Sunday: Women Who Welcomed Jesus’ Advent
Only Luke records the reaction of these women to the wonder of cosmic history: that the Son of God took human flesh in order to complete the redemptive mission of the Father and fulfill the Messianic hopes of His people.
Image © Krieg Barrie from GoodSalt.com
Though these women didn’t fully understand what was happening, their words and reactions to these astonishing events revealed their faith and wonder at the works of God.
Read Luke 1:39-45, the encounter between Elizabeth and Mary. What does Elizabeth say that reveals her understanding, however limited, of the great events that were taking place?
After Elizabeth spoke, Mary then followed with her own words (Luke 1:46-55). Often understood to be a song, these words are full of fragments from the Old Testament, attesting that Mary was a devoted student of Scripture and thus a fit mother for Jesus. Mary’s song is rooted not only in Scripture but deep down in her relationship with God. An identity emerges between her soul and her Lord, and between her faith and Abraham’s hope.
Read Luke 2:36-38. What important truths are brought to light in the story of Anna in the temple?
Expectant hope finds its radical fulfillment in Jesus. An old widow recognizes the miracle, and from then on she made it her compulsive mission to proclaim the Savior to all those who came to the temple. She became the first woman evangelist of the gospel.
Try to imagine the wonder and astonishment of these women at the events unfolding around them. What can we do to help keep alive in our own hearts the wonder and astonishment of the great truths that we have been called to proclaim?
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The women we must remember represent the other side of the coin of God's character, MERCY, while man the JUSTICE character of God (Elohim). So we must respect and expect women to be part of the ushering of the Kingdom of God by way of Christ's return through ministry. So it is no surprise that they were joyful in the resurrection for they always have the belief in mercy to win at the end but men are so justice oriented to not believe in such doctrine or His Resurrection and were not happy.
I love the point about Mary's song being "full of fragments from the Old Testament, attesting that Mary was a devoted student of Scripture and thus a fit mother for Jesus." Oh how I wish that all His children might likewise fill their hearts and minds with His Word and become fit vessels for the abiding presence of His Spirit.
Anna did just what we should expect. All who have known the love of God are called to share that love. His love is so wonderful! How can we who have known the joy of the Lord, hold back the expression of the greatest joy of our life?
We all as mothers have a great duty of studying and raise our families in the fear of God. All the examples given today help us to be commited in our spiritual lives so that when we are given the responsibilities first to our children, they maybe examplary as John and Jesus were. Who grew in wisdom and in the fear of God.
I find it quite inspirational to see how with such comitment women in the days of Jesus, testified the fulfilment of His first coming. It is an example for us today to do the same as we look forward to Jesus second soon coming. By having a real daily encounter with our Lord and saviour, we will have something quite tangible to share with others of the truth of His soon return, because we demonstrate in our lives this message of urgency.
As Men, Women, boys and girls of God in order to keep alive the wonder and astonishment of the first and second advent. We must do the same things that Mary, Elizabeth and Anna did. They were prayerful, received the indwelling of God's Spirit, they recognized a need for the savior, they gave praise and thanks to God, they studied God's word and was knowledgeable of the scriptures, they demonstrated great faith and shared their faith enthusiastically with others. As our memory verse states God will choose and use any one who is willing to make themselves available to be used by God.
I think there were many driving forces in that culture that made those women what they were. When you are denied so much you either give in to despair or you fight against the tide with everything you have and these women chose to make the best of a less than ideal social situation.
They studied, understood and followed the word of God. It had nothing to do with their economic conditions. They loved God based on their understanding of the scriptures, period. Remember, other many more women could have been used by God. They were righteous before Him. Mary for example kept herself holy and was a virgin even though she was engaged to Joseph.
The world of Jesus day was far from a democracy. Jesus put forth this incredible idea that people were/will be equal in His 'new world order' ! Deeper than political and social equality for all - Jesus treats His Creation as personally worthy of His love, care, and saving grace. I pray we will live up to His invitation and the work and witness He calls us to.
I like Mary's song of praise there is a lot of old testament fragments which shows she studied the bible even though Jesus was God as a child Mary studied the bible with the family and he attended all Jewish ceremonies and Anna when she saw the first coming of Jesus she took it upon herself and went out to preach considering she was a widow and the Jewish culture didn't consider women to be important even nowadays women should not consider what society say to them they should proclaim the word of God.
I am so thankful to Luke for recording Mary's words. In this day and age so many are confused about Mary's role in the plan of salvation.
The Word of the LORD is clear:
Jesus is the one who saves us from our sins. He is the only Mediator who ever lives to make intercession for us.
Mary's role was to love, care for and teach Jesus from the Word, but Mary acknowledged that she needed a Saviour just like we do.
I just love these 3 women Mary, Elizabeth and Anna. They showed the other side of the coin of God's character as Aca mentioned. Women are full of compassion, love, submission and appreciation. Mary never questioned the Angel when she received the Good News. Elizabeth was old but she never argued when the Angel brought the news to her. Anna’s testimony is amazing, all she did was to appreciate God’s love and share with everyone who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
Verse 41 And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. When a woman is in the presents of God, the Holy Spirit is not far from her.
“My soul magnifies the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Saviour. For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation. When a woman is filled with the Holly Spirit, she’s full of praise.
Women let’s sit at the feet of Jesus and be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Can someone give me the passages that Mary was reciting from the Old Testiment? Thanks!!
http://biblia.com/bible/nkjv/Luke%201.46-55 Has all the links to the OT.
Mary's song doesn't seem to point to a particular passage or verse/s, but rather to a more general knowledge of the history of Israel. Verses 54 and 55 NIV say "He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and to His descendants foreever, even as He said to our fathers"...this seems to be closest allusion to a knowledge of scripture, though she doesn't elaborate on what God actually said.
We, just like Mary, Eliza and Anna, should be willing and be ready for the 2nd advent of Jesus. Know and learn the Word, be ready to walk out of your cultural, societal, traditional chains and indiscriminately tell the world the gd news of Jesus.
There is an old testament passage in which another woman, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, said much the same thing Mary did. It is Hanna's prayer found in 1 Samuel 2 -- “My heart rejoices in the Lord; in the Lord my horn is lifted high. My mouth boasts over my enemies, for I delight in your deliverance. “There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God. “Do not keep talking so proudly or let your mouth speak such arrogance, for the Lord is a God who knows, and by him deeds are weighed. “The bows of the warriors are broken, but those who stumbled are armed with strength. Those who were full hire themselves out for food, but those who were hungry are hungry no more. She who was barren has borne seven children, but she who has had many sons pines away. “The Lord brings death and makes alive; he brings down to the grave and raises up. The Lord sends poverty and wealth; he humbles and he exalts. He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor. “For the foundations of the earth are the Lord’s; on them he has set the world. He will guard the feet of his faithful servants, but the wicked will be silenced in the place of darkness. “It is not by strength that one prevails; those who oppose the Lord will be broken. The Most High will thunder from heaven; the Lord will judge the ends of the earth. “He will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed.”
Both Hannah and Mary find wonder in the fact that God chooses to honor the lowly by using them for his purposes. Neither understood the full ends, but were willing to be used. Yes, mercy is key, but I see justice portrayed in both songs as well.
Thanks for that reference Rick Nosik 🙂 I'll be using that in the class on Sabbath 🙂 I still don't agree with the lesson however, saying that Mary's song is "full of fragments of the Old Testament"...the lesson's point is not validated by a single passage...but the passage is a good parallel 🙂
Enrico, you might find those fragments if you use a Bible with marginal references. Most of the allusions are from the Psalms.
The song of Mary reflects the thought of the following OT passages: Luke 1:46 (1 Sam. 2:1; Ps. 103:1), v. 47 (1 Sam. 2:1), v. 48 (Gen. 30:13; 1 Sam. 1:11), v. 49 (Deut. 10:21; Ps. 111:9), v. 50 (Ps. 103:17), v. 51 (Ps. 89:10), v. 52 (1 Sam. 2:7–10; Job 5:11; 12:19), v. 53 (1 Sam. 2:5; Ps. 107:9), v. 54 (Ps. 98:3; Isa. 41:8), v. 55 (2 Sam. 22:51; Micah 7:20).
Nichol, F. D. (Ed.). (1980). The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary (Vol. 5, p. 686). Review and Herald Publishing Association.
We are created for a purpose, in the church both men and women have a role to play. God is not a respecter of individuals