A Mother Worth Following: Snapshots of Faith rom Mary

I'm not sure you realize this or not, but the song you just sang has mighty words.

!

Help me to learn the important lesson of abiding in you.

Of course, that's a good prayer.

That's a mighty prayer.

That's an important prayer, but it's not always an easy prayer.

It doesn't always lead to easy things.

That the work that God has to do in our life so often leads us through hard places, hard things, and that's good for us.

So God, would you do that?

Would you draw us close?

Teach us to abide.

Well, Mary serves as a wonderful example of that lesson of welcoming the Lord Jesus to do that work for her.

And we're going to see that this morning.

These snapshots of her life as God is helping her to grow in faith and grow in relationship.

And we're going to see that through the testimony of her life as we look at it in the Gospel of Luke.

I would encourage you to turn there with me.

Luke chapter 1.

Luke 1 · chapter mention

It's on page 855 if you're using the Pew Bible.

But I want to do say happy Mother's Day to those of you who are mothers here.

Those who have mothers.

I suppose that all of us can celebrate in some way Mother's Day.

But I also do want to acknowledge that Mother's Day, while it is a time of celebration for many of us because of the investment of our mothers in our lives.

And maybe God is giving you the joy of being a mother and being a part of that experience.

There are definitely blessings about Mother's Day.

But there's also challenges.

And I want to acknowledge just that it comes sometimes with mixed emotions.

Sometimes it comes with hardness.

Some of you who don't have moms that really treated you with the kind of grace that moms should administer.

And some of you perhaps have been trying to be a mom and have not been able to be a mom yet.

And I know that there's heartbreak in that.

There's pain in the experience of wanting to be a mom.

And God, for whatever reason, has withheld that.

And some of you, I know, are coming off of fresh experiences of losing a mother.

And that relationship was sweet.

But those memories of losing your mother are fresh and hard.

And I just want to acknowledge the joys and also some of the pains and heartbreak that comes with this day.

But we want to capitalize on this moment because motherhood is so essential, so special in the eyes of the Lord.

That God himself has gifted us with children.

And that is a blessing from him.

And we want to acknowledge not only the privilege but also the responsibility of motherhood.

And call mothers to the kind of life that is exemplary.

The kind of life that can be used by the Lord.

And really it's the kind of life for all of us.

That God is helping all of us to draw close.

Draw me close, Lord.

Teach me to abide.

Right?

So we're going to see this morning the joy of motherhood, I trust, as we look at these snapshots of Mary.

And seeing how God is moving her faith.

You see, Mary was blessed by God.

She was blessed because God blessed her.

She enjoyed the benefits of that blessing.

Not because she earned it, but because of God's grace on her life.

It is, by the way, a grace that God has made available to all of us in this room.

His grace extended through his son, Jesus.

And it is what Mary got to experience and enjoy herself.

So this morning we're not coming to talk about Mary because Mary in any way is meant to be revered.

Mary is meant to be worshipped in any way.

Mary would stand alone as this model mother that we need to follow after.

But she does set a pattern.

Not of drawing attention to herself, but of drawing attention to the Lord Jesus.

And that's why we look at Mary.

We look at Mary because Mary wants to direct our attention to Christ.

And it was through her obedience and faith and love and humility that we see in her someone to emulate.

Someone to enjoy and appreciate.

We've been working through the book of Acts.

And I want to just begin with this.

We're going to begin with this and end with this.

As we call attention to the work of God in Mary's life.

We see in Acts chapter 1 verse 14.

Acts 1:14

It says this.

Mary will have learned the joy of drawing close and being instructed on how to abide.

She moves really from being a mother to being a disciple.

She moves from being one who is in charge and in control to one who is devoted and worshipping.

And humble service and obedience to her Lord, her Savior, Jesus Christ.

We see her in the very first parts of the book of Acts.

God has done a work of transforming work in her life.

And we're going to see as we look through her life this example of humble faith in the Lord.

It is an innocent faith.

Sometimes it's a naive faith.

And of course it's a faith that needs to be instructed.

But Mary is willing to work through that process.

And we see that God is moving her and working in her life to help her to be the kind of disciple that is following after the Lord Jesus.

Mary is a mother worth following.

Not because she had it perfect.

Not because her life was all together.

But because in her brokenness, in humility, she sought to follow after the Lord.

We're going to see this morning six marks of Mary's life.

Six marks that help us see this faith that's working in her.

And it's a faith to emulate for ourselves as well.

We'll begin in Luke chapter 1.

Luke 1 · chapter mention

We're going to see that she's a mother worth following because she receives God's word humbly.

She receives God's word humbly.

I'm going to draw that truth from Luke chapter 1 verse 38.

Luke 1:38

It says this,

And Mary said,

Behold, I am the servant of the Lord.

Let it be to me according to your word.

And the angel departed from her.

These words, while simple, demonstrate the resilience and the steadiness of her faith.

It was innocent.

It was new.

She was still young.

And yet, in the things that she had heard from the angel, she decided to press in and to trust.

To really understand what's going on.

Let's move back just a little further in our story.

And you remember, moving back to the beginning of this gospel, the gospel of Luke.

You remember that there had been 400 years of silence.

400 years without a prophetic voice.

400 years where God had not spoken to his people.

And yet, we see at the beginning parts of this story that while God seemed distant, his people were still faithful.

And the spotlight zooms in on this couple.

A couple.

Zachariah and Elizabeth.

And we see their faithfulness that's coming to the forefront.

We see that Zachariah is a priest.

And he's married to his wife Elizabeth.

He not only comes from a priestly line.

But we find that they're here in Jerusalem.

And Zachariah has been chosen.

A very unique responsibility.

He's been chosen by Lot to enter into the temple.

And to offer sacrifices.

To offer incense on the altar.

Under the Holy of Holies.

This is going to be a sign.

A symbol.

An illustration of the prayers that are ascending before the Lord.

And Zachariah will go into the temple.

And while he's offering incense.

He gets this message from the angel Gabriel.

Who says,

Your prayers have been heard.

And because of his prayers being heard.

He's going to have a son.

Now that might seem very extraordinary.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the story.

But those of you who know.

Zachariah and Elizabeth.

Are well beyond the age of childbearing.

It says,

On multiple occasions.

In the very first parts of the first chapter.

They are well advanced in years.

And not only that.

Elizabeth is barren.

Their time for having kids is over.

At least as far as they're concerned.

But now their prayers.

To have a baby.

Are finally going to be answered.

And six months later.

Now Gabriel will make another visit.

To a young woman named Mary.

We find that in verse 26.

It says this.

In the sixth month.

The angel Gabriel was sent from.

From God to a city of Galilee.

Named Nazareth.

To a virgin betrothed to a man.

Whose name was Joseph.

Of the house of David.

And the virgin's name was Mary.

And he came to her and said.

Greetings oh favored one.

The Lord is with you.

And the contrast that we find here.

In the text.

Are meant to be startling to us.

That Elizabeth.

Was well advanced in years.

And Mary is quite tender.

A family of notoriety.

Zachariah and Elizabeth.

And this young girl.

Of a humble estate.

No credentials.

A couple who had prayed for years.

To have a baby.

To no avail.

And Mary.

Who hadn't even considered.

About having a baby at all.

And here they are.

But there are similarities.

And the similarities.

Are also deliberate.

Both are visited by an angel.

Both are selected.

As significant representatives.

Of the Lord.

Both will have a baby.

Through impossible circumstances.

Both are meant to showcase.

The wonder of God's ability.

To answer promises.

In unique ways.

Find that Mary is betrothed.

To a man.

In this.

In this day and age.

The first century.

Marriage would.

Would consist of two distinct stages.

An engagement.

Which was called a betrothal.

And the actual.

Wedding itself.

And Gabriel will say to Mary.

Greetings.

Oh favored one.

The Lord is with you.

This word favored.

Is the word for grace.

See she's been chosen by God.

To enjoy the benefits.

Of God's particular.

And unique grace.

Not because she possessed.

A measure of holiness.

Not because she deserved it.

In any way.

But because it was.

In fact grace.

God's unmerited favor.

To her.

And what will follow.

Is this testimony.

Of Mary's.

Humble surrender.

To God's plan.

We find in.

In verse 30.

The angel said to her.

Do not be afraid.

For you have found favor.

With God.

And behold.

You will conceive.

In your womb.

And bear a son.

And you will call his name.

Jesus.

He will be great.

And will be called.

The son of the most high.

And the Lord God.

Will give to him.

The throne of his father.

David.

And he will reign.

Over the house of Jacob.

Forever.

And of his kingdom.

There will be no end.

And Mary said to the angel.

How will this be.

Since I'm only a virgin.

And the angel said to her.

The Holy Spirit.

Will come upon you.

And the power of the most high.

Will overshadow you.

Therefore the child to be born.

Will be called holy.

The son of God.

And behold.

Your relative Elizabeth.

In her old age.

Has also conceived a son.

And this is the sixth month.

With her.

Who is called barren.

For nothing.

Will be impossible.

With God.

And Mary said.

Behold.

I am the servant of the Lord.

Let it be to me.

According to your word.

And the angel departed from her.

Two truths.

I want to just draw out briefly.

We see.

This.

Acknowledgement.

Of human impossibility.

Mary understands.

The impossibility.

Of this situation.

How can this be?

I don't know a man.

And then her response.

To the angels.

Reply.

The Holy Spirit.

Will come upon you.

And as a result.

Of this message.

From the angel.

The humility.

And the humble response.

The acceptance of Mary.

To say.

I.

Am the Lord's servant.

Let it be to me.

According to his word.

The Greek.

The word.

Bond servant.

Is the word for slave.

She has resigned herself.

To be available.

She has committed herself.

To the very word.

The.

This impossible word.

That was given to her.

By the angel.

She is a willing vessel.

The choice is up to him.

Not to me.

I am.

Willing to.

To do.

What God has.

Said is right.

I will do.

What the Lord.

Deems best.

We can easily imagine.

The kinds of challenges.

That Mary.

Must have.

Thought about.

In that moment.

What are my parents.

Going to think.

About this news.

What is Joseph.

Going to do.

When he hears.

That I'm pregnant.

What is the community.

Going to say.

When they find out.

That.

That there's a baby.

Growing inside.

God.

How in the world.

Am I going to be able.

To cope.

With all the pressure.

That's going to be upon me.

But her.

Humble response.

Demonstrates.

Mary's willing.

Submission.

To the word of God.

She hears the word.

She receives the word.

She willingly.

Accepts the word.

She doesn't push back.

She doesn't oppose.

She doesn't resist.

And Mary serves.

As an example.

To us.

Of hearing God's word.

In responding.

In humility.

Uncertainty.

She didn't say.

Or as.

As some of us.

Would say.

Well I did it my way.

I'm going to.

I'm going to.

Work this out.

On my own.

I'm going to.

Figure this out.

No.

Mary.

Has a heart.

Of willing.

Surrender.

And while she.

May not understand.

All the implications.

Or all of the.

The challenges.

That she will face.

She says.

I'm willing.

I'm ready.

I'm available.

You see.

We may face times.

Of real uncertainty.

But.

But like Mary.

We need to.

Also receive.

God's word.

And trust.

That God's word.

Is not only true.

But God's word.

Is best.

And while we may not.

Understand the implications.

Of following.

And obeying God's word.

We press in.

We humbly accept.

We humbly.

Receive it.

See.

A godly mother.

Does not have to understand.

Everything.

She just has to.

Willingly.

Surrender.

Abandon herself.

To what God has said.

She is a mother.

Worth following.

Because she receives.

God's word humbly.

But she is also.

A mother worth following.

Because she rejoices.

In God's plan.

Sincerely.

We see that.

In the next scene.

Mary will make her way.

To her.

Relative.

Elizabeth.

We find that in.

Verse 39.

Of chapter 1.

In those days.

Mary arose.

And went.

With haste.

Into the hill country.

To a town.

In Judah.

You see.

Mary and Elizabeth.

Have so much in common.

They have so much to share.

So many joys.

So many experiences.

But what stands.

At the forefront.

Of.

Of.

Of.

Of.

Their attention.

Is joy.

In God.

Not fear.

Of rejoicing.

Not complaining.

Of faith.

Not worry.

Of confirmation.

About what God is doing.

And not abandoning themselves.

To confusion.

It's celebrating.

And blessing.

Not the shame.

Living in shame.

And Mary's praise.

Is especially Godward.

It's saturated.

In the scripture.

It's permeated.

In the truth.

Of God's word.

It's.

It's steeped.

In the messages.

Of the Lord.

And it comes through.

Her life.

We see.

That she's been meditating.

On the word of God.

And it spills out.

In praise.

To God.

Through song.

I want to give you.

An opportunity.

Just to listen.

To these.

Verses.

In song.

As we.

Just listen.

For a moment.

To this word.

From the seeds.

Of family worship.

My soul.

Thank you.

My spirit rejoices in God, my Savior.

My soul magnifies the Lord.

And my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior.

For He has looked on the humble estate of His servant.

For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed.

For He who is mighty has done great things.

For me and holy is His name.

My soul magnifies the Lord.

And my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior.

My soul magnifies the Lord.

And my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior.

And His mercy is for those who fear Him.

From generation to generation.

To generation.

To generation.

To generation.

My soul magnifies the Lord.

And my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior.

My soul magnifies the Lord.

And my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior.

My Savior.

Those words are drawn directly from our text today.

Can you hear the heart of Mary

exploding in praise to the Lord Jesus?

And that song that we find in Luke chapter 1

Luke 1 · chapter mention

is drawn out of the scriptures.

There are as many as 31 different Old Testament passages

that Mary will go to to access.

The word of God has been pouring into her life.

And so when pressure comes,

what comes out is praise.

Praise to God through the word of God.

Mary is a mother worth following

because she rejoices in God's plan sincerely.

She's also a mother worth following

because she treasures God's word deeply.

Treasures God's word deeply.

That truth is drawn out of Luke chapter 2 verse 19.

Luke 2:19

This is where we see this.

It says,

But Mary treasured up all these things,

pondering them in her heart.

She treasured God's works deeply.

Well, as you know,

familiar with the story,

Mary and Joseph make their way to Bethlehem.

A census is being taken.

And this couple have come to be registered as a family.

Well, because Joseph was of the tribe of Judah

and because he was of the family of David,

and so they come to Bethlehem.

They come to Bethlehem as in response

to the census that had been taken.

We find in Luke chapter 2,

Luke 2 · chapter mention

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus

that all the world should be registered.

This was the first registration

when Quirinius was governor of Syria.

And all went to be registered,

each to his own town.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee,

from the town of Nazareth,

to Judea,

to the city of David,

which is called Bethlehem

because he was of the house

in lineage of David,

to be registered with Mary,

his betrothed,

who was with child.

And while they were there,

the time came for her to give birth.

And she gave birth to her firstborn son,

wrapped him in swaddling clothes,

and laid him in a manger

because there was no place for them in the inn.

And in the same region,

there were shepherds out in the field,

keeping watch over their flocks by night.

And you know that that night scene

was punctuated by light.

It was punctuated by voices.

It was punctuated by speaking

and praising of God.

As the angels would say,

glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace among those

with whom he is pleased.

So the shepherds make their way to Bethlehem.

They go to see the baby.

They go to worship.

They make known the saying

that had been made known to them

by the angels.

And this is where we get to this statement

in Luke chapter 2, verse 19.

Luke 2:19

Mary treasured up all these things,

pondering them in her heart.

This word treasured means that she kept them.

It meant that she preserved them.

It meant that she did not let them go.

It meant that she allowed those truths,

those works of God,

to settle in.

She meditated on them.

She reflected on them.

She didn't just pass them by.

She understood that something significant

was taking place.

And she allowed the truths

and the wonder of the moment

to spill into her life

and to transform her thinking.

She did not dismiss or hold lightly

the great work of God

that was unfolding right in front of her.

And she pondered,

which means that she gave serious reflection.

It's the word for casting together,

putting all the pieces together.

She meditated on God's words and works.

She recognizes the promises

that God had given to her

just a few months earlier,

however impossible they seemed,

were unfolding in reality

right in front of her.

And as she sees this work of God,

this clear work of God,

she doesn't just let it pass her by.

She allows it to settle in.

Her heart is learning to wonder

at the greatness and glory of the Lord.

And this is a crucial lesson

for us to learn as well.

Because when we see

the clear hand of God,

it's essential,

it's vital for us,

not just to let those things pass us by,

but to let those truths,

those wonders,

those moments of God's greatness,

His power,

His answers to prayer,

the things that He does

that make us see

how wonderful He is,

to let those settle in.

Let those truths of God's faithfulness

take root in our life.

And let those seeds grow.

And as the roots

go down into our life,

and those roots of faith

begin to flourish,

it will be an anchor for us

in the storms

when the wind begins to blow,

when the crisis comes,

when the heartache hits hard,

the roots of faith

have anchored themselves

and provided strength

and stability

and endurance

and refuge and help.

See, Mary was a mother worth following

because she treasured

God's Word deeply.

But she also is a mother worth following

because she obeys God's will faithfully.

We find that in the next several verses,

this obedient heart.

But even before we get to verse 21,

we need to remind ourselves

of what happened

in the first part of chapter 2.

Well, why does Joseph and Mary

find themselves in Bethlehem

to begin with?

Well, it's because

they're following a human edict.

They're following a census.

They're obeying orders,

as it were.

This mandate for a census

from the Roman authorities,

these occupiers,

these oppressors.

And what are Mary and Joseph doing?

Not resisting.

Their hearts are compliant.

There's submission there.

This is inconvenient,

to say the least,

that Mary is in the hardest parts

of her pregnancy,

and she's about to give birth.

She's great with child.

This is not a convenient time

to pull up stakes

and move to a new place.

But they're trusting in God.

They believe in His sovereignty.

And because of their faithful obedience,

God places them exactly

where they're supposed to be

in Bethlehem.

This is the grand design,

what the prophets had promised,

what they had foretold.

And through their willing obedience,

Mary and Joseph find themselves

in the very center of God's will.

As we continue to see

their compliant hearts,

we see how faithful

and obedient they are

in verse 21.

At the end of eight days,

it says in verse 21,

when He was circumcised,

He was called Jesus.

The name given by the angel

because He was conceived

in the womb.

Well, why eight days?

Well, because the law of Moses

instructed that He would be circumcised

on the eighth day.

And this dedication ceremony

had two parts.

The first was circumcision,

which was the sign of the covenant.

It was the way for Jesus

to express that He was a part

of this covenant family,

this promised family.

He belonged to God.

And then we find in verse 22,

this second part,

this time of purification.

And when the time came

for their purification,

according to the law of Moses,

they brought Him up to Jerusalem

to present Him to the Lord.

And this would have happened

33 days after His circumcision,

on the 40th day after His birth.

And Mary and Joseph would go up again

to the temple to perform

the rites of purification

that we find in verse 23 and 24.

As it is written,

in the law of the Lord,

every male who opens the womb

shall be called holy to the Lord

and offer a sacrifice

according to what is said

in the law of the Lord,

a pair of turtle doves

or two young pigeons.

You see, their purification

required three elements.

First was Mary's purification,

which we find involves sacrifice

in the temple.

Also, the redemption

of the firstborn,

which involved giving five shekels

to the priest.

And then the consecration

of the firstborn son.

And this was a ritual

which would have dedicated

Jesus' life to God.

He belongs to God.

His life belongs to Him.

And this was not only good,

this was essential.

You remember that Jesus fulfilled

all the law and the prophets.

How did He do that?

Well, in the initial phases

of His life,

He did that because of the obedience

of Mary and Joseph.

That Jesus was passive in this.

Jesus was the one

who was brought to the temple.

Jesus is the one

who was circumcised.

Jesus is the one

who was consecrated to God.

We find in verse 39

how total their obedience was.

And when they had performed

everything according

to the law of the Lord,

they returned to Galilee

to their own town of Nazareth.

Their obedience was complete.

Their obligation was fulfilled.

And their obedience

wasn't momentary.

It was a consistent pattern

of their life,

which we see in Luke 2,

Luke 2:41

verses 41 and 42.

His parents went to Jerusalem

every year

at the feast of Passover.

And when He was 12 years old,

they went up according to custom.

This is a continuing pattern

of their obedience

in bringing Jesus to the temple

as was required by the law.

Every Passover,

the males were to come

to the temple

to carry out their religious duties.

Mothers,

don't underestimate

the importance

of obedience to God.

That even when

you don't understand

what the end,

what the finish line is,

there is a significance

even in ordinary obedience.

Mary and Joseph

did not always have angels.

They didn't always have shepherds.

They didn't always have songs.

But they did have God's Word.

And they faithfully

and humbly followed

God's Word.

And God used that instrumentally.

Not only to get them

where they needed to be,

but to fulfill His Word

in His Son,

Jesus Christ.

Mary is a mother

worth following

because she obeys

God's will faithfully.

But also because

she surrenders

to God's plan willingly.

We find that

in verse 34 of chapter 2.

And Simeon blesses them

and said to Mary,

his mother,

Behold,

this child is appointed

for the fall and rising

of many in Israel

and for a sign

that is opposed.

A sword will pierce

through your own soul also

so that thoughts

from many hearts

may be revealed.

There was lots of joys.

There was much joy

in the early parts

of Mary's life.

There was much rejoicing

over what God

had accomplished.

But Simeon offers

this warning,

Mary,

even in your obedience,

even in this son,

how amazing he is

and how God

will use him instrumentally

that you will not only

experience joy

but you'll also

experience pain.

There will be sorrow.

Mary,

there's going to be heartbreak.

Mary,

your own soul

is going to be pierced.

And I want you

to understand,

Mary,

that this is coming

but this is by design.

This is God's plan.

And it was their devotion.

Joseph's and Mary's devotion

that led them to this place.

It led them to the temple again.

And it was this time

of purification

that we see

where Simeon,

this devout

and religious man

who is coming

into the temple,

he recognizes Jesus

even though he's very young

and says,

ah,

finally,

the consolation,

the salvation

has finally come.

We see that in verse 29.

These are Simeon's words.

Lord,

now you are letting

your servant

depart in peace

according to your word

for my eyes have seen

your salvation

that you have prepared

in the presence

of all peoples

a light for revelation

to the Gentiles

and for glory

to your people Israel.

Jesus was the answer

to the world's problems.

He would bring salvation.

He would bring light

to the Gentiles.

He would usher in glory

for the nation Israel.

But it was going to come

at a cost.

It was going to come

with great heartache.

And with these words,

Mary ponders again.

She reflects again.

I believe she worships again.

We see that in verse 33.

And his father and mother

marveled at what was said.

They were amazed.

They were astonished.

They recognized that God

was instrumentally working

in this situation.

But the glory,

the glory that Jesus

would ultimately experience

and the nation

would ultimately experience

would come at a cost.

It wasn't going to come

the way they expected.

And this is the piece

that I want to emphasize

just in this moment.

We find that in verses 34 and 35.

Reading this again.

And Simeon blessed them

and said to Mary

and his mother,

Behold, this child

is appointed for the fallen

rising of many in Israel

and for a sign that is opposed

and a sword will pierce

through your own soul

so that thoughts

from many hearts

will be revealed.

Jesus' life in ministry

would be a stumbling block.

The people won't understand.

They won't appreciate.

Matter of fact,

the people will resist.

They will oppose.

And ultimately,

Jesus will be killed.

The nation's violent rejection

of Mary's son

would cause Mary to suffer.

Simeon would graphically picture

this pain and grief

she would endure

when her own soul

would be pierced through

because of how her son

was treated.

This prophecy hangs over

Mary's motherhood

from start to finish.

And the blessing

of carrying Christ

will culminate

in deep sorrow.

But salvation

must be purchased

through a price.

We know that the wages

of sin is death

but the gift of God

is eternal life

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

I wonder this morning,

do you know

this salvation?

Have you enjoyed

and experienced

the salvation

that was purchased

by our Lord Jesus Christ?

And while he was killed

and while he suffered

he extends to us

this offer,

this invitation for us

to enjoy the benefits

of this sacrifice

because of our sin.

We deserve the punishment

of death.

But Jesus,

having lived a righteous life,

came to offer himself

as a sacrifice for us

so that we can enjoy

the benefits of salvation.

Salvation that Simeon celebrates

celebrates but also

through the pain

that he also prophesies.

Mary needs to understand

that she can't manage

Christ's mission.

She can't determine

the Lord Jesus' hour.

She can't shield him

from suffering.

She cannot make his calling

serve her own comfort.

She needs to abandon herself

to the role that God

has placed on his son.

And she needs to endure

and accept

all of the personal cost

of hurt and suffering

that that entails.

Mary,

Mary was willing

to embrace this heartache

for the sake of her Savior.

Moms,

I know that you carry

a real emotional burden.

I know that moms tend

to feel the heartache the most.

And that's why it's important

for moms especially

to recognize

they have a faithful Savior.

They have a faithful God.

That Jesus isn't caught off guard.

Simeon is here.

He's pronouncing

exactly what will happen.

That Mary's own soul

will be pierced through.

And this did not take

Mary by surprise.

Shouldn't have taken Mary

by surprise.

We need to learn

the lesson of entrusting.

entrusting our children

to the Lord Jesus

because our children

ultimately belong to him.

So,

she's a mother worth following

because she surrenders

to God's plan

willingly.

And finally,

she's a mother worth following

because she embraces

God's purposes

humbly.

We see that

throughout the testimony

of her life.

Mary shows us

what it means

to learn and grow.

there is a working

that happens

in her heart.

A transformation

that takes place.

There is

the work

of the Lord

in fashioning her

in just the way

he wants her to be.

We see very early on

that she begins,

that Christ

begins to distance

himself from Mary.

It happens,

we see the first snapshot

of this

in the temple

in Luke chapter 2.

Luke 2 · chapter mention

you remember

that Jesus

is 12 years old

and Mary and Joseph

go up to the temple

as they have done

traditionally

and they lose him.

He stays in the temple

while Mary and Joseph

make their way

back to Galilee

and by the time

they realize he's gone

they've got to make

their trek back

and it's three days

since they've seen him.

And Mary

will confront her son

there in the temple

and she'll say this,

son why

have you treated us

this way?

Why have you treated us

this way?

I think we can understand

a little bit

of that sympathy.

But Jesus

now begins

this process

of reshaping

the way

that Mary thinks.

He says this,

why were you

looking for me?

Did you not know

that I must be

in my father's house?

Mary needed

that gentle

and tender

confrontation.

She needed

to now begin

this process

of transition.

Transitioning

from being the mom

who was in control

to being

now a disciple

who was

submissive

to her savior.

We find another

event that takes place

in John chapter 2

John 2 · chapter mention

at this wedding feast

in Cana.

And Mary

is there again.

There's a wedding

that's happening

and they've run

out of wine.

And Mary

makes this request.

She says this,

Jesus,

they have no wine.

And maybe you remember

how Jesus responds.

He says this,

woman,

what does this

have to do

with me?

My hour

has not yet come.

Now this was

a response

of respect.

This is a response

of gentleness.

He honored

his mother

through this process

but he wanted

to help address

her appropriately.

no longer

as mother

but now

recognizing

that she was

a woman.

And he addresses

her in a way

that helps

to indicate

that he's speaking

to her

but he has set

aside

this unique

role

because he has

a greater purpose

in mind.

He's serving

the father.

It's the father's time.

My hour

has not yet come.

And throughout

Jesus' ministry

Mary is needing

to learn

these lessons

over and over again.

We find in Mark

Mark 3:20

chapter 3

verse 20

it says

speaking of Jesus

then he went home

and the crowd

gathered again

so they could not

even eat

and when his family

heard

they went out

to seize him

for they were saying

he is out of his mind.

This is a mother's heart.

She recognizes

her son

is experiencing

a lot of

the crush

of the crowds

the overwhelming

aspects of ministry.

She sees that

he can't even

get a good

meal

and addressing

that she seeks

to go

and fetch him.

She didn't understand

really

who was in control

whose timing

that Jesus

whose instructions

Jesus was following.

And then in Mark

Mark 3:31

chapter 3

verse 31

we see this

his mother

and brothers

came

and standing

outside

they sent

to him

and called

to him

and a crowd

was sitting

around him

and they said

to him

your mother

and your brothers

are outside

seeking you

and he answered

them

who are my mother

and my brothers

and looking about

at those who sat

around him

he said

here are my mother

my brothers

for whoever does

the will of God

he is my brother

and sister

and mother.

Jesus

is trying to

reconfigure

expectation

he is trying

to help

clarify

identity

he wants

to transform

help realign

Mary's heart

to recognize

who he really

is.

There is learning

moments

that Mary

needs to grow

in her perspective

he wasn't her

little boy

anymore

and she needed

to recognize

that Jesus

in fact

was her Lord

and her Savior

and so when we

come to Acts

Acts 1 · chapter mention

chapter 1

right back

where we started

we see now

the culmination

of that work

of God

in her heart

to help her

to draw her

close

into teaching

her

how to abide

that was the goal

Acts chapter 1

Acts 1:13

verses 13 and 14

and when

they had entered

they went up

to the upper room

where they were

staying

Peter and John

and James and Andrew

Philip and Thomas

Bartholomew

and Matthew

James the son

of Elpheus

and Simon the Zelliot

and Judas

the son

of James

all these

with one accord

were devoting

themselves to prayer

together with the woman

and Mary

Mary

the mother of Jesus

and his brothers

Mary

is finally in a place

of believing

Mary is finally

in a spot

of understanding

Mary has come

to a place

she's

her heart

has been transformed

her faith

is now

demonstrating

the

the

confession

of who Jesus

really is

she's come

to behold him

as Lord and Savior

not just as son

and that's where

we must all

eventually come

we must all

eventually come

to the place

of recognizing

the true identity

of who Jesus is

recognizing

not just for what

we can get out of him

or what we can tell him

to do

but recognizing

that he is worthy

of our worship

he is worthy

of our obedience

he is worthy

of our devotion

we must embrace him

embrace him

in totality

so we learn

from Mary

we learn from her

example of drawing

close

and teaching us

how to abide

may the Lord

help us

to learn these

lessons

and be instructed

as well

just like Mary

was

Father we thank you

thank you for this

example

this example

that we get

of Mary

her innocent

and sometimes

naive

faith and obedience

in you

but she was

a work in progress

her heart

was pliable

and tender

and willing

to be instructed

thank you for her

example

Lord may

may we follow

in her steps

as we're following

especially

after the steps

of our Savior

our Lord Jesus Christ

who sets the ultimate

and perfect example

who is worthy

of our worship

and our praise

and so Lord

I pray that you

would go before us

this week

and that you

would tune our hearts

to do that

to sing your praise

in Jesus name

Amen

God bless you

have a great

Mother's Day

thanks for coming

that you

that you

have a great

that you

have a great

love

that you

that you

have a great

love

that you

love

that you

have a great

love

that you

have a great

that you

have a great

love

that you

have a great

love

that you

have a great

love

that you

have a great

love