Recently I read a wonderful outline from David Padfield regarding Mary, the mother of Jesus. The point was made that people shy away from teaching about her because of the beliefs about her taught by the Catholic church. Our purpose is to examine her character from the scriptures and make applications today. This is a departure fromwhat was announced about Characters in the Old Testament. Lord willing, we will go back to that next week.
1) IN GOD'S PLAN, SHE UNDERSTOOD HER PLACE
A. She was chosen for a special act: to be the mother of our Lord. God bestowed this on her. Lk 1: 28-30
B. She was blessed among women Lk 1: 28,42
C. She understood the blessing of children Prov: 31: 28-31
D. Her firstborn would be a blessing to all Lk 11: 27-28
F. She understood her role
1. Mt 2: 3-22 - God's dealing with Joseph
2. Luke 2: 42-51 - her submissive spirit when Jesus was 12
3. John 2: 1-12- at the wedding feast in Cana
4. She's denied any special place in the Kingdom - Mk 3: 31-35 - the spiritual relationship is greater..
G. Jesus provided for her care - John 19: 25-27 - the last time we see her is in Acts 1:14
2) HER CHARACTER: WHAT WE SHOULD IMITATE
A. Her purity - the Lord respects and honors this, commanded of all who follow Him 1 John 3: 1-3; Phil 4: 8-9
B. Her humble faith - When told she would give birth to the Lord her response expressed her humility -
Luke 1:38
C. Her faith is seen by the mention of Elizabeth who said of Mary "she who believes." She did not always understand, but believed Luke 2: 50-51.
D. Patient and submissive to God's will and her husband's - Eph 5: 22-24 and Luke 1: 38
E. Her heart was filled with the good, heavenly things - Luke 2:51, all Christans should be full of these things - Phil 4:8
3) HER CHASTE LIFE -
A. The scriptures say she is a virgin. she was a betrothed, espoused, engaged virgin
B. The purity of virginity and the honor of marriage are both seen in her - Heb 4: 13
C. At the birth of Jesus she became a wife in the complete sense of he term - Mt 1:25
D. 4 sons and 2 daughters were born to them - Mt 13: 55-56
4) MISCONCEPTIONS - these will be discussed more fully at a later date
A. Immaculate conception - this is the belief that when Mary was concieved woth out the stain of original sin. (as believed by many religious groups)
B. Perpetual virginity - there is no proof of this in scripture
C. Our mediator - there is a strong push by feminists to have Mary recognized in the Catholic church as being a mediator on par with Jesus.
D. Assumed into heaven - there is no proof of this in scripture, but was made a doctrine of the Catholic church by the pope in 1950.
Conclusion: We often don't think about her, but she had many wonderful characteristics for Christians to emulate today.