Mary Christmas

<script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>
<script>
     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({
          google_ad_client: "ca-pub-2360701609150243",
          enable_page_level_ads: true
     });
</script>

For many years I have pondered on Mary and her life. Could I sacrifice a child to save others? 

Mary was a young woman brought up in a faithful Jewish home. She was betrothed to the older Joseph, a man already established in his business. Like many young girls I can picture her chattering to her mother about wedding plans, guests to invite, wine to serve. 
Perhaps she was smitten with Joseph like a teen girl today might be. 

Then, SOMETHING happened. When Joseph found out, he could have divorced her. A betrothal was a serious commitment and required an official dissolving. God had a different idea and sent an angel to Joseph in his sleep. Joseph was obedient and proceeded with the wedding ceremony. 

Now, human nature being what it is, Mary was probably not the first pregnant bride in their community, however Joseph was probably teased, scorned and looked down on at Temple for having relations with her before the actual ceremony. After all, he was known for being a Godly man, and he did this. I imagine him stoically taking it all in silence.

In actuality they do not have relations at all, at least until after Jesus birth. The Catholic teaching is that she remains a virgin. I have read the point of view on this idea. I will leave it to you to study and read for yourself. So, the prophecy comes true, that the Saviour will be of a virgin birth.

After this, while accompanying Joseph on a mandatory business trip, where they find no inn with available rooms Mary goes into labour.  She is possibly as young as 12 years old. I cannot even imagine how scared she must have been. How much she wished her mother could be with her. Perhaps the inn keepers wife or other woman attended, but it is not written. Basically she suffers through labour with only Joseph to comfort her.

I think back to the birth of my first child. I assumed I would walk in, squat, have the baby and be done. Instead I went through a grueling 48 hours of labour before an emergency C-section. Oh, how I wanted my mother and wished I had asked her to come. I had assured her I would be fine on my own. 

The baby is born and life goes on. Once in a while something happens that brings the events back to them, like the wise men who finally arrive. They weren't really there at the birth place you know. 

As Joseph works at his business and Mary keeps house, washing clothes, making food, and perhaps caring for other children the miraculous birth probably begins to seem like a dream to them. Mary probably sees her first born as special but I would guess he still had chores, played with other children and studied carpentry and the Talmud with his father, Joseph.Since he was sinless we can guess that he was a very well behaved child.

What does Jesus know about his future? As a child did you know your future? Were you correct? God reveals things to us in his own time. Part of the plan was that Jesus would come into this world as a human and live as one.  I think things were revealed to him gradually, as he matured and as God desired. He probably had a pretty normal childhood of that era.

What about Mary? When Jesus begins his ministry at age 30, when he is baptized by John, she would have been about 42 years old. Middle age at that time. Joseph appears to have died by this time.  Jesus had probably been the financial support of the family continuing Josephs work as a carpenter. As he leaves home to gather disciples and begin his work I can imagine there was some consternation among the relatives and outraged gossip among the neighbors.
"We always knew that Jesus was a strange one."
"Can you imagine it! He is the oldest and he just isn't going to support his mother?"

Mary, remembering that God had told her that her son was special was proud of him, having him to water into wine.  But as Jesus begins to have conflict with the Pharisees and Sadducee and they plot against him she must begin to worry. Perhaps she asks her son to not be such a rabble rouser. Maybe she thought he was going to be a high priest or a ruler. Her mother's heart must have been aching during those few years.

And then the end. Her son is crucified like a common criminal. How she must have screamed in agony each time a nail was struck. How she must have pleaded with God to save him. She might have begged to take his place. She watched her beloved son beaten, tortured and dying before her eyes. 

I think of my oldest son. If his dying would save someone else's son would I be in agreement? NO! If his dying would save 100, or a 1000 or a million? NO! Not my son. Choose someone else. Yet she watched her son die to save uncountable, unworthy peoples 
lives.

How did she stay and watch all this? But how could she leave?

When she returns home grieving I expect her neighbors were probably not very sympathetic. They are good Jews, and Christianity has not begun its spread. 

Mary dies at approximately age 51, 11 years after the death of Jesus. The disciple John, the youngest and last to die is entrusted by Jesus to care for her. By the way, this information concerning her age came from a historical document by Hypolitis of Thebes, not the Bible. 

I know many revere the Virgin Mary for her position as Mother of Jesus, I revere her for her strength through what was a terrible tragedy for her, and her eternal love and support for her son.

During this joyous season my heart starts the preparing for the season of Mary's heartbreak. We will move onto the season of Epiphany and then Lent. Then finally the next joyous day that of the Holy Sunday, or Easter.

Christmas is the time we celebrate the beginning of Jesus journey on earth and Easter is the time we begin celebrating the human journey of following Jesus to heaven.