Mary Didn't Know...

That was the title of our pastor's sermon today...Mary Didn't Know. We read Luke 1:26-38 and 2:29-35 as well as Mark 3:20-21, 31-35 and looked at Mary and what she didn't know about being the mother of Jesus. There were things that the angel Gabriel revealed to her: you will bear a son, He will be great and will be called the Son of the Highest, He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end, etc. etc. It wasn't until Mary and Joseph took their son to be circumcised that Simeon told Mary "Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed" (Luke 2:34-35). Mary didn't know the rejection she and her son would go through.

Later on in Jesus' life, opposition was developing because he wasn't following the "script" of what was supposed to happen. In Mark 3 rumors started flying and people accused Jesus of being demon possessed. Our pastor explained that when Mary and His brothers sent for him in Mark 3:31-35, Mary was trying to take care of things like mothers do :) But Jesus, among a crowd, said "Who is My mother and My brothers? Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother." Now, He said this loud enough for Mary and His brothers to hear...and though He wasn't trying to disown His family (He was stating that spiritual relationships go beyond physical relationships), this was still one of those times where a sword pierced through Mary's soul, just like Simeon predicted. Our pastor went on to explain that the will of God takes some unwelcome and unpleasant turns and there will come a time (or times) when the will of God will not align with our will, but there is a reward for those who submit to the will of God.

This was one of those tough to hear sermons that I really needed. It's not that it was any new discovery, but it really spoke to me because this is something I have struggled with for the past 11 months now...it was eye opening and something I needed to hear.