08/10/13

The day Mary doubted her Savior

Mark 3:32 - And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee.


We all look up to Mary and admire her for surrendering to the will of God. Even though she was not married yet and marriage was just short time away for her, she was told by the Angel of God that she would conceive a child by the power of God. Initially she was hesitant and wondered how it would be possible. But on hearing the testimony of her cousin Elizabeth, she abided and was pregnant with a child. Her fiance Joseph had to wait until the child was born to get married unto Mary, because according to Jewish tradition a marriage commenced only when the couple came together in relationship.

We also admire for most of the time she left her other children and was part of the troupe that followed Jesus. She along with her son James and a few other women stood with Jesus when He was crucified even though the closest disciples of Jesus forsook Him.

But in all this good of her, the Bible also shows her spiritual weakness as a mother and as a person. One incident was at the marriage of her daughter in Cana where she forced Jesus to convert water to wine even against His wishes. Jesus showed His unwillingness to do it but on her insisting He obliged, but this went against Jesus wish to do only things that glorify God the Father and not Himself.

The worst among them was the incident recorded in today's message. In this incident she manages to get Jesus really upset. What really happened can be understood by the flow of scriptures. We read in Verse 30 people started accusing Jesus of having an evil spirit and this caused Mary, out of concern to come running with one of her sons to check on Jesus. They were very anxious to see Him and check He was okay therefore did not wait patiently outside for Him to finish but chose to interrupt Him by sending a word in to come out to meet them. On this Jesus got very upset and did not step out immediately but in fact made a statement that His true brother, sister and mother are those who do the will of His Father.

Today's message is not to put down a great woman like Mary but to expose that no man or woman in the Bible was worthy except for Jesus. It was only by the grace of God that they were used for the glory of God.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, You have time and again showed how weak man is. Even though your grace was there upon them yet their weakness was visible. Lord, we know we too can be history makers like them even thought we are weak like them for your grace makes the difference...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference ]
Luke 1:35-38
35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee: wherefore also the holy thing which is begotten shall be called the Son of God.
36 And behold, Elisabeth thy kinswoman, she also hath conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her that was called barren.
37 For no word from God shall be void of power.
38 And Mary said, Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

John 2:1-11
1 And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:
2 And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.
3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.
4 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.
5 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.
6 And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.
7 Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.
8 And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.
9 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,
10 And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.
11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.

Mark 3:22-35
22 And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.
23 And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan?
24 And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
25 And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
26 And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.
27 No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.
28 Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:
29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:
30 Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.
31 There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him.
32 And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee.
33 And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren?
34 And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
35 For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.

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