Transcript Motherhood & the Virgin Mary

念慈母
Remembering Mom (II)
Luke 1:38; 46-55
Fremont Chinese Evangelical Free Church
Melvin Wong
ChristianMentalHealth.com/sermon.htm
Serving you
Acknowledgment
Permission to use personal materials
Andy and Cindy Lai
Technical Engineering Team
Pierre Wong
Mike Sin & Associates
Family Support
Connie and Cameo Wong
引言
有其父必有其子
虎父無犬子
“Every great man has a woman behind him”
A great man of Biblical times
Jesus
Mother of Jesus: Mary
“Theological baggage” of Mary
路加福音 1:38
(聖經新譯本)
馬利亞說：「我是主的婢女，願照你
的話成就在我身上！」天使就離開
她去了。
路加福音 1:46-55
(聖經新譯本)
馬利亞說：「我心尊主為大，我靈以
上帝我的救主為樂，因為他垂顧他
使女的卑微，看哪！今後萬代都要
稱我為有福。全能者為我行了大事
，他的名為聖；他的憐憫世世代代
歸與敬畏他的人。他用膀臂施展大
能，驅散心裏妄想的狂傲人。
路加福音 1:46-55
(聖經新譯本)
他使有權能的失位，叫卑微的升高，
讓飢餓的得飽美食，使富足的空手
回去。他扶助了他的僕人以色列，
為要記念他的憐憫，正如他向我們
列祖所說的，恩待亞伯拉罕和他的
後裔，直到永遠。」
Mary: Her Personal Features
• Ordinary woman, (not educated: but spiritual) Plain Jane?
– Engaged to a carpenter; blue-collar,
– Homemaker, a housewife
• Could put up with the most unpopular: Teen pregnancy
• Put up with the misunderstanding of fiancé: Shame
• Suffered through the threat of a disengagement: Mat 1:19
• Could put up with the unexpected: Sudden travel, manger
• Was child focused, child centered: God centered
• What made her great? unmovable belief when in crisis!
– Was not special: Only ordinary; achieved great things
The Spiritual Maturity of Mary
• Unlike Sarah, Wife of Abraham (Father of faith); she did
not doubt the angel’s message, but asked how pregnancy
was possible. She accepted it right away; she was happy!
• When baby Jesus was dedicated at the temple a few days
after birth; prophets Simeon & Anna said: “A sword shall
pierce your souls (Luke 2:34)
• Motherhood’s Painful privilege: Witnessed son rejected
& crucified by the people he came to love & save
• Let go of Jesus after the Temple incidence: Independence!
• Listened to him at the wedding of Canaan: (John 2:1-5)
• Accepted care by John’s household: (John 19:25-27)
What Makes a Mother Great?
• (Surrogate mother is not new!) Teenage unwed
mother!
– How do you feel if you were bearing someone
else’s son?
– Did she have the knowledge of her son is a
sacrifice?
• Angel appeared to her? Can she believe it?
• Misunderstood by her fiancé
– Obey God over fear of personal embarrassment
What Makes a Mother Great?
•
Your son’s the messiah? King or villain?
• Motherhood of glory? or pain? Bittersweet
experience!
•
She witnessed birth of her son and the death
of her son!
• Is it fair? Should she be glad or resentful?
• Learned how to let go: Jesus (12-yr lost at the
Temple)
Women’s Faithfulness
• Are you as available to be used by God as Mary was?
• God does not need you to bear another Jesus!
– He needs you to raise His Ambassadors (lighthouses)
• Do you know God? Apply His words? Believe His will?
• God’s best servants are often plain people available to Him
• God’s plans involve extraordinary events in simple people
• Your true character is revealed by how you respond to the
unreasonable (un-common sense) and unexpected
• Ordinary woman doing uncommon things: Single mom
• Everyday heroine: Uncompromised faith in spite of crises
世上只有媽媽好
世上只有媽媽好
有媽的孩子像個寶
投進媽媽的懷抱
幸福享不了
做 一 個 無 后 悔 的 人
樹欲靜風而不息
子欲養而親不在
Applications: Men’s Integrity-Mercy
• What would you do if you were Joseph? (Thoughtfulness)
– Do you believe Mary: Pregnant, but not son’s father?
– Have incredible Faith & Obedience & Commitment!
– How could you not question or argue with her?
• You are an ordinary man raising a family, what relevance
this has on you? You are supposed to be the leader of wife!
– Commitment in time of adversity needed: Real love!
– How to raise Christ-centered child? Sons & Daughters
• Apostle John: Cared for Mary after Christ died!
– Care for orphans and widows: Literal & abstract ones
Prologue
• Christ’s birth & death has been completed: No more Mary
• Allow God to use you with the courage of Joseph & Mary
• Women obey your Lord your God: No matter what! (50%)
– Love yourself: Respect-love your man: Accept your kid
• Men obey your Lord your God: No matter what! (50%)
– Love yourself: Respect-love your wife: Accept your kid
• Look for the opportunities to care for other’s needs!
– Satisfies the mother’s heart: Widows
– Apostle John took care of Mary: “Who Jesus loved”
– John was given to Mary as a son for her
• Let’s all seek to do heroic-Godly deeds in a sinful world!
世上只有媽媽好
世上只有媽媽好
有媽的孩子像個寶
投進媽媽的懷抱
幸福享不了
路加福音 1:38
(聖經新譯本)
馬利亞說：「我是主的婢女，願照你
的話成就在我身上！」天使就離開
她去了。