The Lutheran Hour
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"Mary: A Reminder of Spiritual Mothers"
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Text: Luke 2:19
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PRAYER: Almighty and everlasting God, with mercy You address us and with love You possess us. Today we echo the psalmist, who reminds us that You do not treat us as we deserve. In Christ You have, without our merit, paid for all our sins, not with gold or silver, but with the innocent blood of Your Son Jesus Christ. O Lord, we pray that You direct the light of Your love, especially at wives, mothers, and grandmothers, who give so unselfishly to their families. Encourage the discouraged. Lift up the broken-hearted and console the terminally ill with the words of Your Risen Son, that just as He was raised on Easter morning in Christ, they too shall rise and live forever in glory. In Jesus name, we pray. Amen.
In 1963 feminist Betty Friedan authored a book titled “The Feminine Mystique.” Some historians now claim this book launched the radical feminist movement. Along with the creed of feminism came also the promotion of role models for women including Bella Abzug, Eleanor Schmeal and a host of others. But these radical feminists were not widely accepted. Other groups put forth more traditional and conservative women such as Phyllis Schaffley, Dale Evans, and Margaret Thatcher.
Now, instead of getting involved discussing these ideological movements, we, on the basis of the Word of God, intend with great joy and conviction, to set forth the greatest role model for women in history. This is Mary, the mother of Jesus.
There is no mother in history, no woman of any century more deserving to be the role model of women in every generation than Mary, the mother of our Lord! If this surprises you, listen with an open mind as I explain from the Word of God why Mary, the mother of Christ, is the woman to be emulated first by every wife, mother, every grandmother, and secondly, by the rest of us.
Now, for us to clearly understand why Mary is such a powerful example, especially for women today, we need to take a minute and go back a few months to the Christmas story. Remember some of the things said last Christmas about Mary the mother of the baby Jesus? Permit me briefly, to recall several key Biblical teachings on this subject.
We remember on the first Christmas an angel appeared to some shepherds and said: “There has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
Then, the Bible explains, after the angel and all the heavenly hosts had returned to heaven, these shepherds sought out and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. When the shepherds had seen this, they told everybody, the Bible says. They told everyone they met about what they had seen and heard. “And all who heard it,” the Bible says, “wondered.” Yes, they wondered at the things told them by the shepherds. Mary, however, did not just wonder at all these things. Mary, the Scriptures say, “treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart.” For Mary, these words of the angel, these miraculous and spectacular occurrences were more than mere passing events. Mary was reflecting deeply on how these events fit together with the powerful words an angel had told her months before. The Holy Spirit would come upon her; and the power of the most High would overshadow her and her offspring would be called the “Son of God.”
Well, by now you are probably saying to yourself, “I’m confused. I’ m so confused. Why is this preacher talking about the birth of Jesus on a day when we honor mothers? And, why is he repeating the Christmas story out of season?” Well, my friends, here is the point.
We are focusing on the fact that many, “who heard about the birth of Jesus wondered about all these things.” But Mary was different. You see, Mary is singled out in the Bible as having done something all of us need to emulate. The Bible says Mary not only wondered about these things. She “pondered them in her heart.”
Nowadays we don’t use the word “ponder” very much. However, if you look in a dictionary, you learn that “ponder” means to reflect upon, or to think about things soberly and deeply. It means to think upon words or events in life, and try to determine what those words and events really mean. So when the Bible says Mary “pondered all these things in her heart,” this means Mary did not immediately fully comprehend or clearly understand what all the events connected to Jesus’ birth really meant. Like a picture that gradually emerges from a picture puzzle, with each new event Jesus’ identity and His mission became more and more clear to Mary.
This is also what happens when we attend a Bible study. Each time we hear a Bible-based sermon, the picture of who God is and who Jesus is, and why He died on the cross becomes clearer because the Spirit opens our mind. Thus, as we ponder on God’s Gospel, it becomes more and more clear. You see, attaining genuine Christianity is not merely a matter of quickly memorizing a few historical facts. Genuine Christianity is driven by the Living Word of God, which sends its roots deep into our soul. This happens when we, like Mary, ponder, reflect, think about and struggle with, not only about who Jesus was but who Jesus is at this very hour, and how He fits into our life.
Pondering, reflecting, and even vigorously discussing who Jesus is, is not a phenomena of our generation. Even during His earthly ministry, heated debates occurred regularly as Christ’s mission and identity were clearly realized. And later, these “ponderings,” based on Biblical knowledge, resulted in the Apostles Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed. These creeds are clear confessions of faith — clear statements of who Jesus is, of what He has done for us to save us from the curse of sin.
So, as Jesus grew up, He spoke words that were not always immediately comprehended by His parents. There is no doubt Mary must have been fascinated, perplexed, sometimes confused, and maybe even intrigued by the words of her Son. Now this surely includes the words spoken by the 12-year-old Jesus in the temple; and, of course, words He said to Mary in His first miracle when He changed water into wine. Surely, as time went on, Mary continued to encounter new occurrences and baffling words from Jesus. Nevertheless, in the back of her mind the key to her pondering echoed those most important words the angel had spoken to her. The angel said to Mary the Holy Spirit would come upon her, the power of the Most High would overshadow her, and her offspring would be called the Son of God.
Now, in a day when the minds of many women are filled with plots of Hollywood and television sitcoms consisting of love triangles, illicit affairs, and wrecked marriages; in an era when thousands of mothers and grandmothers are burdened by the feelings of guilt of not having raised their children better, what a God-pleasing resolution it would be if these same mothers and grandmothers could follow the example of Mary, and ponder daily the Gospel words that Jesus is the Son of God; that His name would be called Jesus because He died to save all mothers from the curse of family conflict and marriage failures.
As women do daily tasks, as mothers raise their children, and as grandmothers bring up loved ones, do like Mary did. Ponder, think, meditate, and reflect daily that every time you fail in the superhuman task of raising your loved ones; and, each time you stumble in “bringing up your children in the way they should go,” always know Jesus is beside you to help you; He is always next to you to forgive you; and He is forever with you to strengthen you.
If today as wife, mother, or grandmother believe you could have done better in the past, follow Mary’s example. Ponder the Good News of God’s Word. Ponder daily, and even commit to memory the Gospel words of Isaiah the prophet who says of Jesus: “Surely our grief Jesus Himself bore, and our sorrows He carried; yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. Jesus was “pierced through for our transgressions. He was crushed,” the Bible says, “for our iniquities and sins; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed from all our failures.” All of us, the Bible says, “all of us; men, women, mothers, fathers, grandfathers, grandmothers, like sheep have gone astray. Each of us has turned unto his own way; but the Lord has caused the sins of all of us to fall upon the Lord Jesus Christ” (Isaiah 53:4-6).
And so, as the living Word of God, as this Gospel of God, moves into your mind, the devil and his demons of discouragement will be forced to get out of your life.
Now, let’s be honest. Maybe you, like Mary, don’t yet have a clear, complete, or perfect picture of Jesus. Don’t worry. The apostle Paul reminds us in many ways we see life only “dimly,” or “unclearly.” Nevertheless, this is why God has given us not only His Word, but also His Spirit; so through daily meditation on His Word, God will enable you to see Jesus more clearly so that you will understand His words more surely; so that you will rejoice in His grace and mercy more fully.
Some women today are considered great role models because they are financially successful, or because they have achieved high stature in the world of business executives. Other women are held up as role models because they have authored books. Still other women are considered the ones to emulate because they have demonstrated great athletic success.
Now, let no one deny these women the secular accolades they deserve. However, if you are a Christian mother or grandmother, look first to Mary, the Mother of Jesus. Mary “pondered in her heart” the baby born to her was, as the angel announced to the shepherds, “a Savior, Christ the Lord!” (Luke 2:11).
If you are a teenage mother or a single mom struggling to raise a family; or even, if you are a mother of a traditional family, know with certainty God loves you in Jesus Christ. Live every day with the blessed assurance that your heavenly Father not only watches your every move and hears your every thought, but your gracious Father in heaven seeks every hour to strengthen you, assures you of forgiveness for all your failures and gives you a hope in Christ, a hope that is eternal.
With the different philosophies nowadays competing for the attention of women and mothers, no better example can ever be found than that of Mary, the mother of Christ. Mary did not look at Jesus lightly. She did not receive Jesus’ words and promises passively. Mary treasured all words of Jesus and God’s forgiving Gospel and pondered, pondered, and pondered them everyday in her heart.
And so, my friends do the same today. God will drive the devil away. Jesus said, “My Words are Spirit and they are life” (John 6:63). Ponder, therefore, the words of Christ in your mind and Jesus will surely transform your life also! Then, live joyfully every day with the Biblical promise, “Greater is He who is in you.” Yes, great is Jesus Christ who lives in you as you “ponder” His Word, than the devil, who is in the world. Amen.
LUTHERAN HOUR MAILBOX (Questions & Answers) for May 13, 2001 “Mary: A Reminder of Spiritual Mothers” 68-36
ANNOUNCER: I’m Mark Eischer. In the studio with me is Dr. Wallace Schulz. In today’s message you made the point that many women today, especially younger women, are looking for role models. Why is that?
SCHULZ: I think in the last several decades, there has been confusion as to what women’s role in society really is. Some say the ideal woman is successful in business. Others say the ideal woman is a woman who doesn’t need to be married and is, therefore, free. Some even say the ideal woman is one who has a family outside of marriage and should never think of getting married.
ANNOUNCER: Why is there so much confusion?
SCHULZ: I think this confusion results from certain spokesmen, especially radical feminists, who have worked very hard to undermine the traditional and Biblical understanding of the family, of marriage, and also in the home.
ANNOUNCER: Why do they seem to have been so successful?
SCHULZ: I think the answer is quite clear. Many of these ideological forces have really told women if they abandon many of their traditional roles of raising children and managing the home, then they would be much more successful, much happier, and much more fulfilled.
ANNOUNCER: Has that actually happened as promised?
SCHULZ: Well, to the surprise of many, what the radical feminist has promised has not really happened. What is even more remarkable is the failure of the radical feminist movement has been reported and discussed, not by people in the church or by church press, but by the secular media. That is really quite surprising. Already back in 1994 “Insight Magazine,” a very secular journal, in an extensive story showed how many mothers would really prefer being at home, raising a family, rather than trying to be successful and fulfilled in business.
ANNOUNCER: Why do you suppose there has been a backlash to the philosophy of radical feminism?
SCHULZ: Here I can say to look directly at the Scriptures. In the New Testament in the Book of James we read, “Where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder in every evil thing.” This means that when a woman, also men and fathers, place themselves first and want their own needs met before the needs of family and children, then all kinds of problems surface. Selfishness or self-centeredness always produces a backlash. It causes division in the home, tension in the marriage, and almost always leads to broken relationships. In fact, this often produces anger in the minds and lives of children, which sadly frequently becomes very permanent.
ANNOUNCER: Certainly, that was the point of your message today.
SCHULZ: That is what we said, and this is why Mary is such a great role model for women. In fact, she’s a great role model for all of us. This is why we urge all women to ponder the words that Mary did — because Jesus was not just another prophet; Jesus was not just another good teacher; but Jesus was and is the promised Messiah, the Christ of God.
ANNOUNCER: Dr. Schulz, what is the bottom line?
SCHULZ: Well, I think the bottom line is this. There may be a variety of women in society today who live virtuous lives, women who are very successful at business, and who raise great families. These women are not to be put down or diminished. However, the point today is each of us has a primary responsibility. God has given women a great gift of bringing children into this world. Nobody else can do this. Raising children is also the primary responsibility of the woman in the home. And, of course, the husband and father is also equally responsible to raise the children and provide for them. This is why not only all mothers, but all members of every family need to remember not only the key to a happy family, the key to a meaningful life is to always have the forgiveness of God in Jesus Christ at the center of everything. This is what we need to ponder, what we need to think about and rejoice in each day. Then we will experience that great joy of life that only God, through His gracious forgiveness in Jesus Christ, can give us.
ANNOUNCER: Thank you, Dr. Schulz. That brings us to the end of our broadcast for this week. Look for next week’s message titled, “Following Jesus at a Distance.”