Mother's Day & Mary

Now that our series with 1 Cor 13 is over, it is back to normal on this blog.  As a special treat, here is a first look at what I plan to preach this coming Sunday, Mothers' Day. I doubt that I'll preach all six points...but you never know.

First mention of Mary is in Matthew 1v16 – that long list of names.

That list is important for several reasons, but two I particularly want to highlight this morning;

1. God uses people; ordinary, everyday people.
2. God plans.

So here is this young lady Mary, possible only 15 years old (although we do not know), finding herself unexpectedly caught-up in the plan of God.  We find this spelt out in Luke 1 v30 “But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favour with God.”  Literally in Greek that reads “you have found grace with God.”  Of course you don’t find grace…it finds you! 

So what can we learn from Mary about the sort of person God is wanting to make us:

1. Mary had an Obedient Heart

Literally she says “Behold, the slave of the Lord .” v38  & then “Be it done to me according to your word.”

2. Mary had a Heart of Humility

Mary comes from the same Hebrew root as the name Miriam and it means ‘Exalted’.  Indeed, what did the Angels say, “Favoured one”.

V46 “Mary [Exalted] said, ‘My soul exalts the Lord…’”

V48 “From now on all generations will count me….blessed.”

Why? “…for the Mighty One has done great things.” (v49)

3. Mary had a Heart full of Praise

Luke 1 v46-56 The Magnificat

Now whatever else this passage is, it is most certainly a great hymn of praise and worship to God.

Mary says:

• She exalts the Lord (v46) & rejoices in God (v47)
• He is the Mighty One (v49), the Lord (v46) and God her Saviour (v47)
• He is Holy (v49), Merciful (v50 & 55), & Faithful (v54bf)
• He intervenes in the affairs of mankind, performing acts of social & political justice (v51-53).

4. Mary was well versed in the Scriptures

Her prayer is modelled on that of Hannah in 1 Sam 2v1-10, which accompanied the dedication of her young son Samuel to the Lord’s service.  Mary’s hymn of praise also seems to borrow from or reflect no fewer than a dozen other OT passages.  Of course, all this may have been solely by the direct inspiration of the Spirit.  But it is just as possible that when the Holy Spirit wanted to inspire to such praise, He had a rich treasury of God’s Word hidden within Mary’s heart to draw upon. 

Now if a humble, teenage girl can read, treasure, and remember Scripture, what about us? 

5. Mary had a Reflective Heart

“But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” Luke 2v19

“But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.” Luke 2v51b

6. Mary had a Believing Heart.

“Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!" Luke 1v45

“They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.” Acts 1v14

But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.” Gal 4v4f

Even Mary needed a Saviour. And so do you…and so do I.