As I sat contemplating my
next blog post, many themes ran through my mind, yet only one topic
consistently came to the forefront.
next blog post, many themes ran through my mind, yet only one topic
consistently came to the forefront.
The Passion of Christ
This week is always a
conflict of emotions for me. Saddened by the thoughts and images of what Christ
did for me on the cross, yet joyful and relieved by what Christ did for me on
the cross. It fascinates me that both of those emotions can be fully
engaged at the same time. I will find myself weeping in church this
Sunday, just as I have done many other Easter Sunday’s because my heart is
simultaneously breaking and filling with love at the same time. I am not sure
if I shed tears of joy or tears of sadness, either way tears are always
shed. I won’t attempt to recount the entire passion week as the story is
told so beautifully throughout each of the gospels and I certainly don’t feel
equipped to tell it any different than those authors. Rather as a mom who
enjoys a good playlist of worship music and a good bible study to keep me on
the path of self-disciplined time with the Lord, what I can share as a mother,
my heart is wrenched for the thought of what Mary felt those final days.
Have you ever wondered? She witnessed her son riding in on a donkey, the King
of the Jews, worshipped and revered by the crowd, the Messiah who she had
birthed, nursed, guided and loved. The little boy whom she rocked to
sleep in her arms, comforted when he scraped his knee, disciplined when he
disappeared in the temple to do his Father’s work.
conflict of emotions for me. Saddened by the thoughts and images of what Christ
did for me on the cross, yet joyful and relieved by what Christ did for me on
the cross. It fascinates me that both of those emotions can be fully
engaged at the same time. I will find myself weeping in church this
Sunday, just as I have done many other Easter Sunday’s because my heart is
simultaneously breaking and filling with love at the same time. I am not sure
if I shed tears of joy or tears of sadness, either way tears are always
shed. I won’t attempt to recount the entire passion week as the story is
told so beautifully throughout each of the gospels and I certainly don’t feel
equipped to tell it any different than those authors. Rather as a mom who
enjoys a good playlist of worship music and a good bible study to keep me on
the path of self-disciplined time with the Lord, what I can share as a mother,
my heart is wrenched for the thought of what Mary felt those final days.
Have you ever wondered? She witnessed her son riding in on a donkey, the King
of the Jews, worshipped and revered by the crowd, the Messiah who she had
birthed, nursed, guided and loved. The little boy whom she rocked to
sleep in her arms, comforted when he scraped his knee, disciplined when he
disappeared in the temple to do his Father’s work.
There was the ultimate
sacrifice on the horizon for Jesus accompanied by the ultimate sacrifice of a
mother. Jesus was exactly what the angel had told her he would be in Luke
1:26-33.
sacrifice on the horizon for Jesus accompanied by the ultimate sacrifice of a
mother. Jesus was exactly what the angel had told her he would be in Luke
1:26-33.
26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God
sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to
a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of
David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her
and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to
a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of
David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her
and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of
greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not
be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You
will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He
will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God
will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will
reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not
be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You
will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He
will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God
will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will
reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
He was the Messiah and he
would save the world. Mary was also forewarned of the pain she would endure as
His mother, it was told to her in the temple by Simeon in Luke 2:33-35.
would save the world. Mary was also forewarned of the pain she would endure as
His mother, it was told to her in the temple by Simeon in Luke 2:33-35.
“This
child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and
to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the
thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul
too.”
child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and
to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the
thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul
too.”
Can you
imagine? Not only had Mary been told of this child’s existence and birth by an
angel, now she is being told that He will be the cause of many who will rise
and those who will fall. There was no in between, either people would love him,
or they would hate and reject him. As adults, we know that not everyone will
agree with us or like us. It doesn’t make the pain of rejection any easier. But
to hear that about our children, the ones we love more than anything, would be
very disheartening. “A sword will pierce her soul?” The word sword
here is the same word used in reference to Goliath’s sword. Can you
imagine the size and strength of that sword? I feel a physical ache in my heart
thinking about it.
imagine? Not only had Mary been told of this child’s existence and birth by an
angel, now she is being told that He will be the cause of many who will rise
and those who will fall. There was no in between, either people would love him,
or they would hate and reject him. As adults, we know that not everyone will
agree with us or like us. It doesn’t make the pain of rejection any easier. But
to hear that about our children, the ones we love more than anything, would be
very disheartening. “A sword will pierce her soul?” The word sword
here is the same word used in reference to Goliath’s sword. Can you
imagine the size and strength of that sword? I feel a physical ache in my heart
thinking about it.
There are
mothers who know before their children are born that life outside the womb will
not exist, I can’t imagine their heartache. There are mothers who lose children
far too soon, again this is beyond my comprehension. With the exception of
Mary, there is no other mother who has been told “your son will be the
Savior of the world, and in order to do that He will be crucified and you will
witness it.” I cannot comprehend the pain nor the strength Mary
possessed. But there is good news she also witnessed
his resurrection, Mary’s heart would be made whole, just as our hearts can
be made whole in Christ.
mothers who know before their children are born that life outside the womb will
not exist, I can’t imagine their heartache. There are mothers who lose children
far too soon, again this is beyond my comprehension. With the exception of
Mary, there is no other mother who has been told “your son will be the
Savior of the world, and in order to do that He will be crucified and you will
witness it.” I cannot comprehend the pain nor the strength Mary
possessed. But there is good news she also witnessed
his resurrection, Mary’s heart would be made whole, just as our hearts can
be made whole in Christ.
We are not
done though, there is so much we can learn from Mary…she was faithful,
humble, willing, devoted, and trusting. She was called by God to be the
mother of His son and just as my heart is full each Easter of heartbreak and
joy; I am certain it’s God’s way of giving me a glimpse of what Mary’s heart
must have felt throughout Jesus’ life and death up until His
resurrection. A heart full of joy, pride, and heartbreak yet she was
willing and full of endurance. Are you willing to endure what God has called
you to? A season of Motherhood, that isn’t always easy. A season of Fatherhood?
Maybe a season as a mentor, prayer warrior, friend or spouse? This Easter
as I bask in the glory of the Lord I am reminded to be like Mary; to be
obedient, available, diligent, dedicated and prepared for what the Lord asks of
me. He will finish it just as He did that day on the cross.
Praise God for this week and for this example of Motherhood.
done though, there is so much we can learn from Mary…she was faithful,
humble, willing, devoted, and trusting. She was called by God to be the
mother of His son and just as my heart is full each Easter of heartbreak and
joy; I am certain it’s God’s way of giving me a glimpse of what Mary’s heart
must have felt throughout Jesus’ life and death up until His
resurrection. A heart full of joy, pride, and heartbreak yet she was
willing and full of endurance. Are you willing to endure what God has called
you to? A season of Motherhood, that isn’t always easy. A season of Fatherhood?
Maybe a season as a mentor, prayer warrior, friend or spouse? This Easter
as I bask in the glory of the Lord I am reminded to be like Mary; to be
obedient, available, diligent, dedicated and prepared for what the Lord asks of
me. He will finish it just as He did that day on the cross.
Praise God for this week and for this example of Motherhood.
Happy Easter Friends! He is RISEN!
Until Next Time,
Courtney
