Mary

Terrain Day 8 Bethlehem & Nazareth

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Luke 2:4-11
John 7:40-52
John 6:22-35
John 15:1-11
Jeremiah 33:14-16

Terrain, Day 8

Come journey with me as we navigate the rough terrain Joseph and Mary traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem, where Jesus was born! (Luke 2:1-7) Are you ready to unpack the wonderful nuggets God is going to share with us? Let’s go!

Imagine the hot, humid climate of Israel.
You’ll need plenty of water on this trip. (Here’s where being a camel would be
great, haha!)
Feel the sun on your back.
The sizzle of the water as it touches your lips, and the refreshing relief it brings!
You’ll also need to pack bread and oil for your meals.
Just take the clothes on your back, traveling light is a necessity in these parts.
I think that’s everything on my travel list. Wait, the donkey . . . ok, check!

The trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem is roughly 90 miles (144 km) southwest. OK, this doesn’t sound too bad if traveled by car, but during Biblical times, it was tiresome. We may not know exactly how arduous the journey was, but we know it was surely uncomfortable for Mary, who neared the end of her pregnancy. Nothing could have equipped them for this rough, downhill, and very windy terrain.

Nazareth, which means “the branch,” is just that, a branch, or fork, in the road, a secluded town perched on a hill, located in lower Galilee. It was said to be a “backwards town,” forgotten among other cities. Joseph and his espoused wife, Mary, were to be taxed and needed to travel from their hometown, Nazareth, to their ancestor’s city, Bethlehem, the city of David, or “the Bread.” (John 7:42)

In Bethlehem, this hill country-city located south of Jerusalem, the Messiah was prophesied to be born. (Micah 5:2) At the time of the census, an overcrowded city held no room at any type of suitable lodging. So, our couple resorted to a tucked-in-the-hills cave away from the harshness of the climate. This shelter in the rock, home to farm animals, would have been terribly noisy and odorous. Why would the Messiah be born here? Mary must have pondered so much that night.

“Bethlehem Morning, is more than just a memory
For the Child that was born there
Has come to set us free”
(Bethlehem Morning by Sandi Patty)

After the birth of Jesus, shepherds came from the fields to worship this babe in a feeding trough. (Luke 2:8-20) Then, Joseph and Mary fled with baby Jesus into Egypt to escape the king’s jealous decree of death to all baby boys (Matthew 2:13-18), where wise men eventually came to worship as well. (Matthew 2:1-12) Once the threat was neutralized, Joseph was told by an angel to return to their hometown of Nazareth. (Matthew 2:19-23) Another tiresome journey, this time with a busy little boy!

While Jesus grew up in Nazareth, He would later be rejected by His own people. (Mark 6:1-6, Psalm 118:22) But from this town, Jesus’ ministry began. God’s plan for His Son was to be fulfilled even from the lowliest of places. From this forgotten branch, the Bread of Life rose up! 

You see, the All-Sustaining One born in Bethlehem, “the bread,” was the Bread of Life:
“‘I am the bread of life,’ Jesus told them. ‘No one who comes to Me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in Me will ever be thirsty.’” (John 6:35)

Though rejected by His own Nazarene people, He grew in connection to those who trusted Him (John 1:11-13) as the All-Encompassing One (the True Vine) from Nazareth, “the branch”:

“I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me.” (John 15:5)

Today, He is our All-Sufficient One:
“And God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:8)

How many of us feel like there are many forgotten places in our lives? Or, maybe, we feel forgotten? It’s been a tough, arduous journey just to arrive here in our lives. The past haunts us. The past reminds us. Our present life and our future life do not look like what we want.

Believe me, I understand. For so many years, I felt forsaken by friends and family as a result of abuse I endured. I was ashamed of letting myself believe marriage would solve all the problems in my abusive relationship. But the abuse continued, and I needed to conceal the problems to protect myself. Yet in these lonely times, God was showing me His love and care. You see, abuse doesn’t need to define your lifestyle either. You can reach out for help! It’s one hug away from hope! Restoration is just a prayer away! God became the Bread of Life to me, wrapped me in His love, and sustained me until He fulfilled His plan and purpose for me. And He can do the same for you!

Oh sweet friends, remember God takes those forgotten places, those forks in the road, and makes our paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6) We can rest assured our forgotten places will become what God has intended for His purpose and His glory!

“We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

“‘For I know the plans I have for you’–this is the Lord’s declaration– ‘plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to give you a hope and a future.’” (Jeremiah 29:11)

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If Day 14 Un-Risen: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out Un-Risen!

The Questions

1) Who were Mary Magdalene and the “other Mary”? (verse 1)

2) Why were women the first ones arriving at the tomb?

3) Why was an angel sent as the messenger instead of Jesus Himself? (verses 5-7)

Matthew 28:1-7

After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to view the tomb. 2 There was a violent earthquake, because an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and approached the tomb. He rolled back the stone and was sitting on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. 4 The guards were so shaken by fear of him that they became like dead men.

5 The angel told the women, “Don’t be afraid, because I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here. For he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has risen from the dead and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see him there.’ Listen, I have told you.”

Original Intent

1) Who were Mary Magdalene and the “other Mary”? (verse 1)
The gospels only record a few words about Mary Magdalene. From her name, we know she came from the town of Magdala. Luke tells us she was healed from seven demons. (Luke 8:2) We don’t know if Mary was truly “possessed” like the man from the Gerasenes (Mark 5:1-17), as ancient culture had no distinction between demonic possession, mental illness, or even trauma. All of these were associated with “abnormal” behavior likened to “demon possession”. Because Luke concludes his list of women who followed Jesus by stating how they “support(ed) them from their possessions”, scholars suggest Mary was independently wealthy from the sale of her land or home. (Luke 8:3) Whatever the case, after being healed, Mary began following Jesus. Culturally, this was unheard of as following a Rabbi was reserved only for men. Not so with Jesus! Mary Magdalene was one of several women who traveled with Jesus along with His twelve disciples. Mary likely served Jesus and the Twelve by preparing meals with the other women and financially providing essentials like food and lodging. John’s gospel account reveals that she followed Jesus all the way to the cross and was the first to see Him after His resurrection. (John 19:25, John 20:11-18) The ‘other Mary’ is considered the mother of Jesus. She knew the prophecies concerning the promised Messiah as God in the flesh were being fulfilled in her Son. She had sung of God’s faithful goodness when the angel announced she would be His mother. (Luke 1:46-55) She also knew Jesus would suffer a cruel death according to prophecy. It doesn’t appear she actively followed Jesus during His ministry as she had other children to tend to, but she was present for His first miracle, at minimum, and attempted to visit Him. (Mark 3:31, John 2:1-11) His mother was also present at Calvary when Jesus died. Though Mary knew Jesus was the Messiah, she may not have fully understood Christ as her personal Savior until the gathering in the Upper Room. (Acts 1:12-14) In the final hours of Jesus’ life, as Mary watched her precious son die in agony, the prophecy of Simeon was fulfilled as a “sword would pierce (her) own soul”; surely her heart was breaking! (Luke 2:35)

2) Why were women the first ones arriving at the tomb?
In ancient culture, the task of preparing a body for burial generally fell to women. Jesus was crucified at sundown on Good Friday, which meant Sabbath had begun and no work could be done according to Old Testament law. (Leviticus 23:3) Tending to a dead body, even a family member, would be considered work. Additionally, Jewish law outlined consequences for touching unclean things, which definitely included a corpse. (Numbers 19:11-13) In effort to hasten Jesus’ burial before sundown, they simply wrapped His body and laid it in the tomb. Unlike the Egyptians, Jews didn’t embalm bodies as mummies, but they still prepared it in a fashion similar to current, and previous, Western cultural practices. This preparation included various oils, herbs, and spices, which is why the women were present at the tomb the morning after the Sabbath. Of course, Jesus’ mother, Mary, would have been there, as any mother would. She, who had tended Him from birth, would surely now tend Him in death. Mary Magdalene, and other women who had faithfully followed Jesus, would join her for both emotional and physical support.

3) Why was an angel sent as the messenger instead of Jesus Himself? (verses 5-7)
God’s heart character is love and active humility. He demonstrates this repeatedly through Scripture, and in the Church today, by drawing others to do His work and be intimately involved in His mission. God didn’t send an angel to die for the sins of the world, only He could do that, and so He did. God’s master plan for telling the world the good news about His sacrifice on our behalf, however, is a joyous work that He freely shares and invites us to participate in with Him. Of course, Jesus could have sat atop the rolled away stone to declare His own resurrection, but this doesn’t fit with His heart character of humble love. His ministry on earth was never about elevating Himself. God chose an angel to declare the Good News of Christ’s victory over death to set an example for us to go and do likewise as His ambassadors to the world. Scripture describes angels as messengers from God and provides many examples of them communicating His divine plan to humans. Each instance in the Bible may look different, but there was generally no mistaking that these were Heavenly beings sent by God to either make known His willful purposes or protect His people. Angels came to Lot’s door warning him to leave Sodom before its destruction. (Genesis 19:15-17) Angels appeared to Daniel (Daniel 10:5-6), Ezekiel (Ezekiel 10), Joshua (Joshua 5:13-14), Mary (Luke 1:26-38), and many others. The shepherds heard of the Messiah’s birth from a group of angels (Luke 2:8-14), and many angels are found in the book of Revelation (Revelation 7:1-2). Angels are God’s appointed Heavenly Messengers, and as Christ’s resurrection was the most important message ever, it was first heralded by an angel with God’s own stamp of divine approval, wrapped in His humble love for mankind.

Everyday Application

1) Who were Mary Magdalene and the “other Mary”? (verse 1)
Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Jesus had different backgrounds, life experiences, and likely even ages, but they shared one constant, Jesus as their Savior. It would be easy to write off these women from an ancient culture, thinking we have nothing in common with them. Yet, just as we all come from various backgrounds, we all need a Savior.  Jesus wants us to know Him as a Healer, Jehovah Rapha, as a Provider, Jehovah Jirah, as Friend (James 2:23), and as the perfect Fullness of God Himself (Colossians 1:19). We may wrestle with feelings of worthlessness or shame because of our past, sins we are stuck in, or the judgement of others. Or maybe we feel like we are in a very good place, so good, in fact, we don’t seem to need a Savior. But even Jesus’ mother needed a Savior! Giving birth to the Messiah, holding Him in her heart and raising Him in her home was not a free pass to Heaven. Just as Jesus died to give life and unshakeable hope to Mary Magdalene and His mother, He is available for us today. Let’s acknowledge our lack, our loss, our sense of emptiness, our shame, and guilt to the God who gave Himself for us to heal us and make us His own! (Titus 2:14) Jesus loved His disciples and the women who followed Him; Jesus loved everyone He encountered. He loves you.

2) Why were women the first ones arriving at the tomb?
Mary Magdalene and Jesus’ mother were not the first women to faithfully love and serve God. Throughout Scripture, God honors women and purposes them for His glory, starting with His promise to the first woman, Eve. Even amid punishment for her sin, He held out a promise that one day a Redeemer would come to crush Satan’s head. (Genesis 3:15) Many stories of women esteemed by God, and used for His purposes, are recorded in the Old and New Testaments. The midwives who hid Moses from Pharaoh (Exodus 1:15-21), Deborah, the wise judge (Judges 4:1-14), and Jael, the brave woman who acted with swift justice (Judges 4:17-22).  Zechariah’s wife, Elizabeth, served Yahweh as the mother of John the Baptist. She surrendered her body and her life to the Lord’s work at an age when she was far past childbearing years. (Luke 1:5-19) The widow, Anna, faithfully prayed every day in the temple as she waited for the coming Messiah. She realized her prayers were fulfilled when Joseph and Mary appeared at the temple to present their infant Jesus to the priests as required by law. When she saw the tiny baby, she knew she beheld the Messiah. God used many women, from vastly different backgrounds and lifestyles to fulfill His eternal plan. Tamar (Genesis 38:6-30), Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11), Rahab (Joshua 2:1-22), Ruth (Ruth 1-4), and Mary (Luke 1-2) are even included in the lineage of Jesus! (Matthew 1:1-16)

3) Why was an angel sent as the messenger instead of Jesus Himself? (verses 5-7)
Angels are messengers and protectors even in the 21st century. That time you are running late could be God’s hand of protection over you as you encounter a traffic accident happening moments before. If you have encountered someone intent on evil against you, then suddenly you are guarded, this is God’s ordained protection for you; He may well have used angels to accomplish this work. Angels are not present everywhere in every place like God and His presence; they exist to do God’s bidding and worship Him as created Heavenly beings. (Hebrews 1:14, Psalm 34:7) Though God created angels as powerful beings, they are not worthy of worship and are not all-knowing like God. All things are under God’s authority and purposes. Christ died to save humanity and bring us redemption, but He did not do this for angels, neither do we “become” angels when we die. Just as God ordained angels as the first messengers to announce both Christ’s birth and His resurrection, so are we commissioned with the same gloriously divine message. When we read of an angel’s proclamation from God, let’s be encouraged to actively proclaim the good news of Jesus that He offers freedom from sin and shame through His sacrifice on our behalf!

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Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!

Digging Deeper Community

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Why Dig Deeper?

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.

Study Tools

We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

Memorize It!

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Follow Day 11 Question, Follow, Faith

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Luke 1:26-56
Isaiah 55:8-11
1 Corinthians 3:18-23
1 Corinthians 1:20-31

Follow, Day 11

Questions are a part of our worlds. At the restaurant, it is “How may I help you?” At the doctor’s office, it is “What are your concerns today?” In school, it is “What are you learning?” At home, it may be “What’s for dinner?” Or if you have a young toddler it may even be the beloved “Why?” question.

Throughout a day I find myself asking questions often. Sometimes they are to myself and sometimes they are verbalized to others. Occasionally they are rooted in frustration as I try to figure out why I just made a choice I did or what a coworker was thinking in hers.

Most recently I have found myself echoing the toddler’s cry in talking with the Lord as I have asked the “Why” question regarding His timing and plans in my life, especially in light of the reality that is the year 2020.

Oh how grateful I am that the Lord made us to question. We are made in His image and the Lord first introduces His use of questions in Genesis. I believe the Lord welcomes our questions, especially when we are truly seeking to know Him and His character better. For anyone who has been told that asking God questions is a sin I would encourage you to ask the Lord His thoughts on that.

That being said, questioning the Lord CAN lead to sin. They way in which we ask the Lord, our heart postures in the process, and our response to the outcome of our questions are all arenas in which we can find ourselves running rampant in sin. In my own life I have found myself sinning when lashing out at the Lord in my questions and asking the Lord for answers and then rejecting the one I receive because it was not the one I wanted. Questions are a sweet gift the Lord has given to us to build relationship with Him. They are also a solid litmus test for the status of our hearts.

A prime example of a woman who succeeds in questioning the Lord and honoring Him in the process is Mary, the mother of Jesus. I can picture the look on Mary’s face and the tone of her voice as she asks the angel how exactly she, a virgin, would bear a child. This was a childlike inquisitiveness and a subsequent response filled with obedient submission. After asking her question, Mary’s next words accepted the role she would play.

She said yes and began a journey that would simultaneously wreck her life and reward it with life beyond her wildest imagination. Because Mary said yes she experienced earthly rejection; more than likely days of doubt; the battering only a mother’s heart could experience as Jesus Himself grew, faced rejection himself, and ultimately was crucified; and countless other details that could be inferred by imagining her life.

However, at the very onset of the story, as Gabriel, the angel of the Lord, speaks to her, Mary’s ability to follow the Lord’s leading shines through. She asks how this would become reality and her next words were ones of acceptance. Jump ahead a few weeks and Mary’s words have moved from acceptance to thankfulness for the part she would play in this love letter the Lord was writing to the world. Scripture does not show that Mary heard directly from Gabriel again nor were we told that a manual for navigating the upcoming days, weeks, and months was provided for Mary. She accepted her role, celebrated the blessing that it was, and walked closely with the Lord.

Isaiah 55 declares that God’s ways are not our ways. More often than not, His ways require levels of faith that challenge us. Mary was no different. Where Mary stands out from so many of us lies in her posture to say yes and rejoice in all that yes included. How often have I failed to experience the fullness of what the Lord has for me since I refused to say yes, did so with grumbling, drug my feet in obedience, allowed the fear of man to paralyze me, or treated the entire process as a trial to endure rather than an entrustment to find joy in throughout?

Mary demonstrated the effectiveness and freedom of using questions in her relationship with the Lord. She also displayed the beauty of following the Lord with a surrendered and humble heart. She modeled the faith and fortitude required to follow when the path leads into counter-cultural regions, through hard seasons of many kinds, and with rarely more than the next step to take illuminated. I pray that I can live my life with a similar grace, joy, tenacity, and contentment.

Let’s use our questions to draw closer to the One who knows all the details and writes the best stories. Let us also respond well to the answers to those questions, dear sisters, for His glory and our gain. When we follow His guidance, we may just discover immeasurable joy and adventure amidst all the unexpected twists and turns.

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Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Follow Week Three! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

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The GT Weekend! ~ Here Week 1

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The GT Weekend!

At Gracefully Truthful, weekends aren’t for “checking out”.
Use this time to invite the Almighty’s fullness into you life in a deeper way!
Saturdays and Sundays are a chance to
reflect, rest, and re-center our lives onto Christ.
Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with other women in prayer,
rest your soul in reflective journaling,
and spend time worshiping the Creator who
longs for intimacy with each of us!

Worship Through Journaling

Worship Through Journaling

1) Have you ever considered what that pivotal moment of revelation to the un-supposing shepherds was like from the perspective of the angels? Those beings who had also witnessed, and been part of, so many other pivotal moments throughout history. Those beings who adore God with their entirety for eternity. This moment was the one God had perfectly chosen to announce the arrival of His own Son; redemption wrapped in flesh. Take a few moments today and sit with the Lord in silence. Find a dark, quiet closet or bathroom and hold up your hands, or bow down your head, or lay prostrate, focusing on exactly who this Christ is in His fullness. Worship Him. Repeat, Holy! Holy! Holy! in awe, and rejoice in this Salvation revealed through Christ!

2)  Suppose for just a moment that you are Mary this December. Rejected, object of scorn, having no concept that one day people would honor her for her humble part of the Savior’s entrance to His world. As every parent will quickly attest, we all feel ill-equipped and profoundly confused at this glorious task of parenting. How much more so, Mary! Yet, the Lord used, and chose, her. Mary was favored by God to carry His Son into the world, but just as equally, He has chosen each of us to do His work, fulfilling specific kingdom purposes while we live out everyday lives. Every single believer has a calling. Are you stepping into yours with wholehearted humility and obedience, even with the fear and questions that surely tumble to the surface of your heart? Take courage, Sister! The Lord is equipping you, just as He did with Mary!

3) Is anything impossible for the Lord? This was surely part of Joseph’s wrestling as he decided what to do in his dilemma. Either Joseph could trust God, and follow in obedience, despite the fact he couldn’t make sense of it, or he could walk away. We know the rest of the story, and we know what Joseph would have been walking away from as the earthly father of Jesus, but he did not have that benefit. Do you see yourself here in this perspective of Christmas? Is the Lord calling you to trust Him, even though you don’t see how all the pieces fit together? Have you decided God is worthy of your trusting obedience? Or will you walk away?

Praying Scripture back to the One who wrote it in the first place is a great way to jump start our prayer-life! Pray this passage from Isaiah 7:14 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign:
See, the virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel.

Prayer Journal
How undeserving we are, Lord! Sinful, we have rejected and scorned You, mocking Your holiness, yet You chose to come to save us. Your coming was not haphazard, You lovingly marked out the perfect time to come to us. You announced Your arrival, told of Your mighty rescue, and extended Your salvation to all humanity throughout all time. Throughout the entirety of time, we can trace Your hand of love as You designed to make Yourself known. Such love is too extravagant for me to understand! Lord, make my heart obedient in response to Your love! Teach me to love others, to share this incredible grace with the world around me.

Worship Through Community

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Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music

Here Day 4 Mary: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out Mary!

The Questions

1) What does “in the sixth month” refer to in this passage?

2) Why does Luke tell us Mary was a virgin and betrothed to man in the house of David? Why does it matter?

3) Why is Mary troubled at what the angel said to her?

Luke 1:26-38

26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Original Intent

1) What does “in the sixth month” refer to in this passage?
When we ask a question of a passage, our first response should always be to examine the broader context first. Verses were not meant to tell a story all on their own. The first part of chapter 1 details the account of the angel Gabriel’s visit to Zechariah as he foretells the birth of John the Baptist. In verse 24, we see Elizabeth has conceived with John and has been carrying him for five months, but has told no one. Then, in verse 26, Luke uses the phrase “in the sixth month” as he transitions to Gabriel visiting Mary. This phrase “in the sixth month” is a reference to how far a long Elizabeth is in her pregnancy. John, Jesus’ cousin, and Jesus were six months apart in age.

2) Why does Luke tell us Mary was a virgin and betrothed to a man in the house of David? Why does it matter?
There are over 300 prophecies found within the Old Testament that point to the birth of Christ, the coming Savior. When God established Jesus, His Son as the answer to the world’s problem of sin, He already knew exactly how His birth would happen. Thousands of years before Jesus was ever born, prophets were telling the world about a coming Messiah as the Holy Spirit led them to speak His truth. One such passage is Isaiah 7:14, which specifically states Immanuel “God with us” would be born of a virgin. In Isaiah 9:6-7, we are told a child will be born from the ancestry of David. It is important Joseph was of the lineage of King David in order to fulfill this prophecy. Luke is informing the reader Jesus’ birth is happening just as He said it would. Only God could know those details, orchestrate them all, and speak through prophets about these specifics for centuries before they occurred. Luke does not offer these details for the sake of details, although he was a meticulous writer when it came to details. He tells the reader these things because it is the fulfillment of prophecy, pointing his audience towards the unfailing, unchanging faithful character of God.  The chances of one person perfectly fulfilling only eight prophecies are 10 to the 17th power. Imagine the odds of stacking silver dollar coins 2 feet deep across the entire state of Texas, then asking one person to find the one coin with a black mark on it by choosing only one, single coin. Those are the odds of 1 person fulfilling just 8 prophecies! Yet, Christ perfectly fulfilled all 300 prophecies made about Him! Truly, none is like the Almighty God!

3) Why is Mary troubled at what the angel said to her?
We are not given clear indication about why Mary is troubled. Given the situation, an angel of the Lord is speaking with her and has just called her, “favored one”. I am sure there is uncertainty about what is happening. We need to remember Mary is a young teenager. Scripture does tell us she is pondering, wondering, discerning why the angel has come to visit and why he greeted her in this way.

Everyday Application

1) What does “in the sixth month” refer to in this passage?
I think when we read this verse in isolation, we may want to attribute a date from the calendar to this timeframe, but as we read it in context, we can see Luke continuing his thought as he transitions from Elizabeth to Mary. These two were six months a part in their pregnancies, and as we continue to read Luke, we find Mary visiting Elizabeth. We are told of the sweet encounter when Elizabeth sees Mary for the first time in verses 39-44. There is a special bond between Mary and Elizabeth that goes beyond family relation. Although simply a marker of time, it leads to a connection within the book of Luke between Mary and Elizabeth that is created only by a coming Messiah who would save His people. As you live in your everyday moments, let this small detail remind you of a God who works mighty things in the midst of small things, even things like due dates!

2) Why does Luke tell us Mary was a virgin and betrothed to man in the house of David? Why does it matter?
Mary was part of God’s plan all along. Thousands of years before Gabriel spoke to Mary, God set in motion a plan to save the world by sending His Son. Only and infinite, perfect God could possibly pay for the sin of finite mankind once and for all with a single sacrifice. This God would need to live the human life flawlessly on behalf of man, and then take on our punishment in our stead. This is precisely how God determined to rescue us! Throughout history we see God use the unlikely, the undesirable, and the lowly to bring about His glory. God chose a teenage girl in a society that values age and wisdom, God chose a girl to carry out His most intimate of plans in a society that gave no value to women, and God chose a peasant to bear His Son which made no worldly sense. God’s plan does not always make sense, but it is always perfect! Take heart there exists no chaos where God cannot bring perfect order and work for our good and His glory!

3) Why is Mary troubled at what the angel said to her?
I think about what my response would have been if an angel had stood before me as a young, teenage girl. Sometimes when we read the Bible, we have read or heard the story so many times we forget it is a real historical account that includes real people. We aren’t reading an elaborate, fictitious story about a young woman whose life is changed forever in a moment of time, but rather a real story about God, the Creator of the Universe encountering His people in a very real way. Mary is troubled I’m sure because maybe she does not understand, maybe she questions if this is really happening, or maybe she wonders “why me?”. In her wondering and troubled heart, she does not demand an answer, or throw a fit, but rather submits with joy as she trusts God with her fears. Although we question God at times over what He is doing or how things will ever work out, there is joy found in simple, trusting submission! Mary did not have all the answers, but she knew the truth of the situation and what God had called her to in that moment. She would be the mother of the Jesus: the Savior of the World, the Son of the God Most High, Emmanuel, God with Us!

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1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
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3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
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Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

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Study Tools

We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.

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Here Day 3 Mary

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Luke 1:26-38
Luke 1:46-56
Isaiah 7:13-14
Deuteronomy 21:22-23
2 Samuel 7:12-13

Here, Day 3

“Whoooo.” I expelled the mouthful of air as pressure stretched like a band across my taut belly. That was a strong one, I thought. They are getting longer. I leaned back against the rough straw and continued to breathe slowly. In, and out. In, and out. I could feel my nose wrinkle at the musty smell, and I laughed quietly during the moment’s reprieve.

“Drink some water, Mary.” Joseph tipped the small cup to my lips. Cool liquid spilled over my teeth and I swallowed quickly in an effort to beat the next contraction. “It won’t be long now, don’t worry.” His voice was steady. I rested my hand on his and squeezed gently.

Dear Joseph. My thoughts drifted.

What kind of man would believe that his betrothed was expecting a baby fathered by the Lord, let alone stay by her side, never wavering? What kind of man would set aside fear of what others might think or say, forsaking what his culture dictates must be done?

The answer came quickly. A man who listens to God.
A man who will shepherd well. 

Shepherd? Well…that’s perfect, isn’t it? I chuckled again, and Joseph glanced over in concern before returning to his task. My laugh gave way to a quiet gaze as I surreptitiously watched him tidy what he could around the small space. This probably is a rather frightening scene. His young bride, not yet known by him, but miraculously pregnant with the Son of the Most High… and about to give birth on a bed of straw with sheep rustling about just a few feet away. What must he be feeling? 

What are You thinking, Lord? I pressed gently on the side of my belly to see if I could feel the outline of a tiny, holy foot, but another contraction caused my muscles to tighten. I gripped the cup in my hand tightly and breathed with intention, my knuckles white against the dark clay. In, and out. In, and out. 

“Joseph.” In a flash, he knelt by my side. “Soon,” I murmured.

My throat constricted suddenly, and I felt breathless in a wholly different way as the events and emotions of the past nine months rose from my belly and began to stir in my mind. How could any of this be? And yet, it was. We were finally at the brink of fulfillment, after months of trusting, questioning, and praying. Sudden tears pricked my eyelids.

Months of rejection and isolation. Our friends and family had been…confused, to say the least. That’s too kind, I thought. They were like strangers. They didn’t understand. And how could they? We didn’t understand, either.

But we believed the Word of the Lord. 

Joseph’s rough hand settled over mine, and the comforting weight of it soothed me. I glanced up to find concern pooling in his dark, warm gaze. “You’re doing great, Mary.” I nodded gratefully, unable to articulate the words. His lips curved in a wistful smile, and I recognized that he understood.

Of course he did. His own family had treated him like a pariah. No one believed the babe I carried wasn’t his own. Everyone urged him to divorce me, and when he didn’t, they assumed that his conscience wouldn’t allow it because the baby was his. 

And he carried the weight of it all silently, with grace and kindness. He had been a perfect model of support and shelter, always caring for my needs and those of our little soon-to-be family. 

Another wave rippled across my abdomen, and this time, beads of sweat broke across my forehead. Joseph counted quietly beside me and dabbed my temple with a piece of cloth. I breathed. In, and out. In, and-

Lord, WHO AM I? The sudden, silent prayer stirred up from my spirit and startled me as it tore through my soul, in tandem with the sudden succession of contractions which seemed to take over my body.

Why me? Why US?
I am not worthy to mother the Son of the Most High! Lord, what are You doing? I believe You and Your Word, but I don’t understand.
What if we say the wrong things?
What if we don’t teach Him the things You want us to teach Him?
What will He think of us as He grows?
We are not sinless, we make sacrifice for our sins just like everyone else.
I am your servant, and I will do what You have asked,
but we
are
not
qualified
for
this!

In, and out. In, and out. Through flowing tears, I felt my heart rate slow as I breathed once again and realized the waves of pain had ceased. The blood rushing through my ears went suddenly silent as I realized I was hearing something I had never heard before. Confusion and joy battled in my mind, and I realized it sounded something like…rushing water. My heart stopped for a moment as I searched desperately for the source.

There. With Joseph. 

He was standing near my feet, facing way from me. His broad shoulders shook with emotion. Slowly, he turned toward me, and I could see that he was openly weeping. His big, strong hands trembled, and everything in me stilled when I saw what he held there.

Who he held there.

“Yeshua.” Jesus. His name slipped across my lips like honey, and as Joseph handed Him to me, I was flooded with sudden, perfect peace.

He is here.

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