Hannah: A portrait of feminine grace & Mary: Blessed Among Women

DUE TO HECTIC SCHEDULES, I AM A FEW WEEKS BEHIND ON POSTING THIS STUDY AND FOR THAT I AM TRULY SORRY. PLEASE NOTE:  THERE ARE 2 LESSONS POSTED TODAY, Hannah and Mary BOTH ARE EXTRAORDINARY!  PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO READ AND WE WILL RESUME ON SCHEDULE FROM HERE ON OUT!  

THANKS FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Last week we discussed the life of Ruth, the Cinderella of the bible whose “fairy godmother” was none other than God himself! 

We were reminded that:

• God has a plan, even when we think we're in the midst of a mess!  Remember the song, "God will make a way, when there seems to be no way, he works in ways we cannot see, He will make a way for me!"
• God is faithful and is faithful to our faithfulness!  We cannot outgive him!

What surprised you about the “Ruth” study?  What did you take from it; did anything stick for you this week?

This week we talked about Hannah:  A portrait of feminine grace

How do you recall Hannah?

Hannah is the last of the Old Testament women we will talk about in this study.  She comes into the picture immediately following the book of Ruth in the first chapter of 1 Samuel (her son… naturally would start with her J)

Hannah was the “first” wife of Elkanah (who we affectionately referred to as "Elike" for mis-pronunciations sake! Feel free as you read to butcher his name like we did!) who we’re introduced to as an Ephraimite which tells us where they made their home – in the land of Ephraim, but he himself was a Levite – a Kohathitie to be exact, the same clan Moses and Aaron came from. The Levites were one of the twelve tribes of Israel and the only one that were not specifically given designated land to live in.  They were dispersed among the land because they were the priestly tribe – and the Lord himself was their inheritance.

Numbers 18:20

20 The LORD said to Aaron, “You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any share among them; I am your share and your inheritance among the Israelites.

Why does this matter?  

It helps us to understand their commitment to the temple and their closeness to God in a time where that wasn’t the social norm in Israel.  Each year for a few weeks time every Levite man would take time serving in the tabernacle and in those days, the tabernacle was in Shiloh

So naturally, Elkhanah would have followed suit.  Scripture portrays them as a devout family, and mentions that Elkhanah made regular trips to Shiloh to sacrifice.

Elkanah was married to two women.  Hannah and Peninnah. Who the bible calls Hannah’s rival – and rival she was!  The term sister wives was NOT one that you would use to describe this bigamous relationship.  Hannah was the one that Elkhanah loved deeply which only made the rivalry worse.  We get a real clear picture from these examples of why God intended for marriage to be a one on one deal all along!  But why was there a second wife after Hannah if Elkhanah loved her so much?  The same reason why so many of these men of the time had second wives – heirs.

Hannah’s name means grace.  It’s a fitting description for the woman who became the model of the grace of motherhood.  Whose life snapshot is the profile of a godly mother.  Funny since she also bared the anguish of barrenness just like Sarah. Hannah’s life often mirrored the original matriarch, Sarah. Like Sarah she understood the stress and heartache of a bigamous husband/marriage relationship, and also like Sarah, she received the blessing of a child – one that would change the course of history.  Most of all, she mirrored Sarah’s amazing faith and perseverance. 

She also like Sarah because of her barrenness was the first wife to another wife who could bear children/heirs for “their” husband and who was teased, poked and provoked because of it.  The stress and burden of this was often too much to bear and would cry from the depths of her heart and was known to be so depressed sometimes she couldn’t even eat.

Have you ever been at a point of depression where that was true for you?  Or been so tormented by something or someone that this kind of behavior was true for you?

Let’s read the biblical account:

1^st Samuel 1 – 2:10

 ¹ There was a certain man from Ramathaim, a Zuphite^[a] from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. ² He had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.

 ³ Year after year this man went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to the LORD Almighty at Shiloh, where Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were priests of the LORD. ⁴ Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters. ⁵ But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the LORD had closed her womb. ⁶ Because the LORD had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her.⁷ This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the LORD, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat. ⁸ Her husband Elkanah would say to her, “Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don’t you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?”

 ⁹ Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his chair by the doorpost of the LORD’s house. ¹⁰ In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the LORD, weeping bitterly. ¹¹ And she made a vow, saying, “LORD Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.”

 ¹² As she kept on praying to the LORD, Eli observed her mouth. ¹³ Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk ¹⁴ and said to her, “How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine.”

 ¹⁵ “Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the LORD. ¹⁶ Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.”

 ¹⁷ Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.”

 ¹⁸ She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.

 ¹⁹ Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the LORD and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah made love to his wife Hannah, and the LORD remembered her. ²⁰ So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel,^[b] saying, “Because I asked the LORD for him.”

Hannah Dedicates Samuel

 ²¹ When her husband Elkanah went up with all his family to offer the annual sacrifice to the LORD and to fulfill his vow, ²² Hannah did not go. She said to her husband, “After the boy is weaned, I will take him and present him before the LORD, and he will live there always.”^[c]

 ²³ “Do what seems best to you,” her husband Elkanah told her. “Stay here until you have weaned him; only may the LORD make good his^[d] word.” So the woman stayed at home and nursed her son until she had weaned him.

 ²⁴ After he was weaned, she took the boy with her, young as he was, along with a three-year-old bull,^[e]an ephah^[f] of flour and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh. ²⁵ When the bull had been sacrificed, they brought the boy to Eli, ²⁶ and she said to him, “Pardon me, my lord. As surely as you live, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD. ²⁷ I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. ²⁸ So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD.” And he worshiped the LORD there.

Hannah’s Prayer

 ¹ Then Hannah prayed and said:

   “My heart rejoices in the LORD; 

   in the LORD my horn^[a] is lifted high. 

My mouth boasts over my enemies, 

   for I delight in your deliverance.

 ² “There is no one holy like the LORD; 

   there is no one besides you; 

   there is no Rock like our God.

 ³ “Do not keep talking so proudly 

   or let your mouth speak such arrogance, 

for the LORD is a God who knows, 

   and by him deeds are weighed.

 ⁴ “The bows of the warriors are broken, 

   but those who stumbled are armed with strength. 

⁵ Those who were full hire themselves out for food, 

   but those who were hungry are hungry no more. 

She who was barren has borne seven children, 

   but she who has had many sons pines away.

 ⁶ “The LORD brings death and makes alive; 

   he brings down to the grave and raises up. 

⁷ The LORD sends poverty and wealth; 

   he humbles and he exalts. 

⁸ He raises the poor from the dust 

   and lifts the needy from the ash heap; 

he seats them with princes 

   and has them inherit a throne of honor.

   “For the foundations of the earth are the LORD’s; 

   on them he has set the world. 

⁹ He will guard the feet of his faithful servants, 

   but the wicked will be silenced in the place of darkness.

   “It is not by strength that one prevails; 

 ¹⁰ those who oppose the LORD will be broken. 

The Most High will thunder from heaven; 

   the LORD will judge the ends of the earth.

   “He will give strength to his king 

   and exalt the horn of his anointed.”

 ¹¹ Then Elkanah went home to Ramah, but the boy ministered before the LORD under Eli the priest.

Hannah longed to be a mother and she knew that children were a gift from God just as it says in

Psalm 127:3 

3 Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him.

Let’s pause a moment.  Hannah’s life story is centered around her motherhood – so it is a topic we’ll discuss today specifically but let’s not forget the bible does address that some women will or should remain single and/or without children by God’s providence.

1^st Corinthians 7:8-9

8 Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do.

Those that the Lord blesses with this responsibility should take it seriously.  In Titus 2:4, the Greek word philoteknos appears in reference to mothers loving their children. This word represents a special kind of “mother love.” The idea that flows out of this word is that of caring for our children, nurturing them, affectionately embracing them, meeting their needs, and tenderly befriending each one as a unique gift from the hand of God.  We all have mothers and fulfill mothering/nurturing duties in our everyday lives with those we know and love and care for.  Whether you are a biological mother, adoptive mother, spiritual mother or super auntie we can all grasp these concepts we learn from the biblical examples of motherhood.

Several things are commanded of Christian mothers in God’s Word:

• Availabilitymorning, noon, and night (Deuteronomy 6:6-7)
  
• Involvementinteracting, discussing, thinking, and processing life together (Ephesians 6:4)
  
• Teachingthe Scriptures and a biblical worldview (Psalm 78:5-6; Deuteronomy 4:10; Ephesians 6:4)
  
• Traininghelping a child to develop skills and discover his/her strengths (Proverbs 22:6) and spiritual gifts (Romans 12:3-8)
  
• Disciplineteaching the fear of the Lord, drawing the line consistently, lovingly, firmly (Ephesians 6:4; Hebrews 12:5-11; Proverbs 13:24; 19:18; 22:15; 23:13-14; 29:15-17)
  
• Nurtureproviding an environment of constant verbal support, freedom to fail, acceptance, affection, unconditional love (Titus 2:4; 2 Timothy 1:7; Ephesians 4:29-32; 5:1-2; Galatians 5:22; 1 Peter 3:8-9)
  
• Modeling with Integrityliving what you say, being a model from which a child can learn by “catching” the essence of godly living (Deuteronomy 4:9,  Proverbs 10:9; 11:3; Psalm 37:18,

Hannah is a great reminder that mothers are the makers of men and the architects of the next generation.  God used Hannah in a mighty way when he answered her earnest prayer.  He used her son Samuel to turn back the spiritual darkness and backsliding in Israel.  He was the man who would step in and fill the leadership void and his character bore the clear stamp of his mothers influence even though he left home at an early age.

What was his mothers influence? What made Hannah so extraordinary?  In a time of spiritual darkness, Hannah stood out as a ray of light. Not only was she the quintessential godly mother and wife, but in a spiritually cold generation she exemplified patience, prayerfulness, faith, meekness, submission, spiritual devotion and motherly love.

And it can be summed up in three simple categories:

Love for her Husband:

Huh?!  Haha!  J  Yup that’s right.  She was an extraordinary mother in part because she was loved by her husband and she loved him.  That is the way God arranged it after all.  MacArthur says:  The love between a husband and wife is the real key to a thriving family.  A healthy home environment cannot be exclusively built on the parents’ love for their children.  Properly situated families have marriage as the center; families shouldn’t revolve around the children. 

All parents should understand this lesson:

What you communicate to your children through your marital relationship will stay with them for the rest of their lives.  By watching how a father and mother treat one another, they will learn the most fundamental lessons of life – love, self sacrifice, integrity, virtue, sin, sympathy, compassion, understanding and forgiveness.  Whatever you teach them about those things, right or wrong, is planted deep within their hearts.

We’re told in the bible so many times about how important this relationship is. 

Ephesians 5:22 – 28

²² Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. ²³ For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. ²⁴ Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

 ²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her ²⁶ to make her holy, cleansing^[a] her by the washing with water through the word, ²⁷ and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. ²⁸ In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.

Colossians 3:18-20

18 Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.  19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.   20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

As the “representative” team for God in raising children especially – nurturing a marriage relationship is paramount because of the examples you provide for your kids in your interactions and because as we all know from raising kids – it’s important to provide a united front for discipline and direction.

There are so many ways we can do this and make sure we put this relationship as priority under God, but one key way we can do this is by worshiping together and allowing it to be a marriage of 3!  (and not with another woman! Ha!) We do know that Elkhanah and Hannah worshiped together often, which must have been the way their love was able to sustain through such adversity.

Love for God:

Hannah obviously had a deep and abiding love for God.  She was a devout woman whose focus was on Godly things and not earthly things.  A significant example is that although in her humanness she was broken-hearted over her barrenness, she never became a complainer or a nag.  There’s no suggestion that she ever grumbled against God, instead we see her humbly come before God in prayer and submission – pouring her heart out rather than complaining or looking for justice in her case.  A beautiful characteristic of her was her constant, steadfast faith.

The value of persisitant and passionate prayer is one of the central lessons we take from Hannah’s life.  Her faith and relationship with God wasn’t one born out of ceremonial customs.  It was one born from pure relationship, real and true.   One even Eli the head priest didn’t understand from looking in on and when he questioned her with accusations she didn’t respond harshly as maybe you or I might when accused by a brother or sister in Christ.  She didn’t shame him or get haughty.  Her response was one of grace and humility… of course she was horrified, but she merely explained herself and went about her way.

Another characterisitic is also revealed when we see in verse 18 that following praying, she rose , went away and ate.  She cast her WHOLE burden on God and left it at the alter.  She was content leaving the matter in his hands which shows us how genuine and patient her faith truly was.  .

Psalm 55:22  and 1 Peter 5-6 instruct us to do just that:

²² Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.

⁶ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. ⁷ Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

But if we’re honest, I think we’ll find in ourselves that we often times will pray our cares to the Lord and then carry them on our shoulders some more not truly allowing Him to have them and trusting Him to deal with them in His time and His way. 

Why?

We see in her love for God that she was not only faithful in prayer but also her response.  When God answered her prayer for a son, she turned right back without another thought and gave Him back to God by service in the tabernacle.  Can you imagine handing your toddler over to a boarding school?!  No way!  The child she longed so many years for, she turned around and gave to God.  That sacrifice only comes from a deep love and trust in God.  We see this relationship in the song of praise in 1 Sam. 2:1-10

“My heart rejoices in the LORD; 

   in the LORD my horn^[a] is lifted high. 

My mouth boasts over my enemies, 

   for I delight in your deliverance.

 ² “There is no one holy like the LORD; 

   there is no one besides you; 

   there is no Rock like our God.

 ³ “Do not keep talking so proudly 

   or let your mouth speak such arrogance, 

for the LORD is a God who knows, 

   and by him deeds are weighed.

 ⁴ “The bows of the warriors are broken, 

   but those who stumbled are armed with strength. 

⁵ Those who were full hire themselves out for food, 

   but those who were hungry are hungry no more. 

She who was barren has borne seven children, 

   but she who has had many sons pines away.

 ⁶ “The LORD brings death and makes alive; 

   he brings down to the grave and raises up. 

⁷ The LORD sends poverty and wealth; 

   he humbles and he exalts. 

⁸ He raises the poor from the dust 

   and lifts the needy from the ash heap; 

he seats them with princes 

   and has them inherit a throne of honor.

   “For the foundations of the earth are the LORD’s; 

   on them he has set the world. 

⁹ He will guard the feet of his faithful servants, 

   but the wicked will be silenced in the place of darkness.

   “It is not by strength that one prevails; 

 ¹⁰ those who oppose the LORD will be broken. 

The Most High will thunder from heaven; 

   the LORD will judge the ends of the earth.

   “He will give strength to his king 

   and exalt the horn of his anointed.”

A whole series of sermons could be written on this one passage alone, but in the briefest overview one thing is certain.  She was familiar with the deep things of God.  She acknowledges His holiness, goodness, sovereignty, power and wisdom.  She worshiped Him as Savior, Creator and soverign judge. She acknowledged the falleness and depravity of human nature as well as the folly of unbelief and rebellion.  She spoke from her own intimiate knowledge with love and wonder.

Love for her Children

The last major characteristic of Hannah was her devotion and love for her children of course.   Can’t be a good mother without that! She devoted herself soley to Samuels care, knowing the short time she had with him and in that short time was able to leave a mark that with God’s leading would establish the character of Israels last judge.  Even after she gave Samuel over to God’s care we’re told in scrptiure she visited regularly and would make him little robes each year.  She loved and cared for him and the other children God blessed her with following Samuel all the days of her life, fulfilling all of the motherly duties outlined in the bible that we talked about before.

Hannah shows us a clear picture of what the Lord can do through one woman totally and unreservedly devoted to Him.  She stands as a wonderful and extraordinary example to women today who want God to be honored in their homes. And her love for heaven, husband and home are the true priorities for every godly mother and wife.

Last week we discussed Hannah, our portrait of feminine grace… the quintessential Momma… the original woman prayer warrior!

We were reminded of:

·         Prayer 
Hannah took her unfulfilled dreams of motherhood to the throne-room of God.  What sets Hannah apart, is what she did with this bitterness of heart. She took it to the Lord in prayer.

·        Peace
Once Hannah surrendered her most treasured desire, peace was evident in her life.

·        Promise
Hannah promised God her son and followed through with that prayerful vow. I'm really good at reminding God of His promises to me. Yet, how often do I make a promise to the Lord and keep it? Hannah gave the Lord her only child. Meditate on that for a moment.

·        Praise
Hannah rejoiced in the Lord, the very day she placed her son Samuel in the care of Eli

·        

      What makes a good mother per her example?  Love for God, her Husband, and her children.

Comments?

What surprised you about the “Hannah” study?  What did you take from it; did anything stick for you this week?

Mary:  Blessed Among Women

Of all the extraordinary women of the bible, Mary stands out above all others as the most blessed, the most highly favored by God and most universally admired by women.  She is the one chosen by God to be the singular instrument through which He would at last bring the Messiah into the world.

Mary was an average young girl of common means from a peasants town in a poor region of Israel.  She was nothing extraordinary in that of itself, we would likely pass her by if not for the extraordinary work done in her by God.  Mary herself knew that because of this generations would regard her as profoundly blessed by God

Luke 1:48

⁴⁸ for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed,

And not because she believed herself to be any kind of saintly superhuman, but because she was given such remarkable grace and privilege.

NOT A DEMI-GODDESS
The first thing we have to note about Mary is that she was a woman – not a demi-goddess.  I believe that’s something as a group we’re all quite clear about – however, the point must be stated that she is never portrayed in scripture as a source or dispenser of grace, but is herself is the recipient of God’s blessing.  Her Son, not Mary herself is the foundation of grace.

Psalm 72:17

¹⁷ May his name endure forever;  may it continue as long as the sun. All nations will be blessed through him, and they will call him blessed.

There are many who take Mary and place her at the center of their worship, praying to her, exalting her, etc.  Catholic dogma teaches that she was taken bodily to heaven, where she was crowned “Queen of Heaven.”  He role today according to Catholic legend, is mediatory and intercessory.  Even during Jesus’ earthly ministry there were those who showed un-due reverence to Mary because of her role as His mother.

Luke 11:27-28

²⁷ As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.”   ²⁸ He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”

Points to consider contrary to some beliefs:

à  Mary remained a perpetual virginMary had other children after Jesus… James, Joses, Simon, Judas (as referenced in Matthew 13:55) and in addition to that Matthew 1:25 states that Joseph abstained from relations with her only until she had brought forth her firstborn Son.

à  Mary was sinless – The opening stanza of Mary’s Manificat speaks of God as her “Savior” thus giving implicit testimony from her own lips that she needed redemption.

NOT A GODDESS BUT A GODLY WOMAN
Okay, so we’re clear about Mary’s standing as far as her supposed godliness is concerned, and although Mary is not a member of the Trinity or a divine being, she was most definitely a woman of extraordinary and sincere faith.  She was earnestly worshipful, childlike in her trust of the Lord and utterly dependent on Him.

Mary, was as we said before, was you’re run of the mill teenager living in the peasant town of Nazareth in Israel, and betrothed to a man named Joseph who made his living as a carpenter.  Mary, although of no reputation did have some well-known ancestors.  Her lineage is listed in Luke chapter 3:23-38 and Joseph also had a memorable line of ancestors listed at the beginning of Matthew.  Both Mary and Joseph were descendents of David. Mary’s branch of the family tree is traced through Nathan, while Joseph’s side is the royal line through Solomon.  Which gives even more meaning to

Phillipians 2:7

rather, he made himself  (of no reputation) nothing by taking the very nature^[b] of a servant, being made in human likeness. 

Where His birthright was through his Step-Father’s royal lineage – Jesus’ blood connection to David was through Mary who descended from an inconsequential branch of David’s family.

We first meet Mary in

Luke 1:26-38

²⁶ In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee,²⁷ to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸ The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

 ²⁹ Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. ³⁰ But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. ³¹ You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. ³² He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, ³³ and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”  ³⁴ “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

 ³⁵ The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called^[b] the Son of God. ³⁶ Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. ³⁷ For no word from God will ever fail.” ³⁸ “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

WOW!  Now… let’s think on this a minute… Mary was betrothed to be married and it was customary at the time for girls as young as thirteen to be betrothed in marriage.  Their arrangement was a legal engagement known as kiddushin which was as legally binding as marriage and in that culture was typically a year’s time where the betrothed lived separate from each other and had no physical relations and would demonstrate the fidelity of both partners.

So let’s suppose she was 16. That seems to be about what we’ve heard or has been assumed from all kinds of sources.  

Think back for a minute.  What were you doing at 16?

At 16, I had barely had a “serious” boy friend.  I was in high school busy having fun, cheerleading, playing sports, doing drama and singing, thinking little about becoming an adult or even college.

Here’s Mary, who was now the key instrument in the immaculate conception and although a chaste woman, the world was bound to think otherwise!  She was the original “Teen Mom” but without the extramarital relations.  The view on teen moms now in this “progressive” society is still a taboo one… imagine what it must have looked like back then. 

Even Joseph assumed the worst.  Have you ever been cheated on? We can imagine how his heart must have sunk when he learned she was pregnant and he knew he wasn’t the father.  His first inclination was to divorce her quietly he was not willing to make a public example of her – which meant stoning – but at first he saw no other option but divorce until an angel of the Lord reassured him in a dream.

Matthew 1:20-21

 ²⁰ But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹ She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,^[a] because he will save his people from their sins.”

Despite all of these aspects facing against her, scripture gives no evidence that Mary ever worried over the effects her pregnancy would have on her reputation.  She instantly, humbly and joyfully submitted to God’s will without further question or doubt.  She was no doubt a woman of mature faith even in her young age.

She would have been very familiar with the promises of a Messiah – THE Messiah – that we see through the Old Testament scriptures so perhaps the notion of this wasn’t a foreign thing to her… even still I don’t know that I wouldn’t have questioned and doubted and waivered in my faith a bit having been told at 16 by an angel of the Lord that I was going to be filled by the Holy Spirit of God and impregnated with the Son of God.  But we can tell from her response and her song or Magnificat in Luke 1:46-55 that her faith was steadfast, mature and true.

Luke 1:46-55

 ⁴⁶ And Mary said:

   “My soul glorifies the Lord  ⁴⁷ and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, ⁴⁸ for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed,  ⁴⁹ for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name. ⁵⁰ His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. ⁵¹ He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. ⁵² He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. ⁵³ He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. ⁵⁴ He has helped his servant Israel, 

   remembering to be merciful ⁵⁵ to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”

Each stanza of her song is filled with messages from the Old Testament scriptures.

MacArthur is quick to move on to Mary’s relationship with Jesus during his ministry, but first we have to discuss her faithfulness further and God’s graciousness to her and her husband as they were “carrying” His Son.  We know the Christmas story… the two travelled 80 miles on foot/donkey from Nazareth to Bethlehem a journey that would have taken them roughly 4-5 days.  And can I testify as a woman who is about the same amount of weeks pregnant Mary was at that time… comfort for one is out of the question – riding a donkey or walking 20 miles a day!  Never mind the fact that she was now away from her immediate family – of which the women would have been the ones to deliver the baby – and was travelling to Bethlehem knowing that at any moment “her” Son would be born.  I think I would have said… Yeah, you know what… Can’t you write me a doctors note or something? J

Then shortly after arriving in Bethlehem, having no place but a stable to stay in… and have you ever hung out in a stable for any length of time.  Dirty and Smelly – 2 key things that come to mind… we have women from a local stable who come in to eat lunch on the day I work @ MM’s for lunch and we literally have to hold our breath when we serve them… and then to have a baby there!?  Without any assistance from the women relatives that would customarily have helped?  Now…. I know, that I know, that I know.  That God is gracious and I have no doubt He was there and working and helping that whole situation along… even still the circumstances were LESS than ideal for any baby, never mind the firstborn, never mind the Son of God!

After soaking in the wonder of this baby who was going to save the world… Mary and Joseph take Jesus to the temple to dedicate him where Simeon tells Mary in

Luke 2:33-35

³³ The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. ³⁴ Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, ³⁵ so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

He tells Mary of her and her sons fate – whether or not she knew that at that moment is unclear but I am sure it was very clear as she watched the soldiers pierce Jesus’ side and felt a sword pierce through her own heart!

To then go home back to Nazareth to raise this “wonder” child only to have to flee to Egpyt for safety for a number of years. 

The whole situation of the beginning years of Jesus life were no doubt amazing and filled with wonder… How God’s hand was on every moment, because well he was both watching and living in every moment of it.  But consider Mary in this as we examine her.  We don’t ever witness her grumbling or whining about “change” or “inconvenience” like we can so often tend to do.  Some days I can be so regimented that if my day goes off course, so goes my attitude for the day too!  From which I’ll take from Mary – a godly woman can go with the flow of God

HOW TO RAISE A CHILD… HOW TO RAISE THE SON OF GOD?

I believe parents worldwide wish there was a precise step by step manual for all things when it comes to raising children.  Do this, don’t do that for each and every circumstance that there could possibly be… we constantly make mistakes. For everything we do right as parents there isn’t a wrong to far around the bend.  It’s an age old dilemma.  We do the very best we can I’d say.  Imagine Mary’s plight.  She was not only raising a child, but she was raising God?!  Huh!?

Throughout Jesus’ earthly ministry we only see Mary 3 times which to me says she mastered the art of letting her children spread their wings, but staying close enough for support and love. 

The wedding @ Cana:

John 2:1-12

¹ On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, ² and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. ³ When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”   ⁴ “Woman,^[a] why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” ⁵ His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” ⁶ Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.^[b] 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. ⁸ Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”   They did so, ⁹ and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside ¹⁰ and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” ¹¹ What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. ¹² After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.

Mary knew Christ has the means to solve this embarrassing social dilemma for her friend and she was subtly asking Him to do something about it.  Whether that meant as a son or THE Son… can be assumed by Jesus’ response to her.  But what cracks me up is that we see a little bit of the meddling mother that we can all be here... Notice she turns to the servants and says, "do what he says" even after he says, "Mom?!"  Ha!  While she was passive aggressive, Jesus responded to her very directly… not harsh or disrespectful – just direct.  Jesus’ words convey a strong tone of displeasure and admonishment similar to the way he spoke to her at the temple so many years prior.

Luke 2:41-52

 ⁴¹ Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. ⁴² When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. ⁴³ After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. ⁴⁴ Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. ⁴⁵ When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. ⁴⁶ After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. ⁴⁷ Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. ⁴⁸ When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”

   ⁴⁹ “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”^[f] 50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them.

 ⁵¹ Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. ⁵²And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

Similarly, the second time we see Mary is when the crowds who followed Jesus and cried for His miracles became larger than ever, a time when Mark recalled (3:20) the demands of Jesus’ ministry had become so great He didn’t even have time to eat.    Mary and His brothers were concerned for his wellbeing and came to “save him”

Mark 3:31-35

 ³¹ Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. ³² A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.”

   ³³ “Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked.

 ³⁴ Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers!³⁵ Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”

Jesus intent wasn’t to be harsh, but to correct and instruct.  Although He loved and respected His mother for being His earthly mother, He also needed to remind her that her parental interests couldn’t ever override the higher authority of His Heavenly Father.  Can we do that as meddling Mom’s.  Can't you just hear Mary, "You need to at least stop and eat and get some rest for goodness sake"  Ha!  We must be so careful to not intervene in the will of God.  If he’s at work with our children, we must be willing to allow His work to be done…. Remember, they’re on loan!

Examples?

The last we see of Mary during Christ’s ministry is at Golgotha.  She probably always had an inkling that this day would come – no doubt one of the things she kept and pondered in her heart (from Simeon’s speech to her in Luke 2:19, 51)

No one understood Jesus’ absolute sinless perfection better than Mary.  She had nurtured Him through infancy and childhood.  No one could have loved Him more than she did.  The pain of Mary’s anguish is almost unimaginable, yet she stood, stoically, silently when lesser women would have fled in horror, shrieked and thrashed around in panic or collapsed in a heap from the distress.  Mary was clearly a woman of dignified grace and courage.

Jesus loved his mother.  One of the last of his earthly acts before yielding His life to God’s will was to make sure she was taken care of.

John 19:26-27

²⁶ When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her,“Woman,^[a] here is your son,” ²⁷ and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

Mary was like no other mother. Godly mothers are typically absorbed in the task of training their children for Heaven.  Mary’s Son was the Lord and Creator of Heaven.  As a man, He was her son.  But as God, He was her Lord.  She became a follower and disciple and a worshipper and her maternal relationship faded into the background.

She was perfectly ordinary in a lot of ways, but truly extraordinary in the way she was used as an instrument by God and by the extraordinary responsibility she was given.