Mothers Day 2
In my last blog, we discussed a few women in scripture, who demonstrated amazing faith at the time of the messiah’s crucifixion. The disciples were suffering from a faith crisis and were returning to their formal occupations. Whereas the women stayed behind and Attended to the Lord’s body.
Let’s take another look at a few women of unusual faith, mentioned in scripture. The three women are Mary, the mother of Jesus, Mary Magdalene, Hannah the wife, Elkanah.
Mary Magdalene
(Hebrew: מרים המגדלית, original Greek: Μαρία ἡ Μαγδαληνή), or Mary of Magdala Within the four Gospels she is named at least 12 times, more than most of the apostles. Carol Ann Morrow views the Gospel references as describing her as courageous, and brave enough to stand by Jesus in his hours of suffering, death and beyond.
New Testament references to a woman named Mary are few, although collectively they comprise the largest reference to a single female if indeed there is only one Mary. However, scholars have divided these references into three groups: Mary the repentant sinner, Mary of Bethany, and Mary Magdalene.
In Luke 7:37 a woman appears at the home of Simon the Pharisee in Galilee where Jesus is dining; she washes his feet with her tears, dries them with her hair, and anoints them with oils she carries in an alabaster box. This unnamed woman is a sinner, a woman who is likely a prostitute. Jesus forgives her sins, telling her “Thy faith has saved thee; go in peace.” In John 12:3 this woman is identified as Mary and the ointment described as “spikenard, very costly.” But, what does the word “faith” means here.
Strong’s Concordance Greek word 4102 πίστις pistis {pis’-tis} relating to Christ 1b1) a strong and welcome conviction or belief that Jesus is the Messiah, through whom we obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God.
This Mary had strong convictions that Jesus could deliver her from her entrapment. This Mary also discerned that Jesus could recognize her pain and had the ability to set her free. The two other women in this blog know how to pray, but this sinner woman could only bow her head in shame. She didn’t know how to pray so she just washed His feet. The custom of foot washing was for the slave who wash the feet of their noble Masters. While those who set at dinner with Jesus continued to judge her, they had no idea that this same woman, who eyes will observe the spectacle of the Messiah’s ascension into his Heavenly Kingdom, will indicate GOD’s approval of her.
NLT Psalm 123:2 We keep looking to the LORD our God for his mercy, just as servants keep their eyes on their master, as a slave girl watches her mistress for the slightest signal. (Psa 123:2 NLT)
In the tenth chapter of the gospel of Luke, the writer identifies one of the women accompanying him in his journey with the twelve apostles, in 8:2 mentioning “Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils.
Mary Magdalene is identified as one of three women present at Jesus’ death (John 19:25) and entombment, in Mark 15:40: “who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him.” Matthew 27:61 has her “sitting over against the sepulchre” after a large stone had been rolled against the opening to protect the body of Jesus.
She is also, according to Matthew 27:55–56 and 28:1, present at the first Sabbath following Jesus’ death, when the sepulcher is discovered to be empty. John’s gospel goes further into the events surrounding Jesus’ resurrection, describing in chapter 20 the details of Mary Magdalene’s discovery, in the dark of early morning, that Jesus’ tomb has been opened, her efforts to inform the other disciples and her return to the tomb.
Magdalene is joined by Mary the mother of Jesus and either Joanna or Salome in discovering the empty tomb.
Hannah
02584 חַנָּה Channah {khan-naw’} Meaning: Hannah = “grace”
After Hannah and her husband Elkanah had returned from Shiloh to their home at Ramah, they slept together. Scripture says, “…and the Lord remembered her.” (1 Samuel 1:19, NIV). She became pregnant, had a son, and named him Samuel, which means “God hears.”
But Hannah had made a promise to God that if she bore a son, she would give him back for God’s service. Hannah followed through on that promise. She handed her young child Samuel over to Eli for training as a priest.
God blessed Hannah further for honoring her pledge to him. She bore three more sons and two daughters. Samuel grew up to become the last of Israel’s judges, its first prophet, and counselor to its first two kings, Saul and David
One can tell a lot about a person’s spirituality, by the details of their prayers. Hannah’s prays filled with statements where she constantly subscribes power and dominion to God. She also makes declarations where nothing was impossible for God. Hannah’s prayer was filled with faith.
Hannah prays
NLT 1 Samuel 2:1 Then Hannah prayed: “My heart rejoices in the LORD! The LORD has made me strong. Now I have an answer for my enemies; I rejoice because you rescued me.
2 No one is holy like the LORD! There is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.
3 “Stop acting so proud and haughty! Don’t speak with such arrogance! For the LORD is a God who knows what you have done; he will judge your actions.
4 The bow of the mighty is now broken, and those who stumbled are now strong.
5 Those who were well fed are now starving, and those who were starving are now full. The childless woman now has seven children, and the woman with many children wastes away.
6 The LORD gives both death and life; he brings some down to the grave but raises others up.
7 The LORD makes some poor and others rich; he brings some down and lifts others up.
8 He lifts the poor from the dust and the needy from the garbage dump. He sets them among princes, placing them in seats of honor. For all the earth is the LORD’s, and he has set the world in order.
9 “He will protect his faithful ones, but the wicked will disappear in darkness. No one will succeed by strength alone.
10 Those who fight against the LORD will be shattered. He thunders against them from heaven; the LORD judges throughout the earth. He gives power to his king; he increases the strength of his anointed one.” (1Sa 2:1-10 NLT)
Mary, the mother of the Lord
Just, how did Mary qualify to become the mother of the Christ Child? The angel Gabriel told her that she had become God’s chosen. So, what is the process of elimination? Again, the answer is in Mary’s prayers. When Mary prays, she makes God sovereign in her life and makes herself HIS servant.
37 For nothing is impossible with God.”
38 Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.
39 A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the town
40 where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth.
41 At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42 Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, “God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed.
43 Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me?
44 When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy.
45 You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.”
46 Mary responded, “Oh, how my soul praises the Lord.
47 How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
48 For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed.
49 For the Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me.
50 He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear him.
51 His mighty arm has done tremendous things! He has scattered the proud and haughty ones.
52 He has brought down princes from their thrones and exalted the humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with empty hands.
54 He has helped his servant Israel and remembered to be merciful.
55 For he made this promise to our ancestors, to Abraham and his children forever. (Luk 1:28-55 NLT)
Mothers Day 2
After studying the behavior of these women, we learn to give the highest reverence to God and never speak inappropriately to HIM. Our prayers expose the heart.