer himself
as a sacrifice for us
so that we can enjoy
the benefits of salvation.
Salvation that Simeon celebrates
celebrates but also
through the pain
that he also prophesies.
Mary needs to understand
that she can't manage
Christ's mission.
She can't determine
the Lord Jesus' hour.
She can't shield him
from suffering.
She cannot make his calling
serve her own comfort.
She needs to abandon herself
to the role that God
has placed on his son.
And she needs to endure
and accept
all of the personal cost
of hurt and suffering
that that entails.
Mary,
Mary was willing
to embrace this heartache
for the sake of her Savior.
Moms,
I know that you carry
a real emotional burden.
I know that moms tend
to feel the heartache the most.
And that's why it's important
for moms especially
to recognize
they have a faithful Savior.
They have a faithful God.
That Jesus isn't caught off guard.
Simeon is here.
He's pronouncing
exactly what will happen.
That Mary's own soul
will be pierced through.
And this did not take
Mary by surprise.
Shouldn't have taken Mary
by surprise.
We need to learn
the lesson of entrusting.
entrusting our children
to the Lord Jesus
because our children
ultimately belong to him.
So,
she's a mother worth following
because she surrenders
to God's plan
willingly.
And finally,
she's a mother worth following
because she embraces
God's purposes
humbly.
We see that
throughout the testimony
of her life.
Mary shows us
what it means
to learn and grow.
there is a working
that happens
in her heart.
A transformation
that takes place.
There is
the work
of the Lord
in fashioning her
in just the way
he wants her to be.
We see very early on
that she begins,
that Christ
begins to distance
himself from Mary.
It happens,
we see the first snapshot
of this
in the temple
in Luke chapter 2.
you remember
that Jesus
is 12 years old
and Mary and Joseph
go up to the temple
as they have done
traditionally
and they lose him.
He stays in the temple
while Mary and Joseph
make their way
back to Galilee
and by the time
they realize he's gone
they've got to make
their trek back
and it's three days
since they've seen him.
And Mary
will confront her son
there in the temple
and she'll say this,
son why
have you treated us
this way?
Why have you treated us
this way?
I think we can understand
a little bit
of that sympathy.
But Jesus
now begins
this process
of reshaping
the way
that Mary thinks.
He says this,
why were you
looking for me?
Did you not know
that I must be
in my father's house?
Mary needed
that gentle
and tender
confrontation.
She needed
to now begin
this process
of transition.
Transitioning
from being the mom
who was in control
to being
now a disciple
who was
submissive
to her savior.
We find another
event that takes place
in John chapter 2
at this wedding feast
in Cana.
And Mary
is there again.
There's a wedding
that's happening
and they've run
out of wine.
And Mary
makes this request.
She says this,
Jesus,
they have no wine.
And maybe you remember
how Jesus responds.
He says this,
woman,
what does this
have to do
with me?
My hour
has not yet come.
Now this was
a response
of respect.
This is a response
of gentleness.
He honored
his mother
through this process
but he wanted
to help address
her appropriately.
no longer
as mother
but now
recognizing
that she was
a woman.
And he addresses
her in a way
that helps
to indicate
that he's speaking
to her
but he has set
aside
this unique
role
because he has
a greater purpose
in mind.
He's serving
the father.
It's the father's time.
My hour
has not yet come.
And throughout
Jesus' ministry
Mary is needing
to learn
these lessons
over and over again.
We find in Mark
chapter 3
verse 20
it says
speaking of Jesus
then he went home
and the crowd
gathered again
so they could not
even eat
and when his family
heard
they went out
to seize him
for they were saying
he is out of his mind.
This is a mother's heart.
She recognizes
her son
is experiencing
a lot of
the crush
of the crowds
the overwhelming
aspects of ministry.
She sees that
he can't even
get a good
meal
and addressing
that she seeks
to go
and fetch him.
She didn't understand
really
who was in control
whose timing
that Jesus
whose instructions
Jesus was following.
And then in Mark
chapter 3
verse 31
we see this
his mother
and brothers
came
and standing
outside
they sent
to him
and called
to him
and a crowd
was sitting
around him
and they said
to him
your mother
and your brothers
are outside
seeking you
and he answered
them
who are my mother
and my brothers
and looking about
at those who sat
around him
he said
here are my mother
my brothers
for whoever does
the will of God
he is my brother
and sister
and mother.
Jesus
is trying to
reconfigure
expectation
he is trying
to help
clarify
identity
he wants
to transform
help realign
Mary's heart
to recognize
who he really
is.
There is learning
moments
that Mary
needs to grow
in her perspective
he wasn't her
little boy
anymore
and she needed
to recognize
that Jesus
in fact
was her Lord
and her Savior
and so when we
come to Acts
chapter 1
right back
where we started
we see now
the culmination
of that work
of God
in her heart
to help her
to draw her
close
into teaching
her
how to abide
that was the goal
Acts chapter 1
verses 13 and 14
and when
they had entered
they went up
to the upper room
where they were
staying
Peter and John
and James and Andrew
Philip and Thomas
Bartholomew
and Matthew
James the son
of Elpheus
and Simon the Zelliot
and Judas
the son
of James
all these
with one accord
were devoting
themselves to prayer
together with the woman
and Mary
Mary
the mother of Jesus
and his brothers
Mary
is finally in a place
of believing
Mary is finally
in a spot
of understanding
Mary has come
to a place
she's
her heart
has been transformed
her faith
is now
demonstrating
the
confession
of who Jesus
really is
she's come
to behold him
as Lord and Savior
not just as son
and that's where
we must all
eventually come
we must all
eventually come
to the place
of recognizing
the true identity
of who Jesus is
recognizing
not just for what
we can get out of him
or what we can tell him
to do
but recognizing
that he is worthy
of our worship
he is worthy
of our obedience
he is worthy
of our devotion
we must embrace him
embrace him
in totality
so we learn
from Mary
we learn from her
example of drawing
close
and teaching us
how to abide
may the Lord
help us
to learn these
lessons
and be instructed
as well
just like Mary
was
Father we thank you
thank you for this
example
this example
that we get
of Mary
her innocent
and sometimes
naive
faith and obedience
in you
but she was
a work in progress
her heart
was pliable
and tender
and willing
to be instructed
thank you for her
example
Lord may
may we follow
in her steps
as we're following
especially
after the steps
of our Savior
our Lord Jesus Christ
who sets the ultimate
and perfect example
who is worthy
of our worship
and our praise
and so Lord
I pray that you
would go before us
this week
and that you
would tune our hearts
to do that
to sing your praise
in Jesus name
Amen
God bless you
have a great
Mother's Day
thanks for coming
that you
have a great
that you
have a great
love
that you
have a great
love
that you
love
that you
have a great
love
that you
have a great
that you
have a great
love
that you
have a great
love
that you
have a great
love
that you
have a great
love