The Girl Next Door

I venture into this post tonight with apprehension; knowing that the potential for being misundertood is great. When discussing issues; especially those in which deeply entrenched traditions are involved, one must abide totally within the context of scripture. One must allow the word of God to go forth as his word is truth and life. The thoughts of men are shifting sand, but the word of God is steadfast and unchanging.

Psalm 119:105 "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."

This is the time of year when Christmas cards are sent between acquaintances and our family is no exception to this. One arrived this morning and I couldn't help but notice the stamp. It featured a familiar "renaissance style" picture of Mary holding the child Jesus. In this picture, Mary is featured wearing a mystical looking blue and gold hooded garment and the area behind her head was illuminated. It's a picture; the likes of which we have all seen countless times throughout our lives. While this picture is well known, it likewise demonstrates some traditions which are contrary to scripture and this is where I want to be really careful as I progress into this post.

Oftentimes, scriptural truths are compromised as the traditions of men get mingled with fact and thus creating a perception that's not entirely accurate. Christmas is just such a situation in which a number of unscriptural things are intertwined with truth. A prime example of this is when you see a nativity scene and the wise men from the east are present also. The wise men of the east show up sometime later as the following verse will attest.

Matthew 2:11 "And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh."

Another example is that which was depicted in the stamp; giving glory to Mary instead of the Lord Jesus. Mary was indeed a chosen vessel and lived in accordance with the law, but she was a person just like everyone else. She was to be married to Joseph and was probably in her teens at the time of the angels appearing as this was the common age for marriage to take place. Joseph and Mary were very average people who would never stand out in a crowd. This next verse takes place when Mary goes to visit her cousin Elisabeth who was, at that time carrying John the Baptist. As you know, upon hearing of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb, Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost, and she speaks the words in Luke 1:42-45. Mary responds to this as follows:

Luke 1:46-48 "And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed."

As you read on through verse 55, one can't help but think that this was the moment in which Mary really began to grasp the scope of what was taking place. (Oftentimes, a person can know of something without actually grasping the significance of it.) The time of Messiahs appearing was at hand. The hope of Israel and the world was leaping from the pages of prophesy and into the realm of the here and now.

The virgin birth was a supernatural event in every sense of the word. This is a truth that many have tampered with in some really contrary ways. Nonetheless, it did take place as was prophesied. This had to be the case in order for Jesus to be able to pay for our sins.

Matthew 1:23 "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us."

This is a truth that has been under asault ever since the days that Jesus walked upon the earth. The fact that Jesus is God manifest in the flesh; and that his birth into the world was a supernatural event. This is the reason that I often bring up I John chapter 4 in which we are admonished to "try the spirits to see if they be of God."

Luke 2:19 "But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart."

Mary was a ponderer. She observed, and made mental notes of the events that were taking place. In the above verse, she ponders the words of the shepherds. In Luke 1:29, she wonders of the angels salutation. (Up until that moment, her life had been 100% average) In Luke 2:33, Joseph and Mary both marvel at the words spoken by Simeon. One can only imagine that such was the case when the wise men arrived and in every instance where something transpired which was contrary to "average." Another truth that's not readily known is that Mary had other children later on. We don't know how many, but it was enough that the family went a days journey as they returned from jerusalem, before realizing that Jesus wasn't with them. One can almost hear the ensuing conversation.

"Isn't he with you?"

"I thought he was with you."

"Is he in a desert place?"

"There goes our shot at the parents of the year award." They return to Jerusalem and after three days, they find him in the temple, talking with the doctors who are stunned with his knowledge of scripture. As I was writing here, I was doing my own pondering. They spent three days searching Jerusalem. I wonder if, during that time, Mary was thinking on the things that transpired at Jesus birth until it dawned on her; "The Temple! We need to go check the temple!" Scripture doesn't give the details of the search, only what Mary said when they finally found him.

Luke 2:48 "And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son why hast thou thus dealt with us? Behold thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing."

The doctors, who had studied the law since the time of their youth were fascinated as this twelve year old boy ran scriptural circles around them. Joseph and Mary were equally amazed.

Luke 2:49 "And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Fathers business?"

John 1:14 "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."

One more verse and I'll close. This scene takes place at a wedding feast in which there is no wine. Mary instructs the servants as follows:

John 2:5 "His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it."

Those words would apply to us all "whatsoever he saith unto you, do it." Mary was undoubtedly a lady with a sweet and curious spirit, but she was just like all of us. She never sought her own will and in scripture, all glory is given to Jesus who is the Son of God. He alone was tempted in all points as we are and was yet without sin. He alone was able to shed his blood for us. Three days later, he rose from the dead, and he has the keys of hell and death at this very moment. While Mary was indeed a godly lady, she was never prayed to or worshipped. This is why the picture that was on the stamp that I mentioned at the beginning of this post is contrary to scripture.

The word of God, the Holy Bible, will never lead you astray. It's the gauge by which we screen everything; to determine if it's truth or error. In this age of strong delusions and well entrenched traditions, we must give all diligence to ensuring that we're lining up with scripture and not with something that's contrary in nature.

One more observation before closing this. It takes place as Jesus is on the cross.

Luke 19:26-27 "When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then he saith to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home."

It's not clear from scripture, what has happened to Joseph, but Jesus ensures that someone takes care of Mary after his departure. In those days, being a widow was an incredibally rough life and this disciple took care of Mary from that day on. Actually, little is written of the physical relatives of Jesus. We know of James, the Lords brother, and we also know that he had brethren who didn't believe on him at the time mentioned in John 7:3-5. The primary focus is to be on the Lord Jesus Christ, who is from everlasting to everlasting, and who paid for our sins with his own blood at Calvary. Jesus Christ is the Alpha and the Omega; the first and the last.