Key Text: Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart (Luke 2:19).
The birth of Christ had for its purpose the revelation of God in humanity, the manifestation of perfect manhood to men, and the rendering of the great sacrifice for the sins of the world. These are the things for which the Babe lying in the manger was born and came under the limitations of humanity. The cradle at Bethlehem assumes solemnity when we think of it as the beginning of “a humanity” as we look to where His humiliation was changed into the body of His glory. In the stable of the inn, men said, “A child is born,” and Angles said and bowed their faces in adoration, “The Word has become flesh.”
Is Christian doctrine too exclusively fixed on the historical Christ and continue to lose grasp of the living Christ who is with us today? Rather, we have to look forwards as well as backwards, rejoicing in the sure and certain confidence that Christ has come and He will come again in glory. Christ manifested forth His glory in his first miracle at a marriage feast in Cana of Galilee. Jesus and His disciples seem to have been invited to the marriage feast where Mary was already there. The secret hope which Mary had nourished silently for so long burst into flame as she turned to her son with beautiful faith in His power: Let us tell Jesus our wants and leave Him to deal with them as He knows how. That her Son should no more call her “mother,” but “women,” told her that the old days being subject to her were past forever, and that the old relation was merged in the new one of Messiah. We note that Mary’s sweet humility and strong trust come out wonderfully in her direction to the servants, “Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it” v 5.
At the foot of the cross, Jesus’ mother, Mary, who was John’s aunt, and others took up their station in the ministry of Waiting Love. Here was the courage of loyalty and devotion stronger than death, even when the scene would move the hardest heart to tears and repentance. No physical anguish was too extreme to hold the attention of the “strong Son of God” away from the needs of the loving mother-heart in this hour. With infinite tenderness, Christ addresses His mother and then John: “Woman, behold thy son!” Then He said to John, “Behold thy mother!” Christ believed that His cousin would be faithful to the utmost in providing for His mother material well-being and peace of mind. John accepted the sacred charge and “from that hour took her to his own home.” AMEN!
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