One of my favorite Christmas songs is "Mary did you know?". The writer wonders if Mary knew the full scope of the miracle child she would give birth to. Did she know he would be a healer? That he would have power over nature. That he would restore relationships. That his life and death would galvanize a nation to seek a new way of finding God. He would give them a new way of interpreting the Holy Scriptures. A new way of leading by serving. What did she know?
She knew that he was a miracle from God.
She knew that she was to name him Jesus.
She knew that he would be great.
She knew that he would be called "Son of the Highest".
She knew that he was to be given the throne of David his father.
She knew that he would reign over the house of Jacob for the ages.
She knew that his kingdom would not end.
All of this Gabriel the angel told her. This is all the angel Gabriel told her. He didn't tell her about the miracles her son would do. He didn't tell her of the political unrest that would follow him. Even cause his death. He didn't tell her how long her son would live. Or how horrible his death would be.
When each of my children was born I was in awe of the miracle of birth and life. I was in awe of each little life. My oldest son was four months old his first Christmas. I remember that as I rocked him and fed him I wondered what his life would be like. Where would he go? What would he do? Could I raise him in such a way that he would make a difference in this world. These same questions I had pondered with the girls but this time was a little different.
As we rocked and listened to Christmas songs I thought of Mary. Had she experienced the same questions? Probably. At what point did she realize just how special her son was? Did things come easily for him? I imagined her saying something like: "Jesus, please go pick up your Father's tools." and him answering: "Which Father? Remember Mama, I am the One who created the world. My tools are the words I speak." Her response: "Stop teasing me and go help your father Joseph!"
At what point did she know him as God?
She believed from the beginning. She accepted Gabriel's proclamation over her and the child to be. At the wedding of Cana she proves her faith in him, by telling the servants to do whatever he told them to do. I love his gentle chiding of her. "Woman, it's not my time yet". Still she tells the servants to obey him. That's a mother's love and faith for you.
I think of my own sons. I know what their gifts and talents are. I know what their potential is. And I believe they can and will do great things for God and mankind. There have been times I have told others "not to worry my son will take care of it". Whatever "it" is. Fully believing that he could and would take care of the "it". There have also been times when he has chided me for not asking him if he felt that he could do whatever I had obligated him to do. I relate to the mother/son exchange between Mary and Jesus at that wedding. The love and faith.
What a unique and marvelous place to be. Halfway between the Old Testament promise of a Saviour and the New Testament fulfillment of those promises. Mary, what a wonder you were. Mary, we still recognize and proclaim: "Blessed are you among women!"
Luke 1: 30 - 38
30And the angel said to her, Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found favour with God;
She knew that he was a miracle from God.
She knew that she was to name him Jesus.
She knew that he would be great.
She knew that he would be called "Son of the Highest".
She knew that he was to be given the throne of David his father.
She knew that he would reign over the house of Jacob for the ages.
She knew that his kingdom would not end.
All of this Gabriel the angel told her. This is all the angel Gabriel told her. He didn't tell her about the miracles her son would do. He didn't tell her of the political unrest that would follow him. Even cause his death. He didn't tell her how long her son would live. Or how horrible his death would be.
When each of my children was born I was in awe of the miracle of birth and life. I was in awe of each little life. My oldest son was four months old his first Christmas. I remember that as I rocked him and fed him I wondered what his life would be like. Where would he go? What would he do? Could I raise him in such a way that he would make a difference in this world. These same questions I had pondered with the girls but this time was a little different.
As we rocked and listened to Christmas songs I thought of Mary. Had she experienced the same questions? Probably. At what point did she realize just how special her son was? Did things come easily for him? I imagined her saying something like: "Jesus, please go pick up your Father's tools." and him answering: "Which Father? Remember Mama, I am the One who created the world. My tools are the words I speak." Her response: "Stop teasing me and go help your father Joseph!"
At what point did she know him as God?
She believed from the beginning. She accepted Gabriel's proclamation over her and the child to be. At the wedding of Cana she proves her faith in him, by telling the servants to do whatever he told them to do. I love his gentle chiding of her. "Woman, it's not my time yet". Still she tells the servants to obey him. That's a mother's love and faith for you.
I think of my own sons. I know what their gifts and talents are. I know what their potential is. And I believe they can and will do great things for God and mankind. There have been times I have told others "not to worry my son will take care of it". Whatever "it" is. Fully believing that he could and would take care of the "it". There have also been times when he has chided me for not asking him if he felt that he could do whatever I had obligated him to do. I relate to the mother/son exchange between Mary and Jesus at that wedding. The love and faith.
What a unique and marvelous place to be. Halfway between the Old Testament promise of a Saviour and the New Testament fulfillment of those promises. Mary, what a wonder you were. Mary, we still recognize and proclaim: "Blessed are you among women!"
Luke 1: 30 - 38
30And the angel said to her, Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found favour with God;
31and behold, thou shalt conceive in the womb and bear a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus.
32*He* shall be great, and shall be called Son of [the] Highest; and [the] Lord God shall give him the throne of David his father;
33and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for the ages, and of his kingdom there shall not be an end.
34But Mary said to the angel, How shall this be, since I know not a man?
35And the angel answering said to her, [The] Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and power of [the] Highest overshadow thee, wherefore the holy thing also which shall be born shall be called Son of God.
36And behold, Elizabeth, thy kinswoman, she also has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month to her that was called barren:
37for nothing shall be impossible with God.
38And Mary said, Behold the bondmaid of [the] Lord; be it to me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. 
No comments:
Post a Comment