Divine Surrogacy
It makes me wonder if there is much worse than Mary who gave birth of the Christ, seeing in her very eyes, just feet away, her Son Jesus whom she took care from baby to adult: humiliated, persecuted, rejected, suffered, crucified and died as if a criminal!
How do we depict the emotions of Mary as a parent, a mother? Is there other else more “piercing of Mary’s own soul than this?”
If we are to ask where is Mary, the mother of Jesus, now? Biblically in accordance to the topic and title of the chapter “Mary of the Bible”: Mary, the mother of Jesus, like all believers are with the Lord in heaven. “Absence in the body is presence with the Lord” 2 Corinthians 5:8.
Chapter 1: Mary of the Bible
The most famous female character in the Bible is Mary, the mother of Jesus. We are to find out why this book Divine Surrogacy is saying that Mary is a gestational mother of the Son of Man, a surrogate mother, and how?
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, the four Gospel writers of the Lord has written about her. She was mentioned twelve times in the Gospel of Luke, five times in the Gospel of Matthew, once in the Gospel of Mark, where the brothers of Jesus are named, and also once in the Gospel of John at the wedding in Canna.
And, yes, she too is read in the book of Acts which is often called, the Gospel of the Holy Spirit. Take note that the book of Acts was written before the four gospels were written.
Mary is a beautiful young Galilean Jewish woman of Nazareth, with the Scriptures in her heart.
“A virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph of the house of David. And having come in, the angel said to Mary, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women.” But when Mary saw the angel, she was troubled at his saying and considered what manner of greeting this was.
Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid Mary, for you have found favor with God. “And behold you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great and called the Son of the Highest and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever and His kingdom there will be no end.
Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man? “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy one who is to be born will be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:27-35).
MARY REFLECTS ON THE MEANING
How would you respond if you are in the sandals of Mary? Or, out of nowhere you received an unmistakable call from God to do something extraordinary-something way outside your comfort zone?
Let us quote Dr. David Jeremiah from his Bible Study:
“How did Mary respond to the news that God was getting ready to use her in an extraordinary way? Her first reaction was confusion. She likely had never seen an angel before… nor had ever expected to see one. His appearance was so out of the ordinary, so unbelievable to her, that her mind had trouble processing it.
Mary’s second reaction was consideration. Luke writes that she “considered what manner of greeting this was” 1:29 She mentally played back what she had heard in the angel’s words, searching them for meaning.
Mary’s third reaction was investigation. After considering the matter, she posed a question to the angel, who had announced that she was going to give birth: “How can this be, since I do not know a man? V. 34. Mary had every right to question what the angel had said, because this had never happened before. Never had God created a body in a woman without the involvement of a man.
God accommodated Mary’s questions. He gave Mary a “miraculous precedent” to which to cling. The angel revealed to Mary that her cousin Elizabeth who had been barren her entire life and was well past her childbearing years, was also pregnant. Mary rushed to Elizabeth’s house to confirm the news. She knew that if what the angel had said about Elizabeth was true, then certainly what the angel had said to her was also true.
This led to Mary’s fourth reaction: submission. After visiting Elizabeth to confirm the angel’s announcement, she likely wrestled with how to explain the situation to Joseph. Yet, while she had few answers, she still humbly submitted to God’s will.”
My own impression of Mary sticks from what and how the angel of the Lord describes the mother of Jesus: 1. highly favored one 2.The Lord is with you 3. Blessed among women.
Take note that there is none and never the Full of Grace was attributed to Mary in God’s Word. Instead, John 1:14 says that “the Only Begotten of the Father is the Full of Grace and Truth.”
MARY’S PARENTS?
A brother in Christ whose family belongs to the upper bracket of haves that you may say one of the owners of the city of my birth, I heard was asking: Why I became interested in talking about the parents of the parents of the Messiah Jesus? If I throw the same question to you dear readers what will be your piece of mind? What relevance is in the story of the grandparents of the Son of Man?
This chapter is about Mary, the mother of Christ Jesus in accordance to the Bible. But, before we go further, allow me to give way first to the version that which was presented outside of the Bible.
“The Vatican calls it Protoevangelium of James based on tradition, legend and apocryphal writings, which according to them was written around A.D. 150. They named Mary’s parents as Joaquim and Anne and are described by their alleged source as a wealthy couple who were infertile for many years, causing Joaquim to do fasting for 40 days and nights in hopes of having a child. The story narrates that “Mary’s birth was announced by an angel leading to much rejoicing on the part of Joachim and Anne and that Mary was consecrated to the Lord and went to live in the temple from the age of 3 until the age of 12 when Joseph took her to his keeping.”
As claimed grandparents of Jesus, “St. Joachim and St. Anne,” have long been honored by both the Eastern Church and the Roman Catholic Church and they observe the feast of St. Joachim and St. Anne every 26th of July. There are even Church buildings named after them.”
“It is considered by the Vatican that the apocryphal writings, the “Protoevangelium of James” dedicated to the study of Mary, try to fill the void in order to satisfy the curiosity of people with “simpler faith.” Wikipedia
“The Protoevangelium of James is a pseudepigraphal also known as the book of James (not to be confused with the New Testament Epistle of James), It is subtitled, “the birth of Mary the holy mother of God and very glorious mother of Jesus Christ. The word protoevangelium means proto-gospel or precursor to the gospel, which in this case is Mary’s story.” Got Questions
Another version of Protoevangelium of James is found in the net by the New Advent Home > Fathers of the Church > The Protoevangelium of James. It speaks of the birth of Mary the holy mother of god, and very glorious mother of Jesus Christ. 1. In the records of the twelve tribes of Israel was Joaquim…2. And his wife Anna mourned in two mornings…It mentioned of apocryphal Tobit 2:10 Anna, Anna the Lord has heard your prayer and you shall conceive, and bring forth a seed shall be spoken of in all the world. Then it goes to, “And behold, two angels came, saying to her: Behold, “Joachim” your husband is coming with his flocks. For an angel of the Lord went down to him, saying: Joachim, the Lord God has heard your prayer. Go down hence; for, behold, your wife Anna shall conceive…And she (Anna) said: A girl. And said Anna: My soul has been magnified this day. And she laid her down…Anna was purified and gave the breast to the child, and called her name Mary.
Careful of the many coming out gospels that they say are missing parts. If we are to believe that only the “Bible reveals God’s Words,” “Sola Scriptura” then we should respect the prophecies in the Old Testament about the coming birth of the Messiah and these prophecies “should match” or be in harmony to support each other to the present no matter how many hundreds of years apart as revealed by the Holy Spirit.
Bear in mind that 1 Corinthians 14:33 says, “God is not the God of disorder but of peace” The Bible is authored by God. “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21).
Jesus speaking, Matthew 15:3, “Why do you transgress the commandment of God with your tradition?”
Now, I understand why this was uttered by the Christ Jesus. Traditions are being presented to corrupt and twist the written Word of God primarily to confuse.
2 Timothy 3:16, teaches, “All of the Scripture verse in the Bible is true. And Psalm 119:160 says the Bible is inspired Word of God from beginning to end,” and not only did God give us His Word but He also promised as purified until the end of the world (Psalm 12:6-7 and Matthew 24:35).
Therefore, we should be in peace and in harmony to the Biblical Prophesies before the birth of Christ Jesus that say: “Messiah would come from the line of Abraham” (Genesis 12:3, 12:18) Messiah would be a descendant of Isaac” (Genesis 17:19, 21:12), Messiah would be a descendant of Jacob (Numbers 24:17), Messiah would be heir to King David’s throne (Isaiah 9:7).
Joaquim, who has been declared by the Vatican using their so called proto whatever of James is nowhere to be found in the genealogy of Jesus through Mary and of Joseph. Wikipedia says, “Protoevangelium of James is a 2nd century infancy gospel telling of St. Anne’s miraculous immaculate conception of the Virgin Mary is unfounded in the Bible.” Actually, it is not in harmony with the Old and New Testaments.
Meanwhile the SANCTA NOMINA Catholic Baby Naming came out in September 17, 2015 followed recently by the Cardinals explanation on the confusion between the names Heli and Joseph. Brilliant but dull for their story about the “they say” miraculous birth of Mary by Hanna or Anna. As you read find out from the net why I honestly say they intentionally corrupted the Scriptures in using 1 Samuel 1:11.
While the presentation of the protoevangelium or gospel of James according to www.newadvent.org is same to that of Wikipedia, it used the Catholic Bible Tobit. Quoted 1 Samuel 1:11 that as you continue to read it is giving a different story of another Hannah or Anna who is the mother of born boy named Samuel the prophet not a girl named Mary. First Samuel speaks of Anna or Hannah the mother of Samuel whose father is not Joaquim but Elkanah of Ephraim. Besides, their time difference is said by Wikipedia as roughly 400 years. Sorry fathers. Now, I know why you prefer Latin than the international language of English.
Sad to say, Google tells the name of the parents of Mary, the mother of Jesus and what will first to come out is Joachim and Anne which is in contrary to what the Bible reveals.
Garbage in, garbage out, so they say.
God’s Word, the Bible, speaks of a story that the Messiah shall be a direct descendant of the House of David (Isaiah 9:6-7; Matthew 1:1). “Both “Joaquim and Anne” are absent” from the genealogies of Jesus as found in the writings of Matthew and Luke of the New Testament to prove or disprove themselves if they are within the house of David. Joachim is not in the line of Abraham. He is not a descendant of Isaac nor of Jacob. Obviously, the names of Joachim and Anne are biblically nowhere to be found in the genealogy of the Christ Jesus either through Mary or the foster father Joseph.
Mary is a descendant of David through Nathan to Heli or Eli of the tribe of Judah. Furthermore, the relationship of Mary with Elizabeth was on the maternal side, so Mary like Joseph, to whom she was betrothed was of the royal house of David and so of the tribe of Judah and that the genealogy of Jesus presented in Luke 3 from Nathan, another son of David and Bathsheba (Uriah’s widow) as wedded husband and wife.
Let us give a second glance to the genealogy of Jesus through the step father Joseph, in Matthew 1:16, “And “Jacob the father of Joseph,” the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.”
Allow me to repeat it one more time: “And “Jacob” the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary of whom was born Jesus, who is called the Christ.” Very clear in saying that Jacob is the biological father of the foster father Joseph, the husband of Mary, the mother of Jesus the Christ.
Meanwhile, Luke 3:23 records, “And Jesus Himself began to be about thirty years of age being as was supposed the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli.”
How could it be, when Matthew 1:16 reveals that the father of Joseph is Jacob? How come Joseph the husband of Mary, the mother of Jesus has two fathers?
“Let us make it very clear that Joseph does not have two biological fathers.”
Joseph is the son of Heli by marriage to Mary, the mother of Jesus. This practice was ordained in the Old Testament’s book of Numbers Chapter 36 that the man who married the daughter of a father having no son became the son of the father and inherited his property.
In that time, Hebrews, Jews or the Israelites would not permit women to enter into their genealogical tables whenever a family happened to end with a daughter, instead of naming Mary in the genealogy, they inserted her husband Joseph as the son of Heli when in reality it is a father-in-law – son-in-law relationship (“And Jesus…as was supposed the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli”) Hebrews never permitted women to enter into their genealogical tables, whenever a family happened to end with a daughter, instead of naming her in the genealogy, they inserted her husband, as the son of him who was, in reality, but his father-in-law. Hebrews never permitted women to enter into their genealogical tables, whenever a family happened to end with a daughter, instead of naming her in the genealogy, they inserted her husband, as the son of him who was, in reality, but his father-in-law.Hebrews never permitted women to enter into their genealogical tables, whenever a family happened to end with a daughter, instead of naming her in the genealogy, they inserted her husband, as the son of him who was, in reality, but his father-in-law.
Luke 3:23-38, explains that the son of Heli (Eli) refers to Joseph who is his son-in-law “out of the Jewish legal sanction and customary practice to refer to the son-in-law as son.”
Likewise, as it is written in Matthew 1:16 NIV, “…and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah”, clearly saying, Joseph, the foster dad of Jesus was the son of Jacob by birth and not of Heli.
The father of Mary, therefore, is not St. Joaquim, whose name is nowhere to be found. Mary’s father is Heli, a descendant of King David through Nathan to Heli of the tribe of Judah (Hebrews 7:14, Luke 3:23b, Genesis 49:10). Clearly, therefore, the Joaquim and Anne myth, of an angel visiting the couple is untrue, hence, fake news.
The genealogy of Christ Jesus connects the truthfulness of God’s Word from the Old Testament to the New Testament proving that the Messiah Jesus is from the line of Abraham, from the descendant of Isaac and Jacob and from the house of David.
Although Joseph and Mary are both descendants of King David, there is an “interesting fact” in the lineage of Joseph.
What is that “interesting fact” if the Christ Jesus is in the house of David through Joseph? Anything wrong?
JECONIAH LINK
While, Joseph is also a descendant of David through Solomon to Jacob of the tribe of Judah, supposedly confirming the Jewish prophecy that the Messiah will come from the House of David. This is evident in Luke 2:4-5: “Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child”.
Therefore, Joseph is a direct descendant of King David through David’s famous son Solomon. The Lineage of David to Solomon to Joseph to Jesus alone is seemingly enough to prove a Messianic Genealogy. However, the genealogy of the Gospel writer Matthew reveals that Joseph is within the lineage of king Jeconiah (also known as Jehoiachin and Coniah), son of king Jehoiakim, son of Josiah.
Jeconiah or Jehoiachin was a wicked king and God decreed that none of his descendants should ever ascend to the throne of David
The “Jeconiah link” is significant because of that “curse” by God pronounced on Jeconiah or Jehoiachin whom God calls “Coniah” in KJV of Jeremiah 22:24-30: “As surely as I live, declares the Lord, even if you Jehoiachin, son of Jehoiakim (Josiah) king of Judah, were a signet ring on my right hand, I would still pull you off. 25 I will hand you over to those who seek your life, those you fear, to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and to the Babylonians 26 I will hurl you and the mother who gave you birth into another country, where neither of you was born and there you both will die 27 you will never come back to the land you long to return to. 28 Is this man Jehoiachin, a despised broken pot, an object no one wants? Why will he and his children be hurled out, cast into a land they do not know? 29 O land, land, land, hear the word of the Lord!
30 “Thus says the LORD, ‘Write this man [Jeconiah] down as if childless.
A man who will not prosper in his lifetime;
For no man of his descendants will prosper
None will sit on the throne of David, Or rule again in Judah.’
Matthew 1:1-16, says, Joseph is within the genealogy of the God cursed Jeconiah, who was a descendant in the line of Solomon, so the genealogy in Matthew is tainted with a blood curse from Jeconiah all the way to Joseph. No descendant of Jeconiah would qualify as King of Israel. He was not the heir apparent. This would also mean that “no son” of Joseph would have the right to claim the throne of David. Therefore, Jesus would have been disqualified from sitting on David’s throne as son of Joseph. Neither could he claim the right to David’s throne as the adopted son of Joseph, since, Joseph was not the heir apparent. Matthew deduces that Jesus as Joseph’s son, he could not claim to sit on David’s throne because of the Jeconiah curse.
Now, comes from the lineage of David through Nathan to Mary to Jesus. Mary is only a human mother to Jesus and has no blood in Christ Jesus (with full “Science” and Bible explanation in the next chapters) Like Joseph, Miriam or Mary was a member of the house of David. But unlike Joseph, Mary came from David’s son, Nathan, not Solomon. Mary was a member of the house of David apart from Jeconiah, hence, excluded from the Jeconiah curse. (Luke 3:31; 3:23).
That makes sense making Mary a good partner to Joseph as her husband who too hails from Judah, the tribe of kings. Are we following?
I honestly and strongly believe that Joseph, having been chosen and anointed by God to play the role of Christ Jesus’ foster father, he has been freed and redeemed from the Jeconiah curse.
The forgiveness of God is continuously revealed here: Both Mary and Joseph are direct descendants of David through Solomon and Nathan. And Solomon and Nathan were both born by the same woman Bathsheba that caused David was then called murderer and adulterer.
Why were these genealogies important?
From all the genealogies in the Hebrew Scriptures, two observations become apparent. With very rare exceptions, only the male line is traced and only names of men appear. The descendant of women is not given and their names are only mentioned in passing. Because of the patriarch culture of the Jews as revealed in Numbers chapter 36 of the Bible, it is the father who determines both national and tribal identity, hence, only male line is necessary.
Because of the genealogies of Jesus in the books of Matthew and Luke, we now know that Joaquim and Anne as Vatican claimed parents of Mary is truly complete lies by intention.
Now, the very rare exceptions: There are five women in the genealogy of Jesus Christ. In a time when genealogies did not normally contain even a single female name, why are these five women included? The genealogy of Jesus is found only in the gospels of Matthew and Luke.
Matthew 1:3, Judah, the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar. Matthew 1:5a, Salmon, the father of Boaz whose mother was Rahab. Matthew 1:5b, Boaz, the father of Obed whose mother was Ruth. Matthew 1:6b, David was the father of Solomon whose mother had been Uriah’s wife. Matthew 1:16, Jacob, the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. Knowing their stories in the Bible, we can say that they were all with good testimonies to tell. The apostle gospel writer Matthew, however, acknowledge them all by including them in the Messiah’s genealogy. It shows, likewise, that sinners who have humbled themselves in repentance are become qualified to become children and in the family of God.
God forgives.
The Genealogy of the Christ Jesus through Matthew and Luke:
Matthew 1:6-16 | Luke 3:23-31 |
V 6b: David was the father of Solomon … and Abi′jah the father of Asa, and Asa the father of Jehosh′aphat, and Jehosh′aphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzzi′ah, and Uzzi′ah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezeki′ah, and Hezeki′ah the father of Manas′seh, and Manas′seh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josi′ah, and Josi′ah the father of Jechoni′ah . . . Jechoni′ah was the father of She-al′ti-el, and She-al′ti-el the father of Zerub′babel, and Zerub′babel the father of Abi′ud, and Abi′ud the father of Eli′akim, and Eli′akim the father of Azor, and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eli′ud, and Eli′ud the father of Elea′zar, and Elea′zar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus . . . | Jesus, . . . being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jan′na-i, the son of Joseph, the son of Mattathi′as, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Nag′ga-i, the son of Ma′ath, the son of Mattathi′as, the son of Sem′e-in, the son of Josech, the son of Joda, the son of Jo-an′an, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerub′babel, the son of She-al′ti-el, the son of Neri, the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elma′dam, the son of Er, the son of Joshua, the son of Elie′zer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eli′akim, the son of Me′le-a, the son of Menna, the son of Mat′tatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, |
“In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and “the Word was God.” The Word was in the beginning with God. “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it” (John 1:1-5) “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father, Full of Grace and Truth” (John 1:14).
Take note that the “Full of Grace” only refers to the begotten of the Father.
Notice that the “Word was God” and the “Word became flesh” and dwelt among us (men). That is God incarnate in action. The only begotten of the Father God chose to become the Son of Man. “All things were made through Him (Jesus) and “without Him nothing was made that has been made” (John 1:3). Jesus the Christ has been there in the creation of heaven and earth and “is present” in the “Let us” make man in our image and likeness” (Genesis 1:26-27, God speaking).
Before the Son of Man was born by the highly favored Mary who is blessed among all women the Son of Man was already in existence even in the creation of the world and man. He was already seen and appeared in the vision of Daniel:
“In my vision at night, I looked and there before me was one like a Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into His presence 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power: all people nations and men of every language worshipped Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His Kingdom is one that will never be destroyed” (Daniel 7:13-14).
GOD’S PLAN TO MARY
Divine Appointment is the next biblical requirement for kingship, and this took place when the Angel Gabriel presented the God’s Plan to Mary.
In Luke 1:30-35, it is clear that the Angel did not ask a question neither give a command, rather he made announcement, “Fear not, Mary: for you have found favor with God. You shall conceive (Meaning, immediately) in your womb and bring forth a Son (Proclaims the Incarnation, God manifest in the flesh, Immanuel, God with us), and shall call His name Jesus. He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Highest and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there shall be no end.… The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God,” (A declaration of God’s plan).
And Mary, though a virgin, gracefully portrays the humility of a young servant when she said to the angel, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord be it done unto me according to your word” (Mary’s obedience). Luke 1:38.
Amazingly, God uses the least expected people to realize a plan.
Mary the mother of the Savior, is not exempted as she herself declares in “The Song of Mary”, Luke 1:46-48:
46 And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
48 For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;
For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.”
The biblical Song was a manifestation of her belief in the Scriptures expressed from her heart that she, a sinner has rejoiced in God her Savior. Clearly, Mary understands Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God”. Mary knows that she herself like everybody else is a sinner and needs a Savior. Saved Mary will be called blessed for all generations. Matthew 1:21 stressed this: “She will give birth to a Son and you will name Him Jesus for He will save His people from their sins.”
Even before the pronouncement of her conception by the Holy Spirit, Mary already knew that she was a part of those whom Jesus came “to seek and save” Luke 19:10. The same is true with her response to the Angel Gabriel in Luke 1:38. Mary also knows and understands what she is getting into. Mary’s knowledge of God’s promise to send a Savior for His people manifested further through her praise and worship.
Mary was formally introduced in the Bible, six months after Elizabeth (her cousin) had conceived of John the Baptist. Luke 1:26-27 says, “In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to a virgin named Mary in Galilee, pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David.”
Why Mary, a virgin? Mary needs to be a virgin to fulfill the prophecy that was told hundreds of years before, Isaiah 7:14. Jesus’ virgin birth confirms that He was the promised Savior. The virgin birth was of God.
If God can allow the birth of John the Baptist from the womb of Elizabeth who was in her well advanced age (old and no longer capable of giving birth) without any requirement but faith in God’s Word through the angel of the Lord Gabriel (Luke 1:13-18), then the miracle, therefore, with Mary, as a virgin, to give birth of the Messiah is not a Mary mystery. It is God’s design. “For with God nothing shall be impossible” Luke 1:37. It was a simple God’s science normalcy. If God can say, let there be light and there was light, God can easily say, “let there be life” and there will be life, as when the same angel of the Lord Gabriel announced to Mary “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. You shall conceive in your womb and bring forth a son”.
The Gospel of Luke records the presentation of Jesus as a baby in the temple for consecration and dedication to the Lord God as required by the Law of the Lord and the moved by the Spirit of God, the righteous and devout old man Simeon who took to his arms the baby Jesus and prayed (Luke 2:25-28).
And talking to Mary the mother of Jesus, Simeon prophesied, “So the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. A sword will pierce your own soul too” (Luke 2:35). How do you understand this?
According to a Bible Commentary: it is indicating the pain and suffering Mary the mother of Jesus would undergo in connection with her son’s foretold death on a torture stake. The most common interpretation is that it refers to the sorrow of Mary would experience seeing her son whom she gave birth rejected and crucified.
Is there a true loving parent and a mother at that who cannot relate in the prophesying of Simeon to the mother of Jesus, Mary in Luke 2:34-35? “A sword will pierce your own soul too.”
Mark 3:31-34 “Now Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him, but they were not able to get near Him because of the crowd. Standing outside, they sent someone to call Him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.” Who are my mother and my brothers? Jesus asked. Then He looked those seated in a circle around Him, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and “mother.”
How about at the wedding in Cana of Galilee when Mary asked Jesus’ help and water before was turned into wine? John 2:1-10, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me?” “My hour has not yet come.”
Mary would also stumble and experience difficulty in her son’s mission…Luke 11:27-28, “As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.” Jesus replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the Word of God and obey it.”
Who is a true loving mother who cannot relate to Luke 2:34-35: “Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, Jesus’ mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many will be revealed . “And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
If you as a reader is a parent, a mother, “Is there any other worst sword piercing of her own soul for Mary” than to having seen her precious Son Jesus be persecuted, suffered and died as a criminal? The Christ whom she carried for nine months, whom she gave birth, tendered as a baby and as a Man was crucified and allowed Himself to die? Mary had seen all of these!
At the crucifixion, Jesus seeing His mother Mary and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother: “Dear woman, here is your son.” And to the disciple, “Here is your mother…” (John 19:26).
John 1 says Christ is the Word of God. He reveals God to us,
“For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from God’s sight, but all things are naked and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:12-13).
Were Mary and Joseph Poor or Rich?
When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple to be dedicated, the gospel of Luke tells us that they offered a sacrifice of a poor person. Mary and Joseph’s sacrifice was a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons. Leviticus 12:7-8 teaches that two turtledoves or two young pigeons could be offered if the couple are poor that they could not afford a lamb. This reveals that Mary and Joseph were not wealthy couple but not that poor.
At least, the couple were with a donkey for Mary’s ride (jokingly, either, a Nissan Versa or a Kia Soul, today?)
However, about two years later, the wise men, kings or Magi visited the baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph. “The star which the wise men had seen in the East went before them till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary His mother, “and fell down and worship Him.” (Take notice: the wise men were wise enough to bow down and worship the young Christ Jesus) And when they had opened their treasures, “they presented gifts to Him”: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
The Scripture did not make any statement about the monetary values but for sure those gifts made Mary, Joseph and Jesus financially ready when the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, Get up! “Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt,” and remain there until I tell you for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him.” So, he got up, took the Child and His mother during the night and left for Egypt.” (Matthew 2:13-14). 2 Corinthian 8:9 (“though, He was rich, He became poor for our sake) reveals that the family of man was poor. At Jesus’ burial we are told that some of the women who travelled with Christ Jesus and the disciples brought gifts (Luke 23:54-56) and Nicodemus brought spices (John 19:39-41) The gifts of the wise men (with due respect to some of the scholars) were not used for His burial; in fact, the myrrh and frankincense would have evaporated during the thirty three years He had lived.
If Mary and Joseph as parents of Christ Jesus have been rich, or the grandparents, the Christ’s ministry should have been supported. But Luke 8:1-3 states that some women helped support Christ Jesus and the disciples in the ministry. That would not have been necessary if Christ Jesus’ earthly parents or grandparents had been wealthy. Neverthirsty.org
Mary Married to Joseph.
“— a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary”, Luke 1:27.
In every Nativity Story portrayed by the faithful in the celebration of Christmas, many times Luke 2:5 is mentioned, “Joseph went there (Bethlehem) and be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.”
Let it be known that Hebrew law required the marriage to be ‘consummated’ before it had any legal effect. Likewise, let us bring our eyes again to Matthew 1:16, in the record of genealogy, “And Jacob the father of Joseph, ‘the husband of Mary’, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.” Matthew 1:20, “…an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had told him and took Mary home as his wife” (Matthew 1:24).
Therefore, Joseph and Mary were married even before the long travel that started from the couple’s home to Bethlehem. Espoused (betrothed) is a written agreement with a fee entered into and was considered the formal beginning of the marriage itself. 2 Samuel 3:14 is an example.
Matthew 1:25: “But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a Son. And he gave him the name Jesus” (NIV);
“And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus” (KJV);
“But Joseph did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born.” And he named him Jesus” (ERV).
Remember the words of Mary before she conceived by the Holy Spirit in Luke 1:34? “Then said Mary unto the Angel, how shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
Mary, a woman married to Joseph, as humans, they came to know each other after the proclaimed time.
Genesis 4:1 says, “And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain.” On Mary’s case, by that time, after the birth of Jesus, she (Mary) came to know a man and his name was Joseph.
Obviously, Joseph came to know Mary after she brought forth her first born son. Knowing Mary means they lived together and became one as husband and wife just like when Adam knew Eve his wife, and bare Cain…(Genesis 4:1).
In fact, in Matthew 13:55-56, Joseph and Mary had several children together after Jesus was born. Jesus had four brothers: James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas. Jesus also had sisters, although, they are not named or numbered. God blessed and graced Mary by giving her several children, which in that culture was the greatest indication of God’s blessing on a woman.
Knowing these through God’s love letters to us, in the Bible that Joaquim and Anne are fake news, Mary is not a perpetual virgin as claimed by the Vatican for she and Joseph did not just look to each other but they came to know each other after she brought forth her first born Son Jesus, the Christ.
The two (Mary and Joseph) lived together as husband and wife. Likewise, because of the already mentioned facts and truth, Mary is also not born sinless or is Immaculately Conceived or a forever virgin. Mary the mother of Jesus, keep in mind, is the highly favored and among all women is blessed as the chosen vessel for God to incarnate by giving birth of the Christ.
But still, Mary as the mother of Jesus gave birth and there was no blood of her! Yes and this book DIVINE SURROGACY will reveal what is normal to woman’s pregnancy that God’s Science will explain in details to prove that Jesus’ blood is of God.
The other Marys’ of the Bible
Let it be clarified that the great news of Resurrection that Christ Jesus Is Alive was said first to Mary Magdalene: “When Jesus rose early on the first day (Sunday) of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene… (Mark 16:9) and the other Marys’ and women (Mary the mother of James and Joses, probably Mary the wife of Clopas, Joanna, Salome and Mary the mother of Zebedee’s sons. Mary the mother of Jesus was not among the Marys’) “Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid, Go and tell My brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see Me” But the Eleven did not believe because their (the women’s) words seemed to them nonsense, (Matthew 28:8-10, Luke 24:9-12, Mark 16:9-20) v. 14
The then missing Eleven during the crucifixion (except John) did not believe the preaching of the other Marys’ led by Mary Magdalene.
Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; He rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen Him after He had risen” (Mark 16:14).
(Those here were Mary Magdalene and the other Marys’). These “those” other Marys’ who were present with Mary the mother of Jesus at the crucifixion were Mary Magdalene, Mary of Clopas, Mary, the mother of the sons of Zebedee, Salome. While, John was the only male disciple present.
In John 20:1-18, Mary Magdalene reported that the body of the Lord Jesus was missing. Peter and John went with Mary of Magdala back to the tomb and not finding Jesus the disciples went back to their homes. It was then when Jesus appeared and talk to Mary Magdalene. Jesus said, v.17, “…Go, instead to my brothers and tell them, “I Am returning to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God.” V. 18, Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord.” And she told them that He (Jesus) had said these things to her.
1 Corinthians 15:14, on the other hand, says with Paul speaking, “And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.”
Why do you think that the Christ Jesus in His first hour of coming back to life did not appear Himself to Peter and John who came with Mary to the tomb? Did Jesus intentionally wait for Peter and John to be back homes before the Risen Christ appeared to Mary Magdalene and tell her to go tell them? (John 20:10-18) Me, as an ordinary believer is wondering what does Magdalene mean saying “He (Jesus) had said these things to her (?)”
I like the description of www. Bibleref.com in that remarkable scene of John 20:18: “In an era where women were ignored and often mistrusted, a woman becomes the first person to share her experiences with a risen Jesus.” Mary Magdalene encounters two angels outside Jesus’ empty tomb, followed by Jesus Himself.
Exhort, according to godgiftsyou.com is defined as to “strongly encourage or urge someone to do something, which is similar to Definition Oxford: strongly encourage or urge someone to do something.” And what an exhortation there was with the great news shared and told by Mary Magdalene and the other Marys’ to them, the Eleven and the others, in obedience to Jesus’ command.
Truly, “there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for we are all one in Christ Jesus” 29 “If you belong to Christ; then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:28-29). Advent Christian Witness, a magazine in its Fall ’23 issue, Galatians 3:28 means: “Ethnicity, class and gender distinctions are irrelevant to becoming a Christian.”
The other Marys’ and women of the Bible story may go beyond the crucifixion and at the empty tomb. Luke 8:1-3 speaks of some of them joining “Jesus and the twelve travelled from one town and village to another proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God. “These women Mary Magdalene, Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others were helping to support them out of their own means.”
Finally, Mary the mother of Jesus in Acts 1:14, “They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.” As the verse implies, their joining together in prayer was constantly, not giving up the fellowshipping together as the habit of some, encouraging one another and all the same as you see the day approaching. This was after the apostles have chosen Matthias to replace Judas.
Should We Pray to Mary?
Let us biblically talk about that in Chapter 3, The blood of Jesus and prayer.
Nowadays, there are those who are not contented and are disobedient in the teaching of the Christ Jesus that when we pray we should only addressed to God and in Jesus name. Likewise, the Great Commission Matthew 28:20 command is: Go therefore and make disciples among all nations. And to answer the question how, Jesus says, “Teach them what I have taught you.”
Patience please until we come to the chapter that science explains how and what happens inside the body of pregnant Mary. As we read further and discover, we continuously respect Mary as the mother of the Man Jesus and as highly favored with God and blessed among all women.
