Mary of Nazareth (Luke 1:26-45)

 Sermon for Milledgeville & Whitestown UMC...

Mary of Nazareth (Luke 1:26-45)

 

Exhausted after a five-day journey to Bethlehem, and the labor and delivery of her son, Mary put the baby Jesus down to sleep. Just as she was beginning to relax and get some rest, a bunch of smelly shepherds arrive. One of them is a boy who thinks what the baby needs right now is a drum solo! Poor Mary!

 

We’ve loaded so much legend around Jesus’ birth we don’t know what is biblical and what is embellishment. Our traditions have more to say about Mary than the scriptures.

 

Mary as portrayed by Olivia Hussey
 in the 1977 TV miniseries Jesus of Nazareth

It was at Mary’s insistence that Jesus performed the first of his miracles, when he changed water to wine. (Jn 2:3, 5) Mary was a supporter of Jesus’ ministry, but like any mother she worried for him. She showed up outside a house in a community where Jesus had performed an exorcism. Mark says Mary and her other sons thought Jesus had lost his mind. (Mk 3:21) Jesus was told his mother and family were outside wanting to speak with him. Jesus said, “Who is my mother? Those who do the will of God are my mother, brothers and sisters. (Mat 12:46-50)

 

Mary was present at Jesus’ crucifixion. Who can forget sacred images of Mary, weeping openly, holding the body of her dead son. Mary was with the disciples on the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit filled the Church. Empowered to speak other languages, they proclaimed the good news about Jesus. Mary was significant to the early church, an eyewitness for the authors of our four gospel accounts.

 

Luke says Mary was related to Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist. We assume they were kin by blood, but not necessarily so. In the gospels, there are two conflicting genealogies for Jesus. Matthew follows the classic line of Judah’s kings from David all the way to Jesus. Luke follows the lineage, not from Solomon, but from his half brother Nathan.

 

Some interpreters have concluded that Matthew gives Joseph’s lineage to Jesus, while Luke provides Mary’s lineage. If one accepts this idea, Mary was a descendant of King David. Some traditions teach that Mary was born in Jerusalem, orphaned at some point, and raised by her aunt Elizabeth, her mother’s sister and mother of John the Baptist.

 

Another view says Mary was born into a priestly clan, like her cousin Elizabeth. Mary would have lived in a priestly town, assuming her father was a priest. If her mother was from a priestly family, she certainly could have married a man named Heli who was a descendant of King David. Priests’ and kings’ families were known to intermarry. The Bible gives no definite answer as to Mary’s family.

 

From the scripture, I can say Mary exhibits strong faith, courage, and a servant’s heart.

 

Mary exhibits strong faith.

 

Nathanael famously criticized Mary’s hometown: “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” This little village in Galilee had homes built into hillsides, little more than hand-made caves. The community may have had a strong hope in Messiah. Nazareth can mean little shoot or branch. The messiah is referred to as a shoot growing from the stump of Jesse. Jesse is King David’s father. The stump is a metaphor for the fallen kingdom of Judah. The branch growing from the stump is hope in God’s promise to restore Israel. God promised a divinely anointed king from the line of David, who will establish a kingdom of peace and plenty.

 

 

At Nazareth, the archangel Gabriel paid Mary a visit. An archangel is a high-ranking prince among angels. Gabriel, like Hermes in Greek mythology, was the messenger of God. He told Mary she was going to bear the Son of God.

 

Gabriel addressed her as “favored one.” A more literal translation of Gabriel’s greeting is, “rejoice and be glad, blessed one who is honored by God.” Mary didn’t know what to think. She was scared just like Zechariah the priest was when Gabriel appeared to him in the temple.

 

Gabriel calmed her. (My paraphrase) “Don’t be afraid. I bring you good news! You’re going to have a son. The Holy Spirit will impregnate you with the holy Son of God. He is the promised messiah.”

 

It was customary for a girl in her teens to be wed to an older man. Can you imagine the shock teenager Mary felt? She was scared and confused, not knowing what to think. But Mary listened to the angel. Since she was a virgin, she questioned how this could be, not to mention the scandal it would cause. Mary responded with faith and obedience.

 

“I am the Lord’s servant; let it be to me as you have said.”

 

Compare how Zechariah responded to the news of his son, John. He reacted to Gabriel’s news with doubt. “How can I be sure of this? I’m old and my barren wife is elderly.” But Mary responded with faith and a godly servant’s heart.

 

I’ve had moments, when God made an unwelcome decision that was hard to accept. I wrote a song about an appointment I didn’t ask for.

 

Strip Me (Itinerant Preacher Blues)

I had it all figured out, how everything should go.

Asked You to bless my plan, but I didn’t know

You had another way, a way of sacrifice

Now I’m blown away by your asking price.

 

I got to leave my friends. I go to say goodbye

Just to follow You. Now I’m wondering why

I gotta hurt so much just to obey

Take my blues and carry them away

I eventually submitted to God. I would’ve suffered less pain if I’d trusted God like Mary did. To pursue such faith, we must practice letting go and trusting God with everything in life. God is the supreme authority in the universe. Why do I act like I’m the authority? When life takes an unwelcome turn, can you trust that God has your best interests in mind? Surrender to His will, just as Mary modeled for us. “Let it be to me as you have spoken.” Mary exhibits strong faith.

 

Mary was courageous.

She became pregnant when she was betrothed to Joseph. A betrothed couple waited a year or so while the bride continued to live with her family. Joseph and Mary’s parents likely accused Mary of fornication. She could be stoned to death for such a breach of trust. Joseph intended to divorce her quietly. Mary faced these threats and their scorn with courage, trusting that it was God’s will for her to bear Jesus. For the sake of Jesus, God would protect her from harm. God would see her through.

 

I love the courage Paul and Silas showed, chained in a prison cell in Ephesus. They sang songs of praise to God until God shook the earth and their chains fell off. Can you see yourself in such a situation choosing to courageously praise God? Mary was courageous.

 

Mary suffered for her calling with a servant’s heart.

 

Matthew tells us that Joseph was warned in a dream to flee to Egypt. Can you imagine how Mary felt when they had to run from King Herod’s jealous rage? She left everything and everyone she had ever known to protect Jesus. I have a small statue of the holy family fleeing Bethlehem. It reminds me that Mary suffered great burdens as the God bearer. Mary suffered for her calling. She held her son at the manger and she held her son’s lifeless body at the cross. Mary, too, was wounded. And she did it all with a servant’s heart. “I am the Lord’s servant.”

 

 

As we journey into Christmas, let Mary’s example of faith, courage, and servanthood light your way. Keep her example in mind as you maneuver through this busy time of year. Mary pondered. She gathered her thoughts and cherished the salvation God was bringing into the world through Jesus.

 

As Elziabeth exclaimed at Mary’s visitation, “blessed is she who believed the Lord!”

 

You, too, will be blessed when you believe.