There are a lot of things one needs to question if one is going to be a disciple of the Lord via the written Word. Here are some pertinent questions, for example, about the role of Mary, the Lord's mother, in His life and in the life of the church. Like, When the shepherds came to Bethlehem, was there anything of praise directed to the mother, or was it all for the Son?
And, Why did Simeon tell Mary that a sword would pierce her heart? Does this not have to do with the pain a mother feels when her offspring is harmed in some way? Does it have anything to do with the later devotion of the "sacred heart"?
Or, Is there anything unusual about Mary in the story of how Jesus was left behind at the Temple (Luke 2:41-51)? Does she come off as a near Divinity in this episode, or as an ordinary young mother caught up in something eternal? Does she not seem to struggle like the rest of us?
Here's a good one. If the Bible says that Joseph and Mary did not have intimate relationship until Jesus was born, isn't that an implication that they did have such after? More to the point, does not the Scripture state specifically that Jesus had brothers and sisters? Why is this fact covered up in certain church traditions?
Was not Mary on the border of something wrong when she asked Jesus to work a miracle so early in His ministry? Wasn't Jesus a bit harsh in His rebuke of her? If Mary should indeed be subordinate to Jesus, why do we see statues today of a gigantic Mary next to a little Jesus, even when the statue is being depicting an adult?
If the Biblical Mary pointed people to her Son, why does the present-day "Mary" point people to herself, as in "Build me a shrine," or "Listen to and repeat my message," or "Make statues to me," and "Pray rosaries to me..."? Can these appearances possibly be the Bible's Mary?
His family, including Mary, want to speak with Him while He is teaching. Remember the incident? Wouldn't this have been the time to let people know exactly how exalted Mary is to be? "People, I want you to meet My mother. I want you to treat her with as much respect as you do me..." Could He not have here or elsewhere defined some sort of ritual or homage for His mother? Is it significant that He equates here His mother with all true believers in the Word of God? "Who is my mother?" What a question for Jesus to ask, don't you think?
On the cross, was Jesus saying that Mary is the mother of the church when He called out to His mother and John, "Behold your son, behold your mother" ? Or was He just saying that John was going to care for Mary in these tense days of possible danger for any relative of Jesus?
Is the mother of Jesus mentioned at the funeral of Jesus? At the resurrection? And if the Bible's depiction of Mary ends in Acts chapter one, what is the source of all the other Mary traditions? She is called by the later church "Queen of heaven", "co-redemptrix", "co-mediator" along with Jesus. She is said to have ascended into Heaven. Are these ideas lifted from pagan religions and dispersed among the faithful? And was it not "the faithful" that confirmed the truth of these things, swaying the leadership to keep teaching them? Was the church not flooded with pagan ideas and ways when Christianity was made the state religion?
What then shall we believe about Mary? The revelation or the myth? Her own words to Jesus at Cana sum it up for me, "Whatever He says to you, do it." What He says has been recorded in God's special Book. It is more than enough for me.
I commend to you our brothers and sisters in North Korea today, and continue to dedicate these articles to the Lord and to them in their suffering. Please pray.
http://chosunhouse.com is a website made to ask believers to pray for North Korea. Recently I have added Bible teachings to the menu. There are nearly 300 blogs , a live news feed , lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosen together! Contact me any time at diakonos5@yahoo.com. Audio teachings at sermonaudio.com under my name.
And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Would love to fellowship with believers who respond.
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