Some Christians refer to her as the Mother of God, while
others oppose that term since the eternal
God has no parents. I personally
am touched by the Greek term “Theotokos”
which means “Bearer of God”. We are on solid ground biblically when we,
with Elizabeth, term Mary “the mother of our Lord”. (Luke 1:43)
Some hold Mary to be sinless while all should hold her to be
special. While the Scripture makes it
plain that she was a virgin she also identified with the need for God as
Savior. (Luke 1:47) Her virginity was
prophesied (Isaiah 7:14) and was honoring to the miraculous work of the Holy Spirit
in causing her to conceive the Christ Child. (Luke 1:35) Some hold to her continuing as a virgin her
entire life while others believe she and Joseph consummated their marriage and
even had other children. (Luke 2:7) We
are on solid ground biblically when we recognize and respect Mary as favored of
God and blessed among women! (Luke
1:30,42,48)Here in our text known as the “Magnificat”, Mary testified to her own sense of humility, even unworthiness , to be the mother of the Son of God. (Luke 1:35) Her sense of lowliness may have come from her needing a Savior, her nationality (at that time the Jews were conquered people enslaved by the Romans), her hometown of Nazareth (John 1:46), her gender (commentator William Barclay noted that the opinion of women in Palestine was low or even her age (many a Jewish girl was betrothed between the ages of 12 and 14). Whatever her perspective, we join with her that any favor or grace of God given to us is purely undeserved and truly amazing!
Mary also acknowledged that she was honored by God’s favor in her life. Just as a book is valued when the actual author has signed it, so we are greatly blessed when the signature of Jesus is put upon us! The Bible makes it clear that in Christ and in Him alone we broken and sinful people have been greatly exalted in the eyes of the Lord. (Ephesians 1:3-8)
Yes, there is truly something about Mary that is for all of us. Not only her personal honor as the mother of our Lord Jesus, but that she and we are examples of God reaching down to the lowly and lifting them up!
See you Sunday!
1.
Read
Genesis 3:15. Why do you think some
believe this could be alluding to Mary?
2.
What angel appeared to Mary? Luke 1:26
3.
Who were some of Mary’s relatives? Luke 1:13,17;
Matthew 11:14
4.
In Luke 1:51-53 what contrasts does Mary
describe to show the Lord blessing the last, least and lost?
5.
How does Mary see the bigger picture of the
coming of the Savior? Luke 1:54,55
6.
Can you find 3 attributes of God that Mary
praises in Luke 1:49,50?
7.
Some have noted Mary’s journey with her son as
being from the cradle to the Cross – why? Luke 2:7; John 19:25
8.
Can we find a possible reference to Mary in
Paul’s writings? Galatians 4:4
