I have been in Protestant circles for most of my life, and I find it curious that I have never heard a full-length sermon about the Virgin Mary, although her name pops up fleetingly and most often at Christmas. I have often wondered why she is not properly spoken of in the context of Mother’s Day or other occasions considering that she was such a powerful and pure instrument of God. She is an amazing example of how every woman of God and mother should be. Although she was not rich or famous, she demonstrated a noble spirit and character that everyone could learn from. She remained humble even when she was chosen to perform the most amazing work for God’s plan.
Have you ever wondered why Christ didn’t just come down here on a fiery chariot like the one that Elijah departed in, or why He didn’t just walk here like Enoch or float down from Heaven on a cloud heralded by the sound of angelic trumpets?
It seems to me that God wanted Jesus to enter here the same way that we all do, to experience being a helpless innocent child for a season. And God wanted Him to have a mother while He was in this world as a seal of His humanity, and because there is nothing on Earth that compares to the love of a mother.
I did not care for some aspects of the movie “Passion of the Christ.” It was far too graphic for my taste, and it seemed like the director wanted to make Jesus into another Braveheart. But I did find one thing especially moving in the film: the powerful presence of Mary.
I had never stopped to consider what it must have been like to be the mother of Christ, to always be in His shadow observing His ministries, suffering, rejection, and death. As a mother myself, it resonated with me in a mighty way. I realized that God knew exactly what He was doing when He chose Mary. She knew when to stay out of the way and when to be close. She loved Jesus with incredible longsuffering and tenderness, and yet never interfered with God’s business. Even at the cross, her heart was so strong and she too drank from a bitter cup that most of us would have refused.
I don’t write this to steal any glory from Jesus the Messiah, because He is the one who willingly died to deliver us from sin and opened the door to Heaven for every soul. But I don’t think we should be afraid to talk about His earthly mother and learn from her character. She is a Biblical woman to celebrate. Because there’s just something about Mary.
Drifting into the Divine ~♥~ 