"and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger," Luke 2;7
Every true mother feels a sense of awe in her
soul when she bends over her own infant child; but in the case of Mary we may
be sure that the awe was unusual, because of the mystery of the child's birth.
The angel had said to her, "That which is to be born shall be called holy,
the Son of God."
The night of her child's birth there was
a wondrous vision of angels, and the shepherds who beheld it hastened into the
town; and as they looked upon the baby in the manger, they told the wondering
mother what they had seen and heard. We are told that Mary kept all these
things, pondering them in her heart. (Luke 2:19) While she could not understand what all
this meant, she knew at least that hers was no common child; that in some
wonderful sense, He was the Son of God.
A Hurting Mother ~
It’s hard to imagine the mixture of love and
loss with which Mary’s heart throbbed. This dear woman had labored for Jesus’
birth.
How deep and tender her love must have been!
How sweet and patient she must have been, as she moved about at her tasks, as she cared for the life which had been entrusted to her for training and
molding.
She had worried about Him (Luke 2:48), prayed
for Him, loved Him, followed Him during His ministry, and supported Him through
severe opposition. No doubt, she felt the guilt that resulted from her
shortcomings in dealing with Him and her other children. She knew the burden of
motherhood, even as it related to the Son of God.
Mary is a model for us, for the
way in which, in her own particular life, she fully and responsibly accepted
the will of God ( Luke 1:38), because she heard the word of God and acted on
it, and because charity and a spirit of service were the driving force of her
actions. Oh, the enduring, steadfast, unremitting love
of this mother!
This song expresses how immense Mary's love for Jesus was...
A Beautiful Friendship ~
Few things in this world are more beautiful
than the most tender friendships as one sometimes sees between mother and son.
The two enter into the closest companionship. A sacred and secure intimacy is
formed between them. A mother who never forsakes her child and a boy who opens all His heart and soul to His mother,
telling her everything; and she gives Him not a mother's love
only, but also a mother's wise counsel and strong, inspiring sympathy.
The boy whispers His inmost thoughts to His mother, and listens to her wise and
gentle counsel with loving eagerness and childish faith -- O friendship constant, faithful, undying, and true!
The
story of this blessed friendship would sweeten in Christian homes the
relation of mother and child, if only the family members would take heed. It could make every mother a better woman
and a better mother. It could make every child a truer, holier child. Every
home could have its sacred friendships between parents and children.
Thus something of heaven would be brought into our lives.
“In the pure loves of
child and mother
Two human loves make one divine.”
No Greater Love ~
In His last moments of life,
Jesus spoke to his mother. “Woman, behold your son” (v. 26). To John: “Behold
your mother.” From that hour on, that disciple took her to his own home. Jesus is
giving a new son to his mother to replace Himself. And He gives her the best
son she could expect, the disciple Jesus loved.
Jesus’ love toward his own mother proves his
love for us, His believing brothers and sisters. When you and I are in trouble, our thoughts tend to turn inward. But Jesus came not to be served but to serve.
Jesus directs His thoughts toward those whom He loves. He is mindful of our
needs just as He was mindful of His mother’s needs.
It is a sad thing to witness so many families today who do not follow this example of a true parent-child love relationship. It takes the hearts of both to be willing to walk in this kind of undaunted love. Oh, but our God understands where we lack and He can provide the answer for us!
God’s Love is Like a Mother’s Love ~
“As a mother comforts her son, so will I
comfort you.” Isaiah 66:13
Mothers – and anyone else that needs
this reality – “God does understand your problems and He will comfort as a mother comforts.” (source)
We do grow weary in this life: In a day when there is too little love, we need to claim God’s promise to be a “Mother” to us
- · To those who feel helpless, rejected and despised, we need to pray for new hope, a new realization of what kind of God we have. We need to thank God for revealing His nature through the love of mothers and give us eyes to see and hearts to respond. We need to claim God’s promise to be a “Mother” to us. (source)
Jesus
Provides Pity for Motherhood’s Demands ~
Motherhood
can be a great burden. It places great demands on the emotional and physical
resources of mothers. Jesus bore the heavy burden of the cross so that He could
give us the light burden of the Christian life. Jesus said, “Come to Me, all
you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28).
Everything that is demanded of mothers, Christ supplies through his life. We
experience the comfort of His provision through faith and an intimate walk with Him.
Jesus
Provides Pardon from Motherhood’s Guilt ~
What
mother can live up to the expectations placed upon her? Because of its demands
motherhood can produce much guilt. This guilt can be crippling, spiritually,
emotionally, relationally, and even physically. In His death Jesus graciously
tells women (and men), “You don’t measure up. You can’t measure up. That’s why
I died for you!” Only Christ can measure up to the demands of the law of
motherhood. When we take hold of Christ by faith ALL of our guilt is banished
to the grave. Believers are no longer guilty in God’s eyes.
Jesus Grants Peace for Motherhood’s Concerns ~
What
mother or father hasn’t asked these questions?
· What is going to happen to my children?
· How will they possibly turn out well considering my own failures
and shortcomings?
A woman writes: “I experienced steady peace regarding my own
salvation…but…I felt tremendous anxiety about my…family.This spiritual
schizophrenia has often plagued me. How can I have such assured faith in
Christ’s salvation, and yet doubt His providence? How can I rest my soul
entirely upon Him, yet think I need to carry my family myself? At times…I was
able to leave my family in the Lord’s hands, but mostly I felt deep concern for
them…”
Jesus died on the cross to give us new life. The
Apostle Peter reminds us that:
“The promise is to you and
to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will
call”
(Acts 2:38).
God accomplished the salvation of his people
through the treacherous acts of wicked men (Acts 4:27-28). God can bless our
children through even our worst shortcomings. He can raise up children of faith
from the stones of the earth (Luke 3:8). He doesn’t need our help. For less
than perfect mothers and fathers with less than perfect kids, that’s the only
message that can give us real comfort. (source)
As I meditate on the birth of our Savior, I find hope in knowing the depth of love that Mary(as an earthly mother), had for Jesus at His birth and throughout His life on earth, and how God walked with her. I pray someday soon I may enjoy this close mother-son relationship also!
As I meditate on the birth of our Savior, I find hope in knowing the depth of love that Mary(as an earthly mother), had for Jesus at His birth and throughout His life on earth, and how God walked with her. I pray someday soon I may enjoy this close mother-son relationship also!
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