Amazon.com
eBook & paperback
eBook & paperback
Volume 11 ... #18
Jesus on the cross ... HIS mother watching Jesus die
Jn. 19:25 ... Now there stood by the cross of Jesus HIS mother, and HIS mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.
*****
What a terrible and bewildering situation. Her son dying a painful death. And she had to recall all the prophecies over the baby Jesus when HE was born. What happened?
Mary had so many situations happen over Jesus which she "pondered in her heart" at the time they were happening.
*****
First there was Jesus' conception by the Holy Spirit ... something that had never happened before in history of man ...
LK 1:26-33 ... And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth A SON, and shalt call HIS name Jesus.
HE shall be great, and shall be called THE Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto HIM the throne of his father David: And HE shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of HIS kingdom there shall be no end.
*****
What is happening? JESUS, her SON is dying on a cross. But the angel said there would be no end to HIS kingdom and HE would reign forever? And HE is dying before her eyes.
It had to be bewildering to Mary.
*****
Then there was her memory of the visit of the shepherds and their excitement over Jesus in the manger:
Lk. 2 ... 10 And the angel said unto them (to the shepherds), Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace,
good will toward men.
And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and THE BABE lying in a manger.
And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning THIS CHILD.
And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
*****
And when they took JESUS as a baby to be circumcised, miraculous events happened at the temple.
Luke 2 ...21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, HIS name was called Jesus, which was so named of the angel before HE was conceived in the womb.
And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought HIM to Jerusalem, to present HIM to the Lord; (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)
And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.
And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the CHILD Jesus, to do for HIM after the custom of the law, Then took he HIM up in HIS arms, and blessed God, and said,
Lord, now lettest thou THY servant depart in peace, according to THY word:
For mine eyes have seen THY salvation,
Which THOU hast prepared before the face of all people;
A LIGHT to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of THY people Israel.
And Joseph and HIS mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of HIM.
And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary HIS mother,
Behold, THIS CHILD is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
*****
And we see Lk. 2:35 fulfilled as Mary stood underneath the cross where Jesus hung and she saw HIM dying.
*****
Concerning our view of Mary today ...
We honor Mary as a servant of God who was willing for the will of God to be done in her life.
She submitted herself to the will of God for her exactly as we do today and as all who are of God have done before us.
While we honor Mary, it is in the same way we honor the apostle Paul.
But we do not worship either Mary nor Paul. They both are our fellow "brethren".
Even the angel of the Lord warned John when John was about to worship that angel.
Revelation 19:10 ... John says ...And I fell at his feet to worship him (the angel). And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus:
worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
*****
Nor do we pray to Mary ... or Paul ... or any other servant of God who has died.
Dead people are sleeping. They can't hear you for they are asleep. When Jesus returns, they will be awakened by HIS voice and rise to meet HIM in the air.
I Thess 4 ... 13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep (dead), that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with HIM.
For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent (precede) them which are asleep (dead).
For the Lord HIMSELF shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
*****
The Bible teaches us to pray directly to God through Jesus Christ, HIS Son.
Eph. 2:18 ... For through HIM we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
*****