Obey the Words of Mary

“His mother said to the servants, ‘Whatever He says to you, do it.’” (John 2:5).

Shortly after the birth of Jesus in a Bethlehem stable, Mary, His mother took the newborn infant and placed Him on her breast. In that moment, this young girl from Nazareth began to nurse the Creator of the World. The One through whom all things were created. The one who would grow up and say, “I and My Father are One.”

Because she gave birth to the second person of the Trinity, the early Church Fathers gave Mary the title, Theotokos, quite literally Mother of God. No, God did not spring into existence in that stable, but the one who was the perfect God of man and the perfect man for God, did enter the world which He created as a newborn baby boy.

Having been raised in Baptist church and educated in a Missouri Synod Lutheran School, my exposure to and knowledge of Mary didn’t go far beyond the words of the Christmas Carol, “…round yon virgin, mother and child…”

Satan does not care which side of the horse you fall off, is a quote that I use often. It means that the devil loves to pull us, as Christians to the extremes, either right or left. And even biblical truth when taken to extremes leads one into error.

Regarding Mary of Nazareth, it seems that we either fall off the side of the horse that basically ignores her following the birth of Jesus. Or we fall off the side of the horse that makes her into something that cannot be found in the pages of the Bible.

I personally believe that Mary is a shining example of one who totally committed her life, spirit, soul, and body to the will of God that was revealed to her by the angel Gabriel in Luke 1. For 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 bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; 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 will have no end” (Luke 1:30-33).

Mary was stunned by these words and in reply said, “How can this be since I am a virgin?” To which the angel responded, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God.’’ With her mind reeling and her heart pounding, she responded, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.”

I invite you to take some time and reread the passages of the gospels in which Mary is found, primarily the first and second chapters of Luke. As you read, take special note of the words of the angel, the words of Elizabeth, the words of Anna and Simeon at the Temple. And then, as you allow a greater picture of Mary to be formed in your mind, remember her words of command, in regards to her Son, Jesus of Nazareth, words that are found in John 2:5, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”

Go now and obey the words of Mary.