tized. Some of the people began to wonder “ Is John the Christ for whom we look?” He might have pretended to be Christ, but John truthfully answered them and said that he was not even worthy to unloose the shoe latchet of the One whose messenger he was. To each group of people who. came to him, John explained what they must do in order to live as God wanted them to live. Those who profess to love the Lord Jesus Christ, but in whose lives there is constant sin, should search their hearts to see whether or not they are truly born-again. Those who love the Lord their God with all their heart and all their soul and all their might will show their love by their words, their deeds, and their thoughts. August 27, 1950 MARY, THE MOTHER OF JESUS Luke 1:46-48; 2:48-51; Mark 3:31-35; Many false traditions have sprung up around the Virgin Mary. In some in stances it seems that she is almost more important than her Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Because this is true, some Prot estant people have swung to the other extreme and scarcely recognize her at all. This is a mistake. There is no rea son why she should not be called the Blessed Virgin, for the Scripture speaks o f her as such (Luke 1:42,48) and there are many precious lessons which we may learn from a consideration of her character. Mary’s Magnificat Luke 1:46-48 These words contain a part of one of the most beautiful psalms in holy writ. The words are expressive of the utmost devotion (v. 46). They recognize God as Saviour (v. 47). In spite of the atti tude of Romanists who claim that Mary was born without inbred sin and so did not need a Saviour, yet Mary herself recognized that she was a sinner and needed a Saviour. Thus she says, God my Saviour. Furthermore, Mary recog nized in her psalm that God’s grace had been shown to her in a wonderful way (v. 48). That grace had reached down and lifted her to a place of such privi lege that “ henceforth all generations shall call me blessed” . All of us need to he possessed of the same spirit of praise for the Saviour that was manifest in Mary. Mary’s Perplexity Luke 2:48-51 A t twelve years o f age Jesus became “ a son of the law” . In a sense every Jewish boy at that age entered upon his own responsibility. This happened to Jesus in the passage before us. Fol lowing the passover, Joseph and Mary, along with others, took the northern route to Nazareth. They supposed Jesus was with them. But at nightfall it was J U L Y , 1 9 5 0 John 19:25-27; Acts 1:14 Pointers on the Lesson
discovered that He was not in the com pany. Returning to Jerusalem, they found Him in the temple discoursing with the doctors of the law. Mary, His mother, in perplexity said to Jesus, “ Behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing” (v. 48). In His answer, Jesus demonstrated His peculiar rela tionship to His real Father, “ Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” One far greater than Joseph was His Father. Then, we see Jesus as ah ideal exam ple for Christian young people of all ages (v. 51). He was subject to Joseph and Mary in the home life in Nazareth. There is altogether too little subjection of children to parents, today. Mary’s Son in Larger Relationships Mark 3:31-35 The rather strange words of this pas sage are not intended in any wise to express lack of appreciation of Jesus’ mother and brethren but rather to show the breadth of His spiritual ministry. There is a wonderful sense in which anyone who heeds the words of Christ may come into a vital relationship with the Son o f God. They become children of the new birth. Are you in this sense a brother or sister or mother of Christ? Mary’s Deep Sorrow John 19:25-27 During the hour of her greatest sor row, Mary had the comfort of receiving the definite evidence of her Son’s com passion and care. She was given into the loving care o f the beloved disciple, John. You, too, have a responsibility toward that mother of yours! Mary’s Continued Faithfulness Acts 1:14 Following the Calvary experience and the ascension of Christ into Heaven, we see a group of faithful disciples obedient to the Word of Christ in prayer and devotion waiting for the day of Pentecost. Mary, the mother of Jesus, is one of that group. This is the last time in the Bible we read of her. But this is enough. She had believed on Him as her Saviour, loved Him when others forsook Him and fled, and now is join ing others in obeying His resurrection commands. In these things, she remains a splen did example for every follower of Christ. Helps for the Children Mary, the Mother of Jesus Luke 1:46-48; 2:7, 40-52; John 2:1, 12; Acts 1:13,14 Memory Verse: “ And Mary said: My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour” (Luke 1:46,47). Mary, the mother o f the Lord Jesus Christ, was just like thousands o f moth ers living today. Each day she cared for the needs of her family, shared in the life o f her neighbors, and took part
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