Walking in Mary's Sandals

       

              MARY, mother of Jesus, the Son of God

                                              Luke 1 & 2

                                       To listen to the podcast

                    https://youtu.be/i3VDuJcwpJs?si=bDSzHXbMZT4tC3Rj

                   A blessed Christmas, dear friends. As we enjoy the Christmas season, let’s imagine we’re standing in Mary’s sandals.

 

“Blessed are you among women, and the child you will bear is blessed!”

Elizabeth’s voice resonated around her, and deep love stirred in Mary’s heart. She remembered the day the angel surprised her, striking terror in her breast. What had he said?

“Don’t be afraid, Mary. You are highly favored, for the Lord is with you!”

 

    As he calmed her confusion, he revealed she would be mother to the Son of the Highest, the ruler of an eternal kingdom. She’d felt an overwhelming, beautiful love envelop her, and although she was a virgin, she knew she was with child. And now, as Elizabeth confirmed the angel’s words, Mary responded in worship.

 

“My soul glorifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on, all generations will call me blessed.”

 

 

     Mary was a simple Judean girl from the small, isolated Galilean village of Nazareth. When the Holy Spirit overshadowed her, she understood the intensity of his holiness, the most sacred moment of her life.

    

   He had done great things for her. The scriptures echoed in her thoughts, and she quoted from Hannah, Samuel’s mother, the Psalms, and the Pentateuch.

 

“His name is holy!”

 

“His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered the proud in their inmost thoughts.”

These words paraphrase Psalm 138:6.

 

“He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has raised the humble.”

 

 Hannah spoke similar words in 1 Samuel 2:1-10.

 

Hannah may have been thinking about Pharaoh, whose warriors were washed away by the sea, but perhaps Mary remembered the shepherd boy of Bethlehem who conquered Goliath and became Israel’s greatest king. And then she continued to praise the Lord.

 

“The poor are satisfied, but the rich are left empty-handed.” Mordecai had sat at King Xerxes’ gate while Haman feasted at the king’s table. Within a day, Haman led him through the streets of Susa, and soon died on his own gallows.

“He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, as he promised our fathers.” This is a quote of Psalm 98:3. The Lord God tested Abraham’s obedience on Mount Moriah. Would he offer his son as a sacrifice? In mercy, God provided a ram and Isaac’s life was spared for his descendants.

 

God is merciful to us. He gave his son, to whom Mary gave birth, for our sins.

 

Israel’s long history was a testament to the Lord’s faithfulness towards Abraham, the father of the nation. They had prospered in Goshen, suffered slavery in Egypt until the Lord had led them through the Red Sea to the Promised Land. They forgot him, and the surrounding nations conquered the land and drove the people into captivity in Babylon. After seventy years, the Lord returned them to the land. As Mary looked to the future, she trusted the Lord to bless Israel through the child in her womb. Jehovah’s track record was perfect, and he would keep his promises. Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months and then returned home.

 

Mary’s humility and deep faith shine like the Bethlehem star. No matter what her acquaintances thought of her, she found comfort in knowing what the Lord had done. Hope and humility mingled in her soul: hope for her child, who was God’s choice to save the world, and humility as the Almighty’s choice of his mother. And when she married, Joseph would be her comfort and support because the angel had appeared to him in a dream, and he now he believed her story.

 

They traveled to Bethlehem for the Roman census. The town bustled with hundreds of visitors, and accommodation was scarce. Joseph found a quiet stable, possibly above a caravansary, where traders and their camels spent the night. Mary gave birth and placed her swaddled infant in a feeding trough.

 

The shepherds visited her son. God had thronged the sky with a heavenly host of angels who praised the Almighty in honor of Jesus’ birth. A year ago, she’d never imagined this day. As she nestled her baby in her arms, she treasured these remarkable memories and wondered what the future would reveal.

 

 

Joseph and Mary met two worshippers in the Jerusalem temple who prophesied Jesus’ future. Simeon promised Mary that Jesus would influence the course of Israel’s history. The devout widow, Anna, gave thanks to God for Jesus, the promised redeemer of Jerusalem.

Mary added these memories to her storehouse of treasures.

 

The wise men arrived at their home, presenting the infant with royal gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, which reflected his purity, his pleasing service to God, and prophesied his death.

 

Mary was no stranger to travel. When Herod threatened to kill her son, they escaped to Egypt, where they stayed until Herod’s death. As Jesus grew, they returned to Nazareth, where Joseph taught Jesus the carpentry trade and raised their growing family.

 

 

Mary followed Jesus’ ministry and witnessed his death by crucifixion. The Bible doesn’t say she saw him after his resurrection, but as a devoted follower of Jesus, it seems a likely occurrence. Jesus provided for her by placing her in John’s care.

 

Since Mary lived to serve the Lord and to worship him, she set an example of godliness which we can admire. The Lord Jesus Christ entered the world from the womb of this remarkable mother, but his mission was to please his Father, the Almighty. He taught love, offered compassion, healed the sick, and brought peace to human hearts.

 

 

As you enjoy this Christmas season, I pray his peace graces your festivities, and fills your hearts. Mary cherished her son and worshipped him because he is God. Let’s echo the words of Mary, the angels, and the shepherds.

 

 

“Glory to God in the highest and peace to men on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:14.

 

God’s favor rested on Mary because she submitted in pure worship to his perfect, righteous will. We can enjoy this favor with the same simple trust in Jesus, the Savior of the World.

 

‘For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.’ John 3:16.17.

 

 

Happy Christmas!