A.Mary, the mother of Jesus, led a blessed life of faith along with hardship because of her Son Jesus, the Son of God.
B.In the words of Mary, we can find faith, wisdom, and instruction that are helpful for us as we live as disciples of her Son.Let us consider the Scriptures that record the words of Mary in this lesson.
II.LEARNING FROM MARY’S WORDS
A."Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.”
1.Mary spoke these words to the angel Gabriel when he told her that she was to give birth to the Son of God (Luke 1:26-38).Her words of submission to God’s will showed the depth of her faith in God.
a.At first, Mary was troubled by Gabriel’s greeting and puzzled by his prophecy concerning the child she would conceive.She asked, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?”
b.After Gabriel explained how this would happen, he said, "For nothing will be impossible with God.”By the power of God, even a virgin could be with child (Isa. 7:14).
c.Mary then believed his words and humbly submitted to God’s will.Her words resemble the words that her Son would later say: "Yet not as I will, but as You will…Your will be done” (Matt. 26:39, 42).
2.The lesson for us is to follow Mary’s example.May her answer to Gabriel be our answer to God.
a.Mary was faced with a difficult challenge that would alter her whole life.Nothing like this had ever happened before, but her faith in God was "the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1).
b.When we are faced with challenges, we also must submit ourselves as bondslaves to God.Let each of us trust in God enough to say to Him, "May it be done to me according to Your word.”
c.In the likeness of Mary, let us follow the directions of Proverbs 3:5-6 – "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
B."My soul exalts the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.”
1.These words were the beginning to a beautiful song of praise and thanksgiving to God that Mary spoke to her relative Elizabeth (Luke 1:46-55).Notice the elements of her song:
a.She began with joyous praise for God (vv. 46-47).
b.She then recognized the great blessings God had given her as He also did great things for His own name (vv. 48-49).
c.She acknowledged God’s great power, justice, and mercy as He deals with man (vv. 50-53).
d.She saw that God had remembered His promises to Abraham and his descendants (vv. 54-55).
2.We may meaningfully repeat every word of Mary’s praise for God, for we too should exalt the Lord for His wonderful blessings.
a.Certainly, we should express words of praise for our Almighty God.Our souls should exalt the Lord always.
b.We should always give thanks for His wonderful blessings and recognize the blessing of being used by God as a servant to glorify His great name.
i.When we do good in the name of God, it is good for us.Notice 2Timothy 2:21 – "Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.”
ii.Jesus said, "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 5:16).
c.We should recognize the providential workings of God in the world around us today and throughout history.Indeed, He scatters the proud of heart, and He exalts those who are humble (see Jas. 4:10).
d.We should see that God always remembers His promises.This will cause us to praise Him, give thanks for His blessings, and have great confidence in His word.
C."I have been anxiously looking for You.”
1.Mary said this to Jesus when He was twelve years old and she and Joseph had lost Him in Jerusalem (Luke 2:41-50).
a.Mary and Joseph were returning from Jerusalem after the Passover Feast when they discovered that Jesus had been left behind.
b.After searching for three days, they found Jesus in the temple listening to the teachers and asking and answering questions.Mary said to Him, "Son, why have You treated us this way? Behold, Your father and I have been anxiously looking for You.”
c.The Lord replied to her, "Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father's house?”
2.We should share in Mary’s eagerness and sense of urgency in finding Jesus.
a.Mary had the anxiety of a mother who had lost her child, but our need to find Jesus should be no less urgent.We desperately need Jesus to save and preserve our souls.
b.For us, Jesus is once again found in His Father’s house, which is the true temple of God in heaven.
i.Jesus is now in heaven at the right hand of God the Father (Acts 2:33-36).
ii.In John 14:2-4 and 6, Jesus said, "In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.And you know the way where I am going…I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”
c.Our hope for finding Jesus in His Father’s house of heaven is by faith in Him.
i.Hebrews 11:6 tells us, "And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”
ii.For those who are faithless and disobedient, they will seek Jesus, but they will not be able to go where He is (John 7:33-34).
D."Whatever He says to you, do it.”
1.Mary gave this advice to the servants at a wedding in Cana of Galilee when they had run out of wine (John 2:1-11).
a.This was the occasion of Christ’s first sign done in Galilee.He turned water to wine in six stone waterpots containing twenty or thirty gallons of water each.
b.Mary prompted Jesus to perform this miracle and instructed the servants to obey Him.There was no doubt in her mind that Jesus could perform this great miracle, which manifested His glory and caused His disciples to believe in Him.
2.Every one of us should follow Mary’s advice in every aspect of our lives.Whatever Jesus says to us, we must do it.
a.This message is taught repeatedly in the New Testament.
i.Jesus said, "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments…If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.” (John 14:15, 23).
ii.He also said, "You are My friends if you do what I command you” (John 15:14).
iii.The only genuine way to recognize Jesus as your Lord is by doing what He says.Jesus asked, "Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46)
b.For those who do whatever Jesus says by faithfully obeying Him, He becomes their source of eternal life (Heb. 5:9).They will receive not the water that turns to wine but the water that gives eternal life so that they will never thirst again (John 4:13-14).
III.CONCLUSION
A.In Mary’s words, we find submission to God, praise for Him, urgency to seek the Lord Jesus, and faithful obedience to His words.
B.What more does a Christian need to be a faithful follower of the Lord Jesus?Therefore, let us heed the words of Mary so that we may share in her blessings.
