It's been 2000 years since
the glorious light of the cross
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illuminated the world
wailed in darkness and confusion
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about the character of God
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and still today the
greatest need of mankind
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is a revelation of God's love
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that's revealed in
the life of Christ.
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Amazing Facts
presents the everlasting gospel
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with Pastor Doug Batchelor
coming to you each week
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from Sacramento Central
church in sunny California.
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Discover hidden
treasures in God's word today.
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Our message this
morning is dealing with Mary.
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It's a portrait of Mary,
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not to be confused
with Mary Magdalene
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or the other
Mary's in the Bible,
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it's Mary, Jesus' mother
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and Julienne song was
not only beautiful, perfect.
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Thank you for
planning that to go along
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with the sermon so well today.
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You know I even thought
about re-titling this sermon,
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"How to pick your mother?"
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Which you
normally wouldn't think of
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but really that's what
Jesus had to do, right?
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I remember a few years ago
when I was at a camp meeting
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and I met with
the-- at the camp meeting
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they had trust officers
and little booth went by,
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they talked us about a will.
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Well, I hadn't
thought about that,
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I said don't have
much to leave behind.
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They said, "Well, you know,
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what if something happen
to you, what about your kids?"
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I said, "Well that's
what the wife is for."
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And he said, "What if something
happens to both of you?"
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And I said, "Well,
there's grandmas and grandpas."
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And they said, "Well, you know
you got to think about this."
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And so we sat down in
talking, started to thinking.
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They said, "Well, you
know, if you and your wife
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should die
together in a car accident
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and depending on, you
know, if grandma and grandpa
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are available or may be the math
won't work out or something,
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is there another family
that you would like to pick
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to raise your children?"
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Any of you have ever
been through that before
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when your kids are young,
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yeah, you think about that and
you got to write something up,
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what if or you want
the state to decide that?
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And I tell you boy, you really
start to scratch your head
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and rub your chin when you think
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who do I want to be
parents of my children
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if something happens to me?
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And so we prayed about
it and we thought about it
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and we found another family
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in the absence of grandma
and grandpa that could do that.
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And we said, you know,
we went and talked to him
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and said, "Will you be willing?"
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They said, "You better
take good care of yourself."
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Because they knew our kids.
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And since then I have had some--
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and I knew they
have been praying
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for my health and
welfare all these years.
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And we actually had some
families that are our friends
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and they have called us up
and they said, "You know, Doug,
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just wanted you and Karen to
know if anything happens to us,
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we have asked you
to raise our children.
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And we have been
praying for them.
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But it's really, you know we are
laughing it's a serious thing
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when you think who would
you entrust your child to.
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Now if you were God the
Father and even God the Son
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and you've got to pick somebody
with an emphasis on somebody
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that you are
going to be born into
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and you get to pick
your mother and your father,
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earthly mother and father,
that's a pretty serious decision
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you know, I'm
too-- I believe too much
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in the spiritual dynamics
of the Bible to think that
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the Lord just lined up
a bunch of Hebrew girls
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and went eeny, meeny, miny, moe
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and I think when
He did pick Mary,
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He picked somebody that
would also be a fulfillment
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of many things other
than just raising Jesus
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or just to be a surrogate
mother for the Son of God.
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There is a lot going on there
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so we are going to
take some time this morning,
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I am sure we
will run out of time,
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as we explore a
portrait of Mary,
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the one that Jesus was
chosen to be entrusted to.
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If you look in your Bibles
probably good place to start
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is the gospel of Luke
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and we will return to
this passage several times.
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After Luke introduced the
story about John the Baptist,
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you then read in Luke 1.
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Luke's got the longest
chapters in the gospels.
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Verse 26, "Now
in the sixth month
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that means after he met
with Zechariah and Elizabeth,
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the angel
Gabriel was sent by God,
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this is the choice God made,
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to a city of
Galilee named Nazareth."
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Nazareth was a town that was
on the wrong side of the tracks.
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"Betrothed to a man
whose name was Joseph,
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of the house of David and
the virgin's name was Mary.
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So this was the big announcement
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you heard it refer to you before
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where this angel
actually appears to Mary.
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And having come in,
the angel said to her,
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"Rejoice, highly favored
one, the Lord is with you,
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blessed are you among women."
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But when she saw him, she
was troubled at his saying,
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considering what
manner of greeting this was.
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She is wondering
what does this mean
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and why is he
addressing me this way?
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And the angel said to
her, "Do not be afraid, Mary,
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he called her by name,
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for you have
found favor with God.
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And behold, you will
conceive in your womb
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and bring forth a Son
and His name will be Jesus.
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He will be great,
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He will be called
the Son of the Highest
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and the Lord God will give Him
the throne of His father David.
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And He will reign over
the house of Jacob forever,
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and of His kingdom
there will be no end."
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I could stop right here,
spend the next 50 minutes
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easily talking about
the prophetic fulfillment
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and the significance
of what was happening here
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after this announcement.
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Mary knew what this meant.
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Every Jewish mother from Abraham
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indeed every
mother since Eve knew
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that some day the seed
of the woman would be born.
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God will come to
earth in the form of a man
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as our example, as a
demonstration of who God is
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and ultimately as our
substitute, our savior.
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Those are the three
big reasons that Jesus came
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to show us the
father, to be an example
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and to ultimately trade places
with us to take our suffering,
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to take our sin, to
give us His goodness,
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to take our badness,
He gives us His strength,
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He takes our weakness
to make that big exchange.
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God came to earth
in the form of man.
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Now, we could
spend hours talking about
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how was Jesus like us
and yet how was He different.
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There is a lot
given in the Bible
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about the genealogy of Jesus.
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First thing I
wanted you to notice though
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is that God chose
someone by the name of Mary.
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What does that mean?
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You know, I did
a little research,
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it's the most
popular name for girls.
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Did you know that?
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The US Census
Bureau has a list of names
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and in North America
these percentage show
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names chosen for
girls, Mary is more than twice
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as many times
chosen, as choice number
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to which is
Patricia, then on to Linda,
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Barbara, Elizabeth so forth,
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you notice several of
those are biblical names.
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A very popular name,
Mary is the Greek form
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of the Hebrew name
Miriam, Latin would be Maria.
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Lot of people, I
won't ask for show of hands
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but I venture to say
there's probably some Mary's
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right here in this room,
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oh, now I got to
know how many here?
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How many Mary's we got,
either first or second name?
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Mary, raise your hand.
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I see one, two, of
course, Mary Hudson, three,
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I didn't know that, Laurie,
is that your middle name?
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Ah look at that, see you got
to see some others here yeah,
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ah, ah, there is, not you,
what is it Cathy Mary, yeah see.
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Popular, how many
here named Jezebel?
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Why doesn't anyone,
she is a Bible character?
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You know why people pick Mary
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is because her life
was such a noble life
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and such a high calling.
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Now, I did a little
study on the word Mary
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and it's, it's
something of an enigma.
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The first time you
find a Mary in the Bible,
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remember its Mary is
a Greek form of Miriam.
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Is an Old Testament girl
and the word Miriam means
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rebellious or
strong, stubborn, resistant,
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it might be Miriam stubborn
waters or strong waters,
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or waters of
strength, they are not sure.
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They are not sure if
Miriam was not really
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a play on the Hebrew name
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but it may have been Egyptian.
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Now, if it's
Egyptian and don't forget
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Miriam's brother Moses was
his name Hebrew or Egyptian?
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Moses name was Egyptian,
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he was named
Moses by the princess
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for he was drawn from the water.
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There are
pharaohs named Tuthmosis.
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So may be keep in mind they
had been there slaves for years
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that may be from Egyptian
what does the Egyptian mean?
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If it's from the
Egyptian Mir or Miriam
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it means beloved or love,
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so some have said her
name was Miriam meaning
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strong or rebellious because
they were a people in captivity
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and Miriam was
rebellion against the captivity.
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Don't know for sure.
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One thing I do know is
you immediately should realize
00:10:17.98\00:10:21.94
what was
Miriam's role with Moses.
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Here she was supposed to
help preserve her brother
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who was going to be her savior.
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During a time when they
were occupied by another nation,
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Mary was to preserve Jesus
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who was told
also to be her savior.
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That must be very interesting
to be the surrogate mother of--
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to participate in some way
in the creation of you Creator,
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you ever think about that
to watch your Creator be born?
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I mean, wow, just mind blowing.
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How Mary could
both be the parent
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of the Creator of all parents.
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I mean you start
thinking about what that means?
00:11:13.13\00:11:15.04
How Mary could be
nursing the great provider.
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I mean you start
thinking about the role of Mary
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and so when this angel comes
to her makes this declaration.
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Every Jewish
mother knew that someday
00:11:27.18\00:11:29.74
the heir to
David's throne would come
00:11:29.77\00:11:32.55
whose throne would have no end,
00:11:32.58\00:11:34.69
he be the savior of the world,
00:11:34.72\00:11:36.09
he be the great, the
anointed, the Messiah.
00:11:36.12\00:11:38.68
And so when the angel
says, "You're the one,"
00:11:38.71\00:11:41.45
he made it very clear,
he used a lot of passages
00:11:41.48\00:11:43.61
to make it
clear, you are the one.
00:11:43.64\00:11:46.11
She could have bucked at
that like Zechariah said,
00:11:46.14\00:11:49.31
you know, how can this
be and it's not possible.
00:11:49.34\00:11:52.86
But ultimately she says,
beat unto to your hand maiden
00:11:52.89\00:11:56.47
as you have
said, she accepted it.
00:11:56.50\00:11:59.86
And that's really
something when you consider it.
00:11:59.89\00:12:02.26
Now when you look at Mary
00:12:02.29\00:12:04.54
you find out something
she's got a prophetic pedigree.
00:12:04.57\00:12:08.82
You notice it says that Jesus
would be on the house of David.
00:12:08.85\00:12:12.76
As you begin to study
the genealogies in the Bible
00:12:12.79\00:12:15.66
right away when you
open to New Testament,
00:12:15.69\00:12:18.00
Mathew begins
with a list of begats
00:12:18.03\00:12:20.56
and you find out that the begats
of Matthew go down to Jacob
00:12:20.59\00:12:24.17
who is a father of
Joseph who was married to Mary.
00:12:24.20\00:12:27.58
But you go to Luke,
it's a little different
00:12:27.61\00:12:30.76
and Luke it says Joseph who
is the son of Heli, not Jacob.
00:12:30.79\00:12:35.84
And people say, ah,
Bible can't be trusted,
00:12:35.87\00:12:37.71
there is a conflict here
what are you suppose to do.
00:12:37.74\00:12:39.99
Well, Luke was a doctor,
00:12:40.02\00:12:42.45
Luke understanding
that Jesus came through Mary
00:12:42.48\00:12:45.98
and that nobody could question
00:12:46.01\00:12:47.82
the physical connection
between Mary and Jesus,
00:12:47.85\00:12:51.53
he said let's
trace it through Mary.
00:12:51.56\00:12:52.99
The father of Mary was Heli
00:12:53.02\00:12:55.42
and so Luke traces
it through Mary's line.
00:12:55.45\00:13:00.38
Hebrew genealogies
never listed the mother,
00:13:00.41\00:13:05.06
they always listed the father,
00:13:05.09\00:13:06.14
so it said Jacob
whose father was--
00:13:06.17\00:13:08.99
and what it really
means is his father-in-law,
00:13:09.02\00:13:12.18
he is going
through Mary's father.
00:13:12.21\00:13:14.07
Now some commentators have said
one of the names it's the same
00:13:14.10\00:13:19.32
is Matthan or
Matthat, it's the same name.
00:13:19.35\00:13:23.72
He could have been
the father of two boys,
00:13:23.75\00:13:26.33
Jacob and Heli
they were brothers,
00:13:26.36\00:13:29.36
Heli was the father of Mary,
Jacob the father of Joseph.
00:13:29.39\00:13:34.03
It was not uncommon to marry
00:13:34.06\00:13:35.93
first cousins
even in Bible times.
00:13:35.96\00:13:37.90
Matter of fact there was a
law in the Bible that dictated
00:13:37.93\00:13:44.62
that it was important to
preserve the family inheritance
00:13:44.65\00:13:48.93
by marrying the
daughter of the land.
00:13:48.96\00:13:53.06
If Heli's only
daughter was Mary,
00:13:53.09\00:13:55.61
in order to keep the
inheritance in that family,
00:13:55.64\00:14:00.37
Joseph would have to marry her.
00:14:00.40\00:14:03.23
And there has been some
discussion how old was she?
00:14:03.26\00:14:06.88
Ah, I don't go along with some
of these pastors who love to say
00:14:06.91\00:14:09.80
while she was probably
just the 13 or 14 year old girl
00:14:09.83\00:14:12.88
because they married young back
then and I don't believe that.
00:14:12.91\00:14:15.88
When everything else I read
in the Bible seems to indicate
00:14:15.91\00:14:19.05
Mary was probably
18, 19 years of age.
00:14:19.08\00:14:24.81
She was a young lady,
00:14:24.84\00:14:26.28
it may have been
that Joseph married her
00:14:26.31\00:14:28.18
and Joseph was
considerably older.
00:14:28.21\00:14:32.45
I probably out of pause
right now and explain something.
00:14:32.48\00:14:36.70
That people always hick
up, folks struggle with this.
00:14:36.73\00:14:40.81
The Bible tells us that
Jesus had at least six siblings
00:14:40.84\00:14:46.13
four brothers that are named
00:14:46.16\00:14:49.16
and two or three sisters
because it says his sisters.
00:14:49.19\00:14:54.50
So it could have been He had six
00:14:54.53\00:14:57.34
which would have
made Jesus the seventh,
00:14:57.37\00:14:58.87
I like that
ratio a little better.
00:14:58.90\00:15:01.86
It's kind of interesting
00:15:01.89\00:15:03.97
similar to some other
line ups in the Bible.
00:15:04.00\00:15:07.38
Joseph probably had
those other six children
00:15:07.41\00:15:11.36
before he married Mary,
now let me tell you why.
00:15:11.39\00:15:15.21
Meaning there were older step
brothers and sisters of Jesus.
00:15:15.24\00:15:19.89
Meaning Mary only had
one child which was Jesus.
00:15:19.92\00:15:24.88
Pastor Doug, how
can you say that?
00:15:24.91\00:15:26.61
Well several reasons,
first of all in the Bible
00:15:26.64\00:15:28.74
if Jesus was the
oldest of the siblings
00:15:28.77\00:15:32.43
it would have been considered
very disrespectful for Him
00:15:32.46\00:15:35.24
to leave after Joseph
died the family business
00:15:35.27\00:15:38.45
and become an
itinerant preacher.
00:15:38.48\00:15:40.55
It was always the youngest
who was free to leave home,
00:15:40.58\00:15:42.75
the oldest was supposed
to get a double inheritance
00:15:42.78\00:15:45.42
and take over
the family business.
00:15:45.45\00:15:47.89
Even in the story
of the prodigal son,
00:15:47.92\00:15:49.47
which one leaves
home? The younger one.
00:15:49.50\00:15:54.67
Another reason
is you will notice
00:15:54.70\00:15:56.97
that Jesus' brothers are
trying to tell Him what to do
00:15:57.00\00:16:01.37
several times
during His ministry,
00:16:01.40\00:16:03.08
the younger brothers would not
do that with the eldest brother.
00:16:03.11\00:16:06.53
Furthermore at
the cross of Christ,
00:16:06.56\00:16:08.85
Jesus commits the
care of His mother
00:16:08.88\00:16:11.87
not to one of His siblings,
00:16:11.90\00:16:13.40
wouldn't that have
been the natural thing to do
00:16:13.43\00:16:14.91
if they were her real children,
00:16:14.94\00:16:17.00
why even bother,
it was understood.
00:16:17.03\00:16:19.13
But the fact that
they were not her children
00:16:19.16\00:16:21.67
meant that He needed to
commit the care of His mother
00:16:21.70\00:16:23.94
and He doesn't even use one
of His brothers, He uses John.
00:16:23.97\00:16:28.31
So you have to in your
mind revise that postcard
00:16:28.34\00:16:33.06
you got in your head of
when Mary and Joseph are going
00:16:33.09\00:16:36.32
and fleeing down to Egypt,
00:16:36.35\00:16:38.01
the idea that it
is Mary and Joseph
00:16:38.04\00:16:40.96
and Mary sitting on a donkey
and she is holding the baby
00:16:40.99\00:16:42.96
and you got the silhouette
00:16:42.99\00:16:44.07
of those three
fleeing, probably not.
00:16:44.10\00:16:48.01
It's Mary on the donkey
holding the baby and Joseph
00:16:48.04\00:16:52.17
and then picture a trail a whole
ogle of little kids following
00:16:52.20\00:16:58.08
and so that is
little more accurate,
00:16:58.11\00:17:00.95
most scholars agree with this
00:17:00.98\00:17:02.12
in spite of what
the Christmas card say,
00:17:02.15\00:17:04.24
they were
probably His step brothers.
00:17:04.27\00:17:06.01
Now having settled
that, one of the reasons
00:17:06.04\00:17:08.65
that Joseph probably
married Mary, his wife had died,
00:17:08.68\00:17:11.95
it was not uncommon to
even marry your sister,
00:17:11.98\00:17:15.65
ah your sister-in-law
if your brother had died
00:17:15.68\00:17:18.58
and so he may have
married her for this reason.
00:17:18.61\00:17:20.83
Numbers 36:8,
"And every daughter
00:17:20.86\00:17:25.22
that possesses an
inheritance in any tribe
00:17:25.25\00:17:28.10
of the children of
Israel shall be wife
00:17:28.13\00:17:30.60
unto one of the family
of the tribe of her father,
00:17:30.63\00:17:34.75
so people say, well,
Joseph came from David
00:17:34.78\00:17:37.27
but how do we know about Mary,
it's telling you right here.
00:17:37.30\00:17:40.15
He was to marry
within the tribe,
00:17:40.18\00:17:42.58
she was to marry within the
tribe to keep the inheritance,
00:17:42.61\00:17:45.50
they were both related to David.
00:17:45.53\00:17:47.68
So in case you are
wondering about that.
00:17:47.71\00:17:51.65
Now after she gets this
declaration from the angel,
00:17:51.68\00:17:55.76
the angel said--
let's go back to Luke 1.
00:17:55.79\00:17:59.84
Mary said, "How can this be,"
00:17:59.87\00:18:02.75
verse 34, "Since
I've not know a man?"
00:18:02.78\00:18:05.60
She is not expressing doubt,
she is just saying in naturally,
00:18:05.63\00:18:09.01
I'm engaged to Joseph but
we haven't come together yet
00:18:09.04\00:18:12.74
so how exactly is
this going to happen?
00:18:12.77\00:18:14.67
It's a legitimate question.
00:18:14.70\00:18:17.27
"And the angel
answered and says to her,
00:18:17.30\00:18:19.04
"The Holy Spirit
will come upon you,
00:18:19.07\00:18:22.16
the power of the
Highest will overshadow you
00:18:22.19\00:18:25.51
therefore, also that
one who is born to you
00:18:25.54\00:18:28.39
will be called the Son of God."
00:18:28.42\00:18:31.44
Now this is a great mystery,
people debate this in the church
00:18:31.47\00:18:36.72
even our General
Conference president
00:18:36.75\00:18:40.08
commented on this subject
about the nature of Christ.
00:18:40.11\00:18:43.31
How many of you have heard
00:18:43.34\00:18:44.67
discussions about
the nature of Christ?
00:18:44.70\00:18:46.86
And let me just simplify
that for you as much as I can.
00:18:46.89\00:18:50.70
When Jesus was born, did
He have the nature of Adam
00:18:50.73\00:18:56.45
before Adam fell
before temptation?
00:18:56.48\00:18:58.82
Adam and Eve were
sinless before they sinned
00:18:58.85\00:19:01.54
and they did not have
any normal ingrain propensity
00:19:01.57\00:19:04.71
or inclination towards sin
00:19:04.74\00:19:07.99
because they were
motivated by love,
00:19:08.02\00:19:10.04
or did Jesus have the attributes
of Adam's nature after the fall
00:19:10.07\00:19:16.48
and there has been a big
debate in the church over this.
00:19:16.51\00:19:18.87
And some say Jesus had
00:19:18.90\00:19:20.50
the nature of
Adam before the fall,
00:19:20.53\00:19:21.87
so He really didn't have
00:19:21.90\00:19:22.93
the attraction
of sin that we had.
00:19:22.96\00:19:24.75
Problem with that is
00:19:24.78\00:19:25.89
then He is not really our
example of how to overcome
00:19:25.92\00:19:28.17
because He is born
with this advantage.
00:19:28.20\00:19:30.80
And if the Bible says
He is tempted in all points
00:19:30.83\00:19:33.80
as we are
tempted yet without sin,
00:19:33.83\00:19:35.90
then He can be a
faithful high priest.
00:19:35.93\00:19:38.05
I'm of the opinion that Jesus
took the nature that Adam had
00:19:38.08\00:19:41.93
after the fall but
He was without sin.
00:19:41.96\00:19:44.89
I know that there is somethings
about this that are mystery,
00:19:44.92\00:19:46.98
I concede that,
the Bible admits that.
00:19:47.01\00:19:50.10
But, why would the Bible
go through all of the trouble
00:19:50.13\00:19:54.94
to list the genealogy of Jesus
00:19:54.97\00:19:57.90
with all of the sorted
characters in his family tree.
00:19:57.93\00:20:00.56
You know the history
of some of those folks,
00:20:00.59\00:20:02.23
if it had no
bearing on His life.
00:20:02.26\00:20:05.24
And if Jesus had
the nature of Adam
00:20:05.27\00:20:07.13
before the fall
how tall was Adam?
00:20:07.16\00:20:09.84
Oh, 18-20 feet may be.
00:20:09.87\00:20:12.64
How tall was Jesus?
You think he was 18 feet?
00:20:12.67\00:20:15.82
Or closer to the
average size of a man?
00:20:15.85\00:20:18.47
So physically did He
inherit the body of the people?
00:20:18.50\00:20:22.20
Did he have any DNA from Mary?
00:20:22.23\00:20:24.76
I believe He did.
00:20:24.79\00:20:25.82
Could it be that when you looked
at Jesus and you looked at Mary,
00:20:25.85\00:20:28.27
you say you can't deny
there are some similarities?
00:20:28.30\00:20:31.56
He was human.
00:20:31.59\00:20:33.43
And I think sometimes we
try to make Him so divine
00:20:33.46\00:20:38.61
that we forget that He
does really relate to us.
00:20:38.64\00:20:42.59
He is called our elder brother,
there is that connection,
00:20:42.62\00:20:45.93
so, yeah, I weighed
on that subject before
00:20:45.96\00:20:48.98
and you know our Amazing
Facts stands on that position.
00:20:49.01\00:20:51.13
But that way, you
know what that does,
00:20:51.16\00:20:54.47
that tells us that Christ did
not resist sin and temptation
00:20:54.50\00:20:58.79
with anything that is
not available to you and me.
00:20:58.82\00:21:02.93
That means that
He can provide us
00:21:02.96\00:21:05.17
with the same
victory that He had,
00:21:05.20\00:21:06.66
it doesn't set Him out that is
so divine we can't relate Him.
00:21:06.69\00:21:11.22
And He also, you know,
what else is important,
00:21:11.25\00:21:14.00
the claim of the devil is
that fallen people cannot obey
00:21:14.03\00:21:17.84
and the reason Jesus obeyed
00:21:17.87\00:21:18.93
'cause He had the
unfallen nature of Adam.
00:21:18.96\00:21:21.19
But by Jesus living a holy life
00:21:21.22\00:21:24.23
even though He was
born with the fallen nature,
00:21:24.26\00:21:27.06
He then disproves
the claims of the devil.
00:21:27.09\00:21:30.55
Did you get that?
Otherwise He can't disprove it.
00:21:30.58\00:21:33.44
The devil's accusations stand.
00:21:33.47\00:21:36.41
So you and I can
live Godly lives.
00:21:36.44\00:21:39.78
All right, I have
said enough about that
00:21:39.81\00:21:41.91
so then after the angel
tells with this in verse 36,
00:21:41.94\00:21:46.25
"He says, now indeed, Elizabeth,
00:21:46.28\00:21:47.89
your relative has also
conceived a son in her old age
00:21:47.92\00:21:52.43
and she is now
in the sixth month,
00:21:52.46\00:21:54.18
one who is called barren."
00:21:54.21\00:21:56.64
Again you've seen a repeat
of what happened with Abraham
00:21:56.67\00:21:58.92
and Sarah in
Zechariah and Elizabeth,
00:21:58.95\00:22:00.99
so Mary wants to
go and see Elizabeth.
00:22:01.02\00:22:02.98
Now little more about genealogy.
Who is Elizabeth related to?
00:22:03.01\00:22:07.12
She is of the
daughters of Aaron.
00:22:07.15\00:22:10.79
Aaron was from what
tribe? Levite the priesthood.
00:22:10.82\00:22:16.24
David was from
what tribe? Judah.
00:22:16.27\00:22:19.90
So not only is
Mary related to David,
00:22:19.93\00:22:23.94
Mary evidently had
some linkage to Aaron.
00:22:23.97\00:22:27.21
You know some of them did
intermarry over the generations
00:22:27.24\00:22:31.01
and so Christ is related
to David as a high priest,
00:22:31.04\00:22:34.55
He is also related, I'm sorry
00:22:34.58\00:22:36.32
He is related to
Aaron as our priest
00:22:36.35\00:22:37.88
and He is related to David as
our king and the son of David.
00:22:37.91\00:22:42.71
So, she goes and she
meets with Elizabeth.
00:22:42.74\00:22:45.02
And let's read about that,
that is an amazing account here.
00:22:45.05\00:22:50.09
She went to
Elizabeth, in verse 41
00:22:50.12\00:22:52.51
I am still in
Luke 1, "It happened,
00:22:52.54\00:22:54.33
when Elizabeth heard
the greeting of Mary,
00:22:54.36\00:22:57.18
and she is got
to go from Nazareth
00:22:57.21\00:22:58.64
to the hill country of Judea,
that the babe leaped in her womb
00:22:58.67\00:23:02.81
here is this old woman she
is probably 55, 60 years of age,
00:23:02.84\00:23:06.65
she is pregnant and
she is got this baby in
00:23:06.68\00:23:10.31
then jumps in her womb
at the greetings of Mary
00:23:10.34\00:23:12.54
and Elizabeth is
filled with the Holy Spirit
00:23:12.57\00:23:15.04
and she makes this incredible
prophetic deceleration
00:23:15.07\00:23:18.66
and then you read in
verse 46 and Mary said,
00:23:18.69\00:23:26.66
"My soul magnifies," this
was conformation of the miracle
00:23:26.69\00:23:30.88
if God could do
this for Elizabeth
00:23:30.91\00:23:34.12
then He really was
going to keep His word
00:23:34.15\00:23:37.18
and she was now
going to give birth
00:23:37.21\00:23:38.55
to this prophetic
Son, this Messiah.
00:23:38.58\00:23:45.68
You know, I just did a
search on the internet,
00:23:45.71\00:23:48.35
let me read this to you,
I typed in Christmas songs.
00:23:48.38\00:23:52.11
I don't know if you
have ever tried that, Debby,
00:23:52.14\00:23:53.47
I know you had a Christmas
program the other week.
00:23:53.50\00:23:55.52
One million nine hundred
and seventy thousand hits
00:23:55.55\00:23:59.17
on Google if you
type in Christmas songs.
00:23:59.20\00:24:02.80
Well, you want to hear one
of the first Christmas songs
00:24:02.83\00:24:05.18
even before the
angels, it's the song of Mary.
00:24:05.21\00:24:09.27
She is talking
about-- she sings the song
00:24:09.30\00:24:11.33
and by the way Mary's
great ancestor Miriam,
00:24:11.36\00:24:16.78
her namesake was
Miriam a prophetess.
00:24:16.81\00:24:20.62
Was Mary a prophetess?
00:24:20.65\00:24:23.73
Well, something
she said in the Bible
00:24:23.76\00:24:26.42
is it inspired
by the Holy Spirit?
00:24:26.45\00:24:29.85
have you ever
thought about that?
00:24:29.88\00:24:32.58
And then Mary utters
the words of this song,
00:24:32.61\00:24:36.07
the song here verse 46,
"My soul magnifies the Lord,
00:24:36.10\00:24:41.00
And my spirit has
rejoiced in my God, my Savior,
00:24:41.03\00:24:44.81
in God my Savior,
For He is regarded
00:24:44.84\00:24:46.79
the lowly state of His
maidservant and behold,
00:24:46.82\00:24:49.67
henceforth all generations
will call me blessed."
00:24:49.70\00:24:52.82
That why they picked the
name Mary not the name Jezebel.
00:24:52.85\00:24:55.55
"For He who is mighty
has done great things for me,
00:24:55.58\00:24:59.57
And holy is His name,
00:24:59.60\00:25:01.28
His mercy is on
those who fear Him.
00:25:01.31\00:25:03.28
From generation to generation,
00:25:03.31\00:25:05.22
He has shown
strength with His arm,
00:25:05.25\00:25:07.68
He has scattered the proud in
the imagination of their hearts.
00:25:07.71\00:25:11.83
He has put down the mighty
00:25:11.86\00:25:13.17
from their thrones
and exalted the lowly.
00:25:13.20\00:25:15.31
He has filled the
hungry with good things,
00:25:15.34\00:25:17.68
and the rich He
has sent away empty.
00:25:17.71\00:25:19.73
He has helped
His servant Israel,
00:25:19.76\00:25:22.12
in remembrance of His mercy,
as He spoke to our fathers,
00:25:22.15\00:25:25.56
to Abraham and to
his seed forever."
00:25:25.59\00:25:27.68
It's
interesting, she ends her song
00:25:27.71\00:25:30.04
with Abraham and his seed.
00:25:30.07\00:25:32.83
What does she now have in her?
00:25:32.86\00:25:35.19
The promise seed of Abraham.
This is end of her song.
00:25:35.22\00:25:38.69
Something else if you ever mark
in your Bible, take your pencil,
00:25:38.72\00:25:41.94
go through Mary
song and you know
00:25:41.97\00:25:44.43
what comes out
more than anything?
00:25:44.46\00:25:46.28
He, he, he, she is
not singing about herself,
00:25:46.31\00:25:49.48
she could be prancing
up and down the streets
00:25:49.51\00:25:51.24
and I am going
to have the Messiah,
00:25:51.27\00:25:52.87
I am going to have--
I was chosen not you,
00:25:52.90\00:25:55.20
and she doesn't have
that attitude, does she?
00:25:55.23\00:25:57.72
I mean you talk about
something to brag about,
00:25:57.75\00:26:01.26
and you know
woman who are pregnant
00:26:01.29\00:26:03.02
sometimes are happy,
they are going to be mothers
00:26:03.05\00:26:05.75
and you know, they
feel good about that.
00:26:05.78\00:26:07.96
But Mary's whole
emphasis was on God,
00:26:07.99\00:26:10.36
Circle how many
times she refers to God
00:26:10.39\00:26:12.85
in her song of
adoration and exaltation of God.
00:26:12.88\00:26:19.49
So now she is pregnant,
00:26:19.52\00:26:22.41
of course the angel
communicates with Joseph,
00:26:22.44\00:26:24.35
they have a quick wedding,
00:26:24.38\00:26:26.37
Joseph was going to put her away
00:26:26.40\00:26:28.22
but the angel says, no,
you got to trust this is--
00:26:28.25\00:26:30.76
she is going to have a
baby of the Holy Spirit
00:26:30.79\00:26:33.86
and then through the
providence of politics
00:26:33.89\00:26:38.43
they got to go to Bethlehem from
Nazareth to register for a tax.
00:26:38.46\00:26:43.58
Jesus was probably
not born during December,
00:26:43.61\00:26:47.78
this is as good a time as any
00:26:47.81\00:26:49.10
because we don't
know the exact date,
00:26:49.13\00:26:50.56
probably in the
fall and several reasons
00:26:50.59\00:26:54.30
that I could give
you from the Bible,
00:26:54.33\00:26:55.79
one is the Caesar
would never issue a senses
00:26:55.82\00:26:58.99
for people had to
travel all over his kingdom
00:26:59.02\00:27:01.11
in the coldest time of the year
00:27:01.14\00:27:02.53
when there is no
food in the fields.
00:27:02.56\00:27:04.39
They even used
to plan their wars
00:27:04.42\00:27:07.19
so they could
sustain their armies
00:27:07.22\00:27:08.86
when there will be
food in the fields.
00:27:08.89\00:27:10.53
Shepherds are not-
the climate in the Israel,
00:27:10.56\00:27:12.30
I have been there
a couple of times,
00:27:12.33\00:27:13.36
it's very much like
northern California,
00:27:13.39\00:27:15.25
cold this morning, wasn't it?
00:27:15.28\00:27:16.69
How many of you scraped ice
of your car today on the way?
00:27:16.72\00:27:22.00
Shepherds are
not out in the fields
00:27:22.03\00:27:23.74
with their flocks
during this time of year.
00:27:23.77\00:27:26.45
And for some
other reasons we know
00:27:26.48\00:27:29.20
Jesus died during the spring,
00:27:29.23\00:27:31.05
it says He
ministered three and half years.
00:27:31.08\00:27:32.68
You go back three and
half years from the Passover
00:27:32.71\00:27:34.71
and it takes you to the fall.
00:27:34.74\00:27:36.38
So they had to make this journey
00:27:36.41\00:27:39.51
and being gripped with child
whether she sat on a donkey,
00:27:39.54\00:27:43.45
probably sat some and
rode some and who knows
00:27:43.48\00:27:45.84
but that must have
been a grueling 70 mile trip
00:27:45.87\00:27:49.23
without rapid transit down
from Nazareth to Bethlehem.
00:27:49.26\00:27:53.91
It's amazing how
the Bible promised
00:27:53.94\00:27:57.07
that this child
would be born in Bethlehem
00:27:57.10\00:27:58.53
and they weren't
even living there
00:27:58.56\00:27:59.61
when the angel came,
God worked all that out.
00:27:59.64\00:28:02.97
Now, in the Bible it
refers through Her as a virgin.
00:28:03.00\00:28:08.35
Remember the angel was
sent to a virgin named Mary.
00:28:08.38\00:28:11.30
And we have heard a
lot about the Virgin Mary,
00:28:11.33\00:28:14.99
but there is a prophecy
in the Bible Isaiah 7:14.
00:28:15.02\00:28:19.53
"The Lord Himself
will give you a sign,
00:28:19.56\00:28:22.24
behold, a virgin will
conceive and bear a Son,
00:28:22.27\00:28:26.12
and you will call
his name Immanuel,"
00:28:26.15\00:28:28.70
which means God with us.
00:28:28.73\00:28:31.40
And whenever I talk about Mary,
I've got to be honest with you,
00:28:31.43\00:28:34.16
I feel a little
conflicted, you know why?
00:28:34.19\00:28:36.24
Because Mary is
a Bible character
00:28:36.27\00:28:38.51
that really deserves
our attention in our study
00:28:38.54\00:28:42.22
but there are a few
churches that deify Mary.
00:28:42.25\00:28:46.81
And so whenever I talk
about Mary, I kind of feel like,
00:28:46.84\00:28:48.84
boy, this is such a wonderful
character study from the Bible
00:28:48.87\00:28:51.67
but then I feel like
I got to stop and say,
00:28:51.70\00:28:53.28
I hope you are not
going to go out of here
00:28:53.31\00:28:55.30
and start buying Mary shrines
00:28:55.33\00:28:56.96
and sticking them with
Velcro to the dash of your car.
00:28:56.99\00:29:00.67
And so you
understand this little paradox
00:29:00.70\00:29:04.92
when you talk about Mary,
00:29:04.95\00:29:05.98
you almost have
to explain to people
00:29:06.01\00:29:07.40
why she was chosen of God
00:29:07.43\00:29:11.29
in a tremendous
character in the Bible,
00:29:11.32\00:29:13.68
I expect to see
her in the kingdom.
00:29:13.71\00:29:16.38
She is not to be venerated
and revered as a goddess.
00:29:16.41\00:29:21.80
And you know some of
our Roman Catholic friends,
00:29:21.83\00:29:24.72
they have been
debating whether it is really
00:29:24.75\00:29:27.70
instead of the holy
trinity, is a holy quartet
00:29:27.73\00:29:31.60
about whether they should
exalt Mary just a little further
00:29:31.63\00:29:34.26
and should be
on the level of God
00:29:34.29\00:29:35.82
because it's they tell
people to pray to Mary of course
00:29:35.85\00:29:39.18
and how many you understand
00:29:39.21\00:29:40.79
the doctrine of the
Immaculate Conception?
00:29:40.82\00:29:44.40
I used to think the
Immaculate Conception
00:29:44.43\00:29:46.78
was talking about
Jesus being born of Mary,
00:29:46.81\00:29:49.14
that's not what it's
about, It's Mary's birth.
00:29:49.17\00:29:52.43
They say that Mary was
born in the womb of her mother
00:29:52.46\00:29:55.60
but was not tainted by sin,
was not tainted by original sin.
00:29:55.63\00:30:00.06
Matter of fact,
let me read it to you
00:30:00.09\00:30:01.16
from the Catholic Encyclopedia.
00:30:01.19\00:30:03.97
The Immaculate Conception
00:30:04.00\00:30:05.89
according to
Catholic Encyclopedia
00:30:05.92\00:30:07.45
teaches the conception of Mary,
00:30:07.48\00:30:09.93
her birth and her mother.
00:30:09.96\00:30:11.53
The mother of Jesus
was without any stain
00:30:11.56\00:30:14.48
of original sin
in her mother's womb.
00:30:14.51\00:30:16.99
It is further believed,
listen, that she lived a life
00:30:17.02\00:30:20.90
completely free from
sin. I got problems with that.
00:30:20.93\00:30:24.47
Mary may have
been a godly good woman
00:30:24.50\00:30:28.17
but how many humans are sinless.
00:30:28.20\00:30:31.52
Only one lived a sinless life,
00:30:31.55\00:30:33.42
that's Jesus, the
Bible makes it very clear.
00:30:33.45\00:30:35.79
All have sinned and
fallen short of the glory of God
00:30:35.82\00:30:39.71
that would include Daniel,
John the Baptist, Elijah,
00:30:39.74\00:30:43.17
Elisha and Mary, I mean
these are some saints I agree,
00:30:43.20\00:30:47.03
holy men and women but she
was a human and she did sin.
00:30:47.06\00:30:51.62
She needed the redemptive
sacrifice of her child
00:30:51.65\00:30:55.99
as much as you do,
isn't that interesting?
00:30:56.02\00:30:59.97
Jesus who was born in her
00:31:00.00\00:31:03.09
had to recreate her
just like He recreates us.
00:31:03.12\00:31:07.59
Isn't that mind blowing
when you think about it?
00:31:07.62\00:31:10.26
Started out as a birth within,
a miraculous birth within
00:31:10.29\00:31:14.07
and then it was
demonstrated without
00:31:14.10\00:31:16.10
and she had to look
to the cross the same way
00:31:16.13\00:31:18.35
you and I looked to the cross.
00:31:18.38\00:31:19.79
And you see Mary going
through this metamorphous
00:31:19.82\00:31:22.32
in her experience
with life-- of her life
00:31:22.35\00:31:25.60
having to make that distinction.
00:31:25.63\00:31:28.35
So we've talked a
little about her genealogy,
00:31:28.38\00:31:32.08
they finally get to Bethlehem
and you know the story.
00:31:32.11\00:31:35.42
I think it's
wonderful when you consider
00:31:35.45\00:31:37.72
that Jesus was
the bread of life,
00:31:37.75\00:31:39.64
was born in a town
called Bethlehem house of bread.
00:31:39.67\00:31:43.31
And then He is placed in a
box for holding grain, bread,
00:31:43.34\00:31:47.63
that's a manger, so here
you get the bread of life,
00:31:47.66\00:31:50.44
born in the house of
bread, placed in a box for bread
00:31:50.47\00:31:53.21
and there was no room in the end
00:31:53.24\00:31:55.82
because most of the
world has no room for Christ.
00:31:55.85\00:31:59.54
"He came unto His own,
His own received him not."
00:31:59.57\00:32:02.03
Further evidence that
they were not very wealthy.
00:32:02.06\00:32:05.90
And even though that
was a very humble event
00:32:05.93\00:32:09.62
as far as the
world is concerned.
00:32:09.65\00:32:11.25
I would not have
done things like that,
00:32:11.28\00:32:12.59
if I was God the father
with my fallen viewpoint
00:32:12.62\00:32:19.06
if I was going to
send my son in the world,
00:32:19.09\00:32:21.23
you would naturally
think that it would have been
00:32:21.26\00:32:22.94
with all this
fanfare and trumpets blowing
00:32:22.97\00:32:26.34
and parades and like
the coronation of a king.
00:32:26.37\00:32:30.96
But it was so
unobtrusive and so quite
00:32:30.99\00:32:34.67
and so humble
that it just tells you
00:32:34.70\00:32:37.66
about the meekness of
Jesus how He entered the world.
00:32:37.69\00:32:41.25
Before I go any
further as we talk
00:32:41.28\00:32:43.22
more about Mary and
this portrait of Mary.
00:32:43.25\00:32:46.31
What does a woman represent,
00:32:46.34\00:32:48.00
you heard me say
it a hundred times
00:32:48.03\00:32:49.40
but we always have visitors,
00:32:49.43\00:32:50.46
there is always
new people watching.
00:32:50.49\00:32:51.99
Prophetically, symbolically,
00:32:52.02\00:32:53.69
what does a woman represent
in the Bible? A church.
00:32:53.72\00:32:58.92
Mary is a type of
the church in this sense
00:32:58.95\00:33:03.76
and if I was Jesus and I
was going to pick a mother,
00:33:03.79\00:33:08.48
I want a mother who is
going to take me to church.
00:33:08.51\00:33:11.46
She and Joseph
took Him to the temple,
00:33:11.49\00:33:14.25
they took Him to the church
where He was dedicated there.
00:33:14.28\00:33:17.54
Now, in our church we dedicate
children when they are young
00:33:17.57\00:33:20.46
they don't have
to be eight days old
00:33:20.49\00:33:22.49
but we dedicate children,
that's different from baptism.
00:33:22.52\00:33:26.40
Dedication is
the parents choice,
00:33:26.43\00:33:28.17
baptism must be
the individuals choice.
00:33:28.20\00:33:30.09
We don't believe it's
appropriate to baptize babies
00:33:30.12\00:33:32.60
because they need to
first repent of their sins
00:33:32.63\00:33:34.60
and believe and
confess and all these things
00:33:34.63\00:33:37.39
that babies obviously cannot do.
00:33:37.42\00:33:39.46
So they brought
him to the temple
00:33:39.49\00:33:40.70
and while they are
there at the temple
00:33:40.73\00:33:43.76
as they bring him to church,
00:33:43.79\00:33:45.54
there Simeon who was
a priest in the temple
00:33:45.57\00:33:48.30
had been told
by the Holy Spirit,
00:33:48.33\00:33:49.61
the Messiah was going to
come that he would see it.
00:33:49.64\00:33:52.09
He said to Mary's
mother, "Now this is the child,"
00:33:52.12\00:33:55.43
he says, "Lord, now let
your servant depart in peace,
00:33:55.46\00:33:58.47
I have seen your salvation."
00:33:58.50\00:33:59.89
and I wish I had time to read
00:33:59.92\00:34:01.29
the whole prophetic
utterance of Simeon,
00:34:01.32\00:34:03.47
that experience with Mary,
00:34:03.50\00:34:05.21
but one thing he
says in his statement.
00:34:05.24\00:34:07.85
He tells Mary, he blesses them
but he says to Mary, his mother,
00:34:07.88\00:34:13.72
"Behold, this
child is set for the fall
00:34:13.75\00:34:17.74
and the rising
again of many in Israel
00:34:17.77\00:34:21.43
and for a sign which
will be spoken against,
00:34:21.46\00:34:25.47
yes, in other words
there's going to be resistance,
00:34:25.50\00:34:27.33
there is going
to be persecution,
00:34:27.36\00:34:29.41
there will be
apposition to who He is.
00:34:29.44\00:34:32.74
Yes, a sword will
pierce through thy own soul,
00:34:32.77\00:34:37.51
that the thoughts of many
hearts might be revealed."
00:34:37.54\00:34:40.30
Again I could
take a detour right now
00:34:40.33\00:34:42.13
and talk about a
sword in Bible prophecy.
00:34:42.16\00:34:44.30
The sword is a
symbol for the word
00:34:44.33\00:34:46.10
and what does
Jesus tells us that,
00:34:46.13\00:34:49.17
we need the sword
of His word going in
00:34:49.20\00:34:51.85
sharper than any too edge sword
that cuts us and convicts us
00:34:51.88\00:34:56.14
and helps also to
make advances for Christ.
00:34:56.17\00:34:58.88
The sword of the word is
how we conquer for Christ.
00:34:58.91\00:35:01.89
Jesus has seen in
revelation with the sword
00:35:01.92\00:35:03.62
coming from His mouth.
00:35:03.65\00:35:04.92
It's a symbol
for the word of God.
00:35:04.95\00:35:07.70
One time the
disciples said, "Lord--"
00:35:07.73\00:35:09.47
Jesus said, "He that has
a sword, let him take it."
00:35:12.17\00:35:14.56
And they said,
"We've got two swords here."
00:35:14.59\00:35:16.31
He said, "You don't get
it, that is enough of this."
00:35:16.34\00:35:18.76
People think he
said, oh, that's enough.
00:35:18.79\00:35:20.24
I'm gonna take on the
Roman army with two swords,
00:35:20.27\00:35:22.16
it's not what He meant.
00:35:22.19\00:35:23.26
He said you are not getting
it, I'm speaking symbolically.
00:35:23.29\00:35:26.64
And so when Simeon said a
sword will pierce your own soul,
00:35:26.67\00:35:30.56
the truth of the word of God
that her child was going to die.
00:35:30.59\00:35:36.52
See the Jews had this
popular belief in Mary
00:35:36.55\00:35:38.83
even was hoping but he was going
to just take the throne of David
00:35:38.86\00:35:42.66
and that she be sitting there
like the mother of Solomon on--
00:35:42.69\00:35:46.95
Remember Solomon
set down on a throne
00:35:46.98\00:35:48.62
by his throne for
Bathsheba, his mother
00:35:48.65\00:35:51.51
and then Mary was going
to sit down next to Jesus
00:35:51.54\00:35:53.61
who would be on
the throne of David
00:35:53.64\00:35:54.80
and there would
be all this glory.
00:35:54.83\00:35:57.50
And the word of God was saying,
00:35:57.53\00:35:59.39
"No that's not how the
Messiah comes the first time."
00:35:59.42\00:36:02.17
And so that sword, that
truth pierced through own soul
00:36:02.20\00:36:05.69
to know He is
coming first as a lamb
00:36:05.72\00:36:08.38
before He reigns like a lion
00:36:08.41\00:36:10.19
and that He was
going to have to die.
00:36:10.22\00:36:13.44
That the thoughts of
many hearts may be revealed.
00:36:13.47\00:36:15.91
The word of God convicts
and brings those truths up.
00:36:15.94\00:36:18.74
Then after that
experience through the episode
00:36:18.77\00:36:21.42
of course the shepherds
come, the wise men come
00:36:21.45\00:36:25.16
and the angel after the wise
men says to Joseph and Mary,
00:36:25.19\00:36:28.82
you better leave town
and you better leave fast
00:36:28.85\00:36:32.17
because there is a
clatter of Roman sandals
00:36:32.20\00:36:34.75
coming up to cobblestone streets
00:36:34.78\00:36:36.82
to slaughter all the
baby boys in Bethlehem.
00:36:36.85\00:36:40.61
And she and Joseph
00:36:40.64\00:36:41.84
and that little tribe
of children that they had,
00:36:41.87\00:36:45.49
had to very
quickly get out of town.
00:36:45.52\00:36:48.40
Joseph probably took some
of the gold and frankincense,
00:36:48.43\00:36:51.05
and myrrh and went
to the local pawnbroker
00:36:51.08\00:36:53.83
and said, I need some money
00:36:53.86\00:36:55.46
because we need to get a ticket
fast as donkey out of Bethlehem.
00:36:55.49\00:36:59.32
And they had to make that
journey down there to Egypt.
00:36:59.35\00:37:02.82
Now, another
parallel, you've got Mary,
00:37:02.85\00:37:06.37
Miriam in Egypt
preserving the savior.
00:37:06.40\00:37:12.39
You see the
parallels between the Mary
00:37:12.42\00:37:14.45
and her Old
Testament counterpart Miriam
00:37:14.48\00:37:17.97
whom she was
named after probably.
00:37:18.00\00:37:21.25
So they flee and they
take him down to Egypt
00:37:21.28\00:37:23.21
where there He is
preserved in Egypt
00:37:23.24\00:37:26.93
in the same way that
Miriam preserved Jesus.
00:37:26.96\00:37:30.12
Was there an attempt to
kill Jesus when he was a baby?
00:37:30.15\00:37:34.50
Was there an attempt to
kill all the baby boys in Egypt
00:37:34.53\00:37:37.64
when Moses was a baby?
00:37:37.67\00:37:39.38
There are so many parallels
there, it is fascinating.
00:37:39.41\00:37:42.27
I don't know why
people doubt the word of God.
00:37:42.30\00:37:44.67
I mean here you know
Moses wrote this in Genesis
00:37:44.70\00:37:47.44
1500 years before Jesus
was born, this experience
00:37:47.47\00:37:51.18
and we know last week
the Amazing Facts evangelists
00:37:51.21\00:37:54.13
were in San Diego and
there is a display down there,
00:37:54.16\00:37:56.37
you might run
down there tomorrow
00:37:56.40\00:37:57.64
if you can go to San Diego
00:37:57.67\00:37:59.14
and it's on the
Dead Sea Scrolls.
00:37:59.17\00:38:01.05
They have actually got some
copies of the scrolls on display
00:38:01.08\00:38:03.95
and it was very
inspiring going through
00:38:03.98\00:38:05.63
and you are looking at fragments
00:38:05.66\00:38:07.19
that date back
before the time of Christ
00:38:07.22\00:38:09.83
that are reciting
the Ten Commandments
00:38:09.86\00:38:11.70
from
Deuteronomy and from Exodus,
00:38:11.73\00:38:13.63
how the word of God
you know that had existed
00:38:13.66\00:38:16.60
before these things happen
00:38:16.63\00:38:17.72
and there the fulfillment
of the prophecies right there.
00:38:17.75\00:38:20.30
They had passages
dating back before Christ.
00:38:20.33\00:38:24.23
That perfectly
described Christ in His ministry
00:38:24.26\00:38:27.72
not only that are in scripture
00:38:27.75\00:38:29.34
but that are in the
writings of Dead Sea Scrolls,
00:38:29.37\00:38:32.07
some extra biblical
texts about the Messiah.
00:38:32.10\00:38:35.77
Matter of fact Jesus
quotes from one of them.
00:38:35.80\00:38:37.47
When he go and
says to the messenger
00:38:37.50\00:38:39.59
go back to John the Baptist,
I am rambling right now I know,
00:38:39.62\00:38:42.40
but it's so exciting when
you think about the connection
00:38:42.43\00:38:46.51
between what
happened in the Old Testament
00:38:46.54\00:38:48.17
and the New Testament
and how perfect it was.
00:38:48.20\00:38:50.67
How can we doubt
that Jesus was the Messiah
00:38:50.70\00:38:54.16
that was spoken of?
00:38:54.19\00:38:56.16
And then Mary
has this incredible,
00:38:56.19\00:38:58.08
finally they get word
that Herod the great is dead,
00:38:58.11\00:39:00.27
it's safe to go back.
00:39:00.30\00:39:02.50
They don't feel real
safe staying in Judea
00:39:02.53\00:39:05.35
because Herod's
bloodthirsty son is there
00:39:05.38\00:39:07.71
and so they go
up back to Galilee
00:39:07.74\00:39:10.57
and return to Nazareth.
00:39:10.60\00:39:12.39
And Mary now has the charge,
00:39:12.42\00:39:14.03
Jesus is probably
three, four years old
00:39:14.06\00:39:16.60
by the time they leave Egypt.
00:39:16.63\00:39:18.83
She has got the
charge of teaching the son.
00:39:18.86\00:39:22.25
Again I reject some
of the notions I hear.
00:39:22.28\00:39:25.65
They make these movies about it,
00:39:25.68\00:39:27.66
I read some of
the-- the pastors,
00:39:27.69\00:39:30.34
what they have to say
that Mary was ignorant,
00:39:30.37\00:39:32.51
15 year old girl
cannot read or write.
00:39:32.54\00:39:34.76
I don't believe that, friends,
00:39:34.79\00:39:35.98
I think that she was
very educated, she could read.
00:39:36.01\00:39:38.82
You know it was not
common during the 18th century
00:39:38.85\00:39:42.55
for women to study theology.
00:39:42.58\00:39:46.00
But Susanna Wesley
whose father was a pastor
00:39:46.03\00:39:50.13
was extremely educated and
she had, I forget sometimes,
00:39:50.16\00:39:55.18
was it 13 children
or 19 children? Uh?
00:39:55.21\00:39:59.14
19 children and
many have became pastors
00:39:59.17\00:40:03.00
and they learned
it from their mother.
00:40:03.03\00:40:04.65
She could go, a
voracious reader and a student.
00:40:04.68\00:40:07.00
She married a
pastor and she knew
00:40:07.03\00:40:08.09
twice as much as
her pastor husband.
00:40:08.12\00:40:10.33
But Mary, I think
was very educated,
00:40:10.36\00:40:13.53
it wasn't common for the
girls to go to the synagogues
00:40:13.56\00:40:16.27
where the boys were taught but
they might learn to read at home
00:40:16.30\00:40:18.91
from their fathers and so
they were allowed to do this.
00:40:18.94\00:40:21.85
One reason I see that is a quote
from the book, Desire of Ages.
00:40:21.88\00:40:27.26
Can you imagine being
given the responsibility
00:40:27.29\00:40:31.15
of raising and training
and teaching the Messiah?
00:40:31.18\00:40:36.26
How seriously would you
take raising your children?
00:40:36.29\00:40:39.95
Let me ask this question,
why should it be any different?
00:40:39.98\00:40:43.79
Ah, well, you
know, this is just--
00:40:43.82\00:40:45.25
I'm just raising
you a typical sinner,
00:40:45.28\00:40:46.48
I don't need to worry about it.
00:40:46.51\00:40:49.73
I mean that's probably
not the right attitude.
00:40:49.76\00:40:52.86
With deep earnestness,
this is Desire of Ages,
00:40:52.89\00:40:56.52
the mother of Jesus watched
the unfolding of His powers,
00:40:56.55\00:41:00.65
and beheld the impress of
perfection upon His character.
00:41:00.68\00:41:04.09
With delight she
sought to encourage
00:41:04.12\00:41:06.86
that bright, receptive mind.
00:41:06.89\00:41:09.07
Through the Holy
Spirit she received wisdom
00:41:09.10\00:41:12.13
to co-operate
with heavenly agencies
00:41:12.16\00:41:14.82
in the
development of this child,
00:41:14.85\00:41:16.87
who could claim
only God as His Father.
00:41:16.90\00:41:20.10
But you know you and I
can do that with our children.
00:41:20.13\00:41:22.49
Ask the Holy Spirit to
guide us in their training,
00:41:22.52\00:41:24.24
and I'm not done.
00:41:24.27\00:41:26.22
The child Jesus did not receive
00:41:26.25\00:41:28.46
instruction in
the synagogue schools.
00:41:28.49\00:41:30.98
His mother was His
first human teacher.
00:41:31.01\00:41:35.06
From her lips and from
the scrolls of the prophets,
00:41:35.09\00:41:39.87
you think Mary could read?
He learned of heavenly things.
00:41:39.90\00:41:43.97
The very words which He Himself
had spoken to Moses for Israel,
00:41:44.00\00:41:48.37
He is now taught
at His mother's knee.
00:41:48.40\00:41:51.82
Ah, you ever think about that?
00:41:51.85\00:41:53.30
Here is Jesus
sitting at His mother's knee
00:41:53.33\00:41:55.38
hearing his mother rehearse
what He had given to Moses.
00:41:55.41\00:41:58.47
I thought this is mind blowing,
00:41:58.50\00:41:59.85
when you think about
00:41:59.88\00:42:00.95
how the circle
goes around in this way.
00:42:00.98\00:42:04.90
So Mary is a faithful teacher.
00:42:04.93\00:42:06.85
She is obviously
a very bright woman,
00:42:06.88\00:42:08.73
a very dedicated woman,
00:42:08.76\00:42:09.79
she tried to not
only teach by word
00:42:09.82\00:42:11.71
but by example to Son of God.
00:42:11.74\00:42:15.78
She must have done a good job.
00:42:15.81\00:42:18.07
She wasn't sinless, we know
that but she was a good mother.
00:42:18.10\00:42:25.18
Then he gets a
little older, 12 years old
00:42:25.21\00:42:28.34
time to go to
the temple with dad.
00:42:28.37\00:42:31.05
Luke 2:48, on
their way to the temple,
00:42:31.08\00:42:37.04
they become busy
visiting with family,
00:42:37.07\00:42:40.65
they used to go kind
of in a parade, a crowd,
00:42:40.68\00:42:42.62
they take this big pilgrimage,
they go to temple for the feast
00:42:42.65\00:42:45.02
Jesus is finally
old enough to go.
00:42:45.05\00:42:47.27
Mary and Joseph trust Jesus,
He is not one of these kids
00:42:47.30\00:42:51.26
where as soon as you turn your
head you wonder where He is,
00:42:51.29\00:42:53.22
you got to look for
Him, He's always in trouble
00:42:53.25\00:42:54.69
in some dark corner somewhere.
00:42:54.72\00:42:56.36
They could trust Him.
00:42:56.39\00:42:57.69
And so because
they could trust Him,
00:42:57.72\00:42:59.06
because He was so
obedient and compliant
00:42:59.09\00:43:01.27
and don't you all wish
you had child like that?
00:43:01.30\00:43:04.38
They kind of lost track of
Him and when it came time to--
00:43:04.41\00:43:08.52
the feast is over, to
hit back up to Nazareth.
00:43:08.55\00:43:11.97
They just assumed that He was
somewhere with some other kin,
00:43:12.00\00:43:14.71
some of the family,
the procession had left,
00:43:14.74\00:43:16.82
they didn't see Him
right away but they--
00:43:16.85\00:43:18.73
it was a big throng and people
were eating along the way.
00:43:18.76\00:43:21.53
They got a day and
half into their journey
00:43:21.56\00:43:23.18
before they started to
frantically search and realize,
00:43:23.21\00:43:25.55
how we went to church
in a big religious feast
00:43:25.58\00:43:29.28
and we don't know
where Jesus is anywhere
00:43:29.31\00:43:31.80
and they lost track of Him
00:43:31.83\00:43:33.50
and they had to
retrace their steps
00:43:33.53\00:43:35.89
and in Mary's words
sorrowing, wondering
00:43:35.92\00:43:39.97
can you imagine being
committed the Son of God,
00:43:40.00\00:43:43.11
you've got the national
treasure and you lose it.
00:43:43.14\00:43:47.71
She lost the national treasure.
Finally they find Him where?
00:43:47.74\00:43:54.13
In the temple, sitting at
the feet of all the scholars
00:43:54.16\00:43:57.35
both listening and
asking them question,
00:43:57.38\00:43:59.53
profound question that
just threw them for a loop
00:43:59.56\00:44:05.20
that this child could be so
perceptive and so intuitive.
00:44:05.23\00:44:10.64
They found Him they were amazed
00:44:10.67\00:44:13.21
and His mother said to Him,
00:44:13.24\00:44:14.33
"Son, why have
you done this to us?"
00:44:14.36\00:44:19.87
Think about this too, I
can't rush past this story,
00:44:19.90\00:44:23.39
Mary and Joseph good, you
all want them in your church,
00:44:23.42\00:44:27.18
religious, they go to
church, religious festival
00:44:27.21\00:44:29.87
they leave church and
they go through it all
00:44:29.90\00:44:31.79
and you know what they
lose Jesus in the process,
00:44:31.82\00:44:33.78
they forget all about Jesus.
00:44:33.81\00:44:35.92
I wonder if it's
possible for us today
00:44:35.95\00:44:37.59
to go trough all
the religious motions
00:44:37.62\00:44:39.10
and the fanfare of the
services and the ceremony
00:44:39.13\00:44:42.04
and go to
church and leave church
00:44:42.07\00:44:43.40
and forget all about
Jesus in the process.
00:44:43.43\00:44:47.55
Pastors can do it, you can
get so involved in the service
00:44:47.58\00:44:52.83
and the program and trying
to get every thing to work out
00:44:52.86\00:44:56.48
that you go and you
come and you leave me
00:44:56.51\00:44:58.23
and say, did I forget something?
00:44:58.26\00:45:00.70
Ah, Jesus, I forgot about Jesus.
00:45:00.73\00:45:04.02
The person, the
real living Jesus,
00:45:04.05\00:45:06.33
I left Him there at the church.
00:45:06.36\00:45:09.02
Don't do that, friends.
00:45:09.05\00:45:10.30
When you leave today,
don't leave Jesus here,
00:45:10.33\00:45:12.09
take Him home with you. Amen.
00:45:12.12\00:45:15.03
You missed the
cue, that was the best
00:45:15.06\00:45:16.14
amen opportunity
in the whole service.
00:45:16.17\00:45:19.38
Then He gets a little
older now, He is baptized,
00:45:19.41\00:45:23.28
He says, "Mom, I
feel my calling."
00:45:23.31\00:45:25.14
He is baptized at the Jordan
River by John the Baptist.
00:45:25.17\00:45:27.71
And she says, "Oh great, He
is going to begin His ministry."
00:45:27.74\00:45:30.57
They go to a wedding feast
00:45:30.60\00:45:32.35
not far from
Nazareth, a place called Cana.
00:45:32.38\00:45:35.05
The third day of the weddings
would last a week there.
00:45:35.08\00:45:37.34
They did not plan well,
too many people showed up
00:45:37.37\00:45:40.01
uninvited to the wedding,
that sometimes happens today.
00:45:40.04\00:45:44.05
They did not sign the
RSVP and they run out of wine.
00:45:44.08\00:45:49.05
And his disciples were
there and Jesus comes to them
00:45:49.08\00:45:51.70
and she says,
"They have no wine."
00:45:51.73\00:45:55.04
He says, "Woman,"
00:45:55.07\00:45:56.52
that is not a disrespectable
term in the Bible.
00:45:56.55\00:45:59.33
I know if many of you husbands
referred your wife as a woman,
00:45:59.36\00:46:03.89
that would not be received well,
00:46:03.92\00:46:05.74
but in the Bible
when Jesus said woman,
00:46:05.77\00:46:08.17
it's equivalent is
madam, it was a term of respect.
00:46:08.20\00:46:13.78
And he says, "Madam what does
your concern have to do with me?
00:46:13.81\00:46:19.93
My hour has not yet come."
00:46:19.96\00:46:21.80
Now, in
referring to her as woman,
00:46:21.83\00:46:23.90
why it is
respectable it's distant.
00:46:23.93\00:46:27.85
Meaning it's not,
He didn't say mommy,
00:46:27.88\00:46:30.69
He could have said mother,
00:46:30.72\00:46:31.85
He didn't say
that, He said woman.
00:46:31.88\00:46:34.84
And so some of these
churches that venerate Mary
00:46:34.87\00:46:37.18
that if we want to
get Jesus' attention
00:46:37.21\00:46:38.77
you go to Jesus through Mary
00:46:38.80\00:46:39.96
because after
all that's His mom.
00:46:39.99\00:46:41.65
Jesus went out of His way during
His earthly life to explain,
00:46:41.68\00:46:44.62
Yes, she is the holy vehicle
00:46:44.65\00:46:46.72
through whom I
was chosen to come,
00:46:46.75\00:46:50.71
I'm not saying she was sinless.
00:46:50.74\00:46:52.54
But I'm really for
all people, you don't,
00:46:52.57\00:46:57.12
you know, she is a sinner,
00:46:57.15\00:46:58.35
she needs my salvation
as much as anyone does.
00:46:58.38\00:47:01.73
And I think
sometimes that's forgotten.
00:47:01.76\00:47:04.38
My hour has not yet come.
00:47:04.41\00:47:07.67
And His mother
said to her servants,
00:47:07.70\00:47:09.20
but she knew by the tone of
his voice he was going to help.
00:47:09.23\00:47:11.46
He said, look mom, I will help
but this is not what you think.
00:47:11.49\00:47:15.01
I'm not going to
take the throne of David.
00:47:15.04\00:47:17.50
That's why she
says to the servants,
00:47:17.53\00:47:20.02
"Do whatever He
tells you to do."
00:47:20.05\00:47:21.55
He was getting
ready to do something?
00:47:21.58\00:47:22.78
Now what does wine represent?
00:47:22.81\00:47:24.94
Isn't it interesting that one
of the first things that happens
00:47:24.97\00:47:27.47
in the ministry of
Christ is He works a miracle
00:47:27.50\00:47:30.08
turning water into wine,
the best wine, pure grape juice,
00:47:30.11\00:47:35.09
best did not mean the
highest alcohol content.
00:47:35.12\00:47:38.56
It meant the best quality,
the last thing that happens
00:47:38.59\00:47:42.50
when Jesus is on the cross
is they give Him sour wine.
00:47:42.53\00:47:48.03
So His ministry begins by giving
00:47:48.06\00:47:51.82
at a wedding
pure wine to humans.
00:47:51.85\00:47:55.84
At the end humans,
sinner, give Him sour wine
00:47:55.87\00:48:00.73
when He is on the cross.
00:48:00.76\00:48:02.52
It's a symbol for the
blood of the covenant.
00:48:02.55\00:48:03.68
Remember what He
said, "Take this,
00:48:03.71\00:48:05.33
it's a symbol of the blood,
my blood which is shed for you."
00:48:05.36\00:48:08.32
His whole life is
about a blood transfusion.
00:48:08.35\00:48:10.56
He takes our sin,
He gives us His purity.
00:48:10.59\00:48:15.57
Mary is a type
of the church here.
00:48:15.60\00:48:17.32
She says, "Do whatever He says."
00:48:17.35\00:48:20.73
And you know
what, that ought to be
00:48:20.76\00:48:21.84
the message of the
church to the world.
00:48:21.87\00:48:23.27
Listen to him, do what He says.
00:48:23.30\00:48:25.73
So, oh, I can go on
and on talking about this
00:48:25.76\00:48:29.61
and it's in the
context of servants.
00:48:29.64\00:48:32.20
What is Mary thinking about?
00:48:32.23\00:48:33.86
Herself or there
is the need of others,
00:48:33.89\00:48:36.33
they are thirsty, they
have run out of a necessity
00:48:36.36\00:48:39.46
and she is interested
in supplying their need.
00:48:39.49\00:48:43.41
Then you go on here
00:48:43.44\00:48:44.50
and Jesus wants
His mother's attention,
00:48:46.72\00:48:53.21
I'm sorry Mary
wants her son's attention,
00:48:53.24\00:48:54.82
Luke 8, it's
establishing priorities.
00:48:54.85\00:48:59.78
He is possibly in
Peter's house teaching,
00:48:59.81\00:49:01.99
the crowd is crunched him in
and a message comes to Jesus,
00:49:02.02\00:49:06.79
Then came to him his
mother and his brethren,
00:49:06.82\00:49:10.26
and he could not-- they
not come out him for the press,
00:49:10.29\00:49:13.67
the crowd that's all around Him
00:49:13.70\00:49:15.72
and it was told Him by certain,
00:49:15.75\00:49:17.22
the word was passed
in the slip of paper
00:49:17.25\00:49:18.85
it say your mother and
your brethren are outside,
00:49:18.88\00:49:21.61
they want to talk to
you. What does Jesus say?
00:49:21.64\00:49:24.46
He looks surrounding
the motions to the crowd
00:49:24.49\00:49:26.97
and he says "My
mother and My brethren
00:49:27.00\00:49:30.17
are those who hear the
word of God and they do it."
00:49:30.20\00:49:33.86
What else is He doing?
00:49:33.89\00:49:35.40
Is He establishing
that priority again
00:49:35.43\00:49:37.90
that his mother Mary while
she was at that holy position,
00:49:37.93\00:49:42.25
He is now got a priority for
reaching the people of the world
00:49:42.28\00:49:49.23
and what does He say
about the word of God,
00:49:49.26\00:49:51.86
that's the priority.
00:49:51.89\00:49:53.98
Now I'm going to rush ahead
because I see the clock here.
00:49:54.01\00:49:56.67
John 19:25, Mary was his mother
00:49:56.70\00:50:01.36
but she slowly is transitioning
00:50:01.39\00:50:02.97
into something of
also His follower,
00:50:03.00\00:50:05.47
she is recognizing through
His ministry and His teaching
00:50:05.50\00:50:08.30
that He is got a broad calling
00:50:08.33\00:50:10.07
that His Father
is God the Father.
00:50:10.10\00:50:13.22
But there at the cross,
she is there, John 19:25,
00:50:13.25\00:50:19.00
"Now there stood by the
cross of Jesus His mother,
00:50:19.03\00:50:22.34
and His mother's sister,
Mary the wife of Cleophas,
00:50:22.37\00:50:25.77
and Mary Magdalene."
Isn't that interesting?
00:50:25.80\00:50:28.05
There at the cross,
you got Mary, Mary, Mary.
00:50:28.08\00:50:33.14
If the word Mary does mean love
that would have been interesting
00:50:33.17\00:50:38.07
because Jesus said to
Peter, do you love me?
00:50:38.10\00:50:39.72
Do you love me? Do you love me?
00:50:39.75\00:50:40.98
And there is that
devotion of those three woman
00:50:41.01\00:50:43.83
at the cross, all named Mary.
00:50:43.86\00:50:48.12
Can you imagine how
hard that must have been
00:50:48.15\00:50:49.61
for her to stay and watch that?
00:50:49.64\00:50:52.13
She had such glorious
expectations for Jesus
00:50:52.16\00:50:55.43
to be on the throne of David.
00:50:55.46\00:50:58.41
Another quote from the
book Desire of Ages, 744,
00:50:58.44\00:51:02.81
"The mother of Jesus,
00:51:02.84\00:51:04.72
supported by John
the beloved disciple,
00:51:04.75\00:51:06.86
had followed the
steps of her Son to Calvary.
00:51:06.89\00:51:09.79
She had seen Him fainting
under the burden of the cross,
00:51:09.82\00:51:12.91
she longed the
place as supporting hand
00:51:12.94\00:51:15.15
beneath His wounded
head, and to bathe that brow
00:51:15.18\00:51:18.40
which had once been
pillowed upon her bosom.
00:51:18.43\00:51:21.24
But she was not permitted
this mournful privilege.
00:51:21.27\00:51:25.17
With the disciples she
still cherished the hope
00:51:25.20\00:51:27.95
that Jesus would
manifest His power,
00:51:27.98\00:51:30.35
He would deliver
Himself from His enemies.
00:51:30.38\00:51:32.51
Again her heart would
sink as she recalled the words
00:51:32.54\00:51:35.53
in which had been
foretold the very scenes
00:51:35.56\00:51:38.19
that were now taking place.
00:51:38.22\00:51:40.32
As the thieves
were bound to the cross,
00:51:40.35\00:51:42.46
she looked on with
agonizing suspense.
00:51:42.49\00:51:45.19
Would He who had
given life to the dead
00:51:45.22\00:51:47.19
suffer Himself to be crucified?"
00:51:47.22\00:51:49.03
Even Mary still at the cross
00:51:49.06\00:51:50.36
didn't realize
what is going to happen?
00:51:50.39\00:51:53.70
Would the Son of God suffer
Himself to be thus cruelly slain
00:51:53.73\00:51:58.36
must she witness
His shame and sorrow,
00:51:58.39\00:52:00.86
without even the privilege
00:52:00.89\00:52:01.92
of ministering to
Him in His distress?
00:52:01.95\00:52:05.24
She saw His hands
stretched upon the cross,
00:52:05.27\00:52:08.32
the hammer and the nails
were brought in his hands
00:52:08.35\00:52:11.84
and the spikes were
driven through the tender flesh
00:52:11.87\00:52:14.48
and the heart-stricken disciples
bore away from the cruel scene
00:52:14.51\00:52:19.04
the fainting form of
the mother of Jesus."
00:52:19.07\00:52:23.45
Can you imagine the devastation
00:52:23.48\00:52:24.88
and that's what
Simon meant when he said,
00:52:24.91\00:52:26.62
His sword will
pierce your own soul.
00:52:26.65\00:52:29.49
Evidently she
revives, He is on the cross,
00:52:32.22\00:52:34.95
the cross for hours
after the crucifixion,
00:52:34.98\00:52:37.28
a few hours later
John brings her back again
00:52:37.31\00:52:39.64
to right at the
feet of the cross.
00:52:39.67\00:52:41.93
Jesus can look
down, He sees His mother
00:52:41.96\00:52:44.03
through the sweat and
the blood in his eyes.
00:52:44.06\00:52:48.23
And when Jesus therefore saw
His mother still in John 19:26
00:52:48.26\00:52:53.24
and the disciple
standing by whom He loved
00:52:53.27\00:52:56.19
that would be John,
He said to His mother,
00:52:56.22\00:52:58.78
"Woman, behold thy son!"
00:52:58.81\00:53:02.25
And then He said to the
disciple "Behold my mother!"
00:53:02.28\00:53:06.72
You know, It's worthy of
mention the Gospel of John
00:53:06.75\00:53:09.14
begins by saying,
"Behold the Lamb of God
00:53:09.17\00:53:11.85
that takes away
the sin of the world."
00:53:11.88\00:53:14.19
All through the
first chapter of John,
00:53:14.22\00:53:16.30
it's about beholding and
seeing. If I'm lifted up, why?
00:53:16.33\00:53:19.82
Position of visibility I'll draw
00:53:19.85\00:53:22.21
and here are the statements
of Christ on the cross, behold.
00:53:22.24\00:53:26.05
And when he says,
woman behold thy son.
00:53:26.08\00:53:29.12
Who does Mary
represent? The church.
00:53:29.15\00:53:33.18
Who is the church supposed
to behold? It's an appeal.
00:53:33.21\00:53:37.88
Woman, I'm saying
it to you again today.
00:53:37.91\00:53:39.93
Behold thy son and
again, son behold thy mother.
00:53:39.96\00:53:47.61
He is also telling us
that John was to then take Mary
00:53:47.64\00:53:52.57
and this is Jesus'
last will and testament
00:53:52.60\00:53:55.47
it's His last, last bequest.
00:53:55.50\00:53:59.45
I mean what did
He have to leave?
00:53:59.48\00:54:01.20
They had already taken
His robes and gamble for that,
00:54:01.23\00:54:02.88
the only thing left to take care
of and His will is His mother.
00:54:02.91\00:54:07.88
I don't know about you
but if I was on the cross
00:54:07.91\00:54:09.80
going through that I probably be
00:54:09.83\00:54:12.35
so preoccupied with my own
suffering I forget that detail
00:54:12.38\00:54:15.65
but He loved His mother
so much, He took care of her.
00:54:15.68\00:54:19.71
Now we get to the
last references of Mary,
00:54:19.74\00:54:22.43
I'm just about done.
00:54:22.46\00:54:24.86
Evidently Mary
was not at the tomb,
00:54:24.89\00:54:28.18
Mary Magdalene was
there, Mary the wife of Cleopas
00:54:28.21\00:54:31.09
and others but Mary is never
mentioned has been at the tomb
00:54:31.12\00:54:33.53
when they buried Him.
00:54:33.56\00:54:35.43
But she was in the upper
room when Jesus appeared.
00:54:35.46\00:54:40.25
Now who is taking care
of Mary after Jesus dies?
00:54:40.28\00:54:43.55
John, the night of the
resurrection, Luke 24:33,
00:54:43.58\00:54:49.87
it talks about
the road to Emmaus,
00:54:49.90\00:54:51.56
those two disciples
that go to the upper room,
00:54:51.59\00:54:53.80
they returned to Jerusalem,
00:54:53.83\00:54:55.50
and they found the eleven.
00:54:55.53\00:54:57.23
Eleven who? Eleven apostles.
00:54:57.26\00:55:00.90
and those who were there
gathered together with them.
00:55:00.93\00:55:05.08
This is the last
reference that you find.
00:55:05.11\00:55:07.43
Mary was in the upper room.
00:55:07.46\00:55:09.50
Can you imagine her
joy in both John 20:19,
00:55:09.53\00:55:13.07
it says Jesus
stood in their midst,
00:55:13.10\00:55:14.84
and in Luke 24, in
both places he says peace
00:55:14.87\00:55:18.73
and there was great rejoicing
00:55:18.76\00:55:20.18
among the disciples
when they saw Him alive.
00:55:20.21\00:55:22.30
Who do you think
was the happiest of all?
00:55:22.33\00:55:25.35
Can you imagine how difficult
00:55:25.38\00:55:26.77
that weekend must
have been for Mary?
00:55:26.80\00:55:29.24
Ah talk about it,
yeah, it's amazing
00:55:29.27\00:55:30.56
she survived the broken heart
00:55:30.59\00:55:32.26
of that week after
Christ was crucified.
00:55:32.29\00:55:34.99
Now when she actually
sees Him again and they all,
00:55:35.02\00:55:38.21
and He says all hail and they
all come and they worship Him.
00:55:38.24\00:55:41.12
Can you imagine her joy
and then the last reference
00:55:41.15\00:55:44.85
we find of Mary is
Acts 1:14, it says,
00:55:44.88\00:55:49.68
these all continued when
the Holy Spirit is poured out
00:55:49.71\00:55:52.84
in the upper room it
tells us that Mary was there,
00:55:52.87\00:55:57.49
"These all continued
with one accord in prayer
00:55:57.52\00:56:00.53
and supplication with the women
00:56:00.56\00:56:02.73
and Mary the mother of
Jesus, and all His brethren.
00:56:02.76\00:56:07.31
His mother became His follower,
His mother became a disciple.
00:56:07.34\00:56:14.26
Now that's really
something when you trace,
00:56:14.29\00:56:16.41
we've just done a quick
overview for each one of these
00:56:16.44\00:56:18.48
could have been a whole series
taking it from Mary being chosen
00:56:18.51\00:56:22.86
that this miracle should happen
and Christ should be born in her
00:56:22.89\00:56:26.02
and then over the
course of her experience,
00:56:26.05\00:56:28.28
she ends up being
transformed in the process
00:56:28.31\00:56:31.77
and the one who she is
nurturing ends up nurturing her.
00:56:31.80\00:56:37.36
That's sort of the
way it happens with us.
00:56:37.39\00:56:39.31
When you have a
new birth experience
00:56:39.34\00:56:41.70
you grown on the
milk of the word,
00:56:41.73\00:56:43.34
you nurture Christ within you
00:56:43.37\00:56:47.03
and it becomes something where
it transforms your whole life
00:56:47.06\00:56:50.70
then instead of just receiving
Him you become a disciple.
00:56:50.73\00:56:53.78
We find Mary at the
beginning reciting Christ,
00:56:53.81\00:56:56.06
we find her at the
end proclaiming Christ
00:56:56.09\00:56:58.48
and she understands now
what the relationship is.
00:56:58.51\00:57:01.95
Let's bow our heads,
loving Lord, this is our prayer,
00:57:01.98\00:57:09.95
we need You in
our hearts and minds,
00:57:09.98\00:57:14.36
sometimes we can
make the mistake of Mary
00:57:14.39\00:57:18.29
what we think that it's
by virtue of our genealogy
00:57:18.32\00:57:22.48
or simply because
we are going through
00:57:22.51\00:57:24.28
the ritual of coming to church
00:57:24.31\00:57:26.51
that we have the
miracle of You living within.
00:57:26.54\00:57:29.23
And it's possible
to lose track, Lord.
00:57:29.26\00:57:32.90
I pray that we can
all have that epiphany
00:57:32.93\00:57:36.09
that you are
willing to be born in us
00:57:36.12\00:57:38.18
but we must guard
that relationship,
00:57:38.21\00:57:40.18
we must nurture
it, we must feed it
00:57:40.21\00:57:42.20
and then we must
also proclaim it.
00:57:42.23\00:57:46.22
Lord, I pray
that we can experience
00:57:46.25\00:57:47.78
the same surrender that Mary had
00:57:47.81\00:57:49.78
and the same joy that she had
00:57:49.81\00:57:52.01
when she saw You alive
after the resurrection,
00:57:52.04\00:57:56.13
be with us that we
might proclaim that good news
00:57:56.16\00:57:58.71
and that others can have that
experience of new life with Him.
00:57:58.74\00:58:02.14
I praise as we
go from this place
00:58:02.17\00:58:04.20
that we will remember
to take Jesus with us.
00:58:04.23\00:58:06.42
This we ask in His name, amen.
00:58:06.45\00:58:09.56