Easter: A Mother’s Story

The story begins with the familiar story of Christmas. An angel comes to a young girl named Mary. She is between 12 and 16.

1. Read Luke 1:31 – What does the angel tell Mary? She will conceive and give birth to a son whose name will be Jesus.

2. What does the name Jesus mean? Yahweh/Jehovah delivers/saves. The Lord saves. In Matthew’s telling of the Christmas story, the angel explains to Joseph why the child will be named Jesus – He will save His people from their sins.

3. Does the angel tell Mary how Jesus will save His people from their sins? No.

4. Do you think Mary wondered how Jesus would save people from their sins?

5. Read Luke 2:19 and Luke 2:51 – What does it mean that Mary treasured these things in her heart/pondered these things in her heart? Treasure – something of immense value that you never want to lose … you never want to forget. Ponder in the Greek is sumballo - to bring together in one's mind, confer with one's self. Mary gave careful thought to the events that were happening involving the child she gave birth to. I’d imagine the shepherds told Mary the words the angel said to them about who the child is. He will be a Savior, the Messiah. In other words, Mary’s son will be a saver of people. Again, it is not explained how He would do it. When Jesus, at age 12, said that He was in His Father’s house, Mary did not understand what He said; yet, she treasured it … she held on to this moment because it was valuable to her.

6. Read Luke 2:34-35 – What does Simeon tell Mary about her son? Simeon offers Mary a glimpse of her son’s future. He will bring down people (Pharisees, Sadducees) and raise up people (sinners – tax collectors, poor, adulterers, thieves, etc.) and He will be opposed. What words did he direct to Mary? A sword will pierce your own soul. Simeon foreshadows the pain Mary will feel because of her son’s purpose but does not provide any details.

7. Read Luke 8:19-21 – How do you think Mary felt about Jesus’ refusal to see her and his brothers? Probably hurt. Like a sword piercing her soul. Mary had not seen her firstborn child in a long time. She probably had not seen Jesus at all since He started His ministry at age 30. Could Jesus not take time from His ministry to spend time with His mother? Moreover, Jesus was the head of the family. Joseph probably dead at this time. Some would say Jesus was shirking his primary responsibility – looking after His mother. How would you characterize Jesus’ response? Came off a bit rude/coldhearted. Understand, Jesus was on a schedule. He had a very short time to reach a whole lot of people. What was more important for Jesus at this point? Saving people from their sins or looking after His mother?

8. John 19:25 – Where is Mary? Mary at age 45 to 49. Standing next to the cross that her Son is hanging from. What is she feeling/thinking? Agonizing emotional pain. A sword piercing her soul. Mary looks up at the mass of flesh that passes for a man and I imagine she sees her baby. All the thoughts she pondered/ that she treasured concerning who her Son is … His purpose for being born … came to the forefront and now she understood. The message from the angel – You will give Him the name Jesus for He will save His people from their sins. The words of Simeon - will bring down people (Pharisees, Sadducees) and raise up people (sinners – tax collectors, poor, adulterers, thieves, etc.) and He will be opposed … a sword will pierce your soul. Her Son’s words at age 12 in the Temple – My Father’s house. Mary realizes now that the purpose for her Son being born was to die a horrible, excruciating death so that every person on earth, including her, could know salvation from death and the grave. It all made sense now.

9. John 19:26 – 27 – What did Jesus do? Here’s Jesus experiencing tremendous physical, emotional, spiritual pain. He has taken upon himself the sins of a billion billion souls including yours and mine. He has taken upon himself the punishment for those sins. In the throes of this moment, Jesus looks down below through swollen, bloodcaked eyes and He sees His mom weeping. He feels the sword that is piercing her soul. He feels the love she has for Him. If she could take His place on the cross she would do it in a heart beat. Seeing her, Jesus returns her love. He made sure that His mother would be looked after following His death. He fulfilled His responsibility as the head of the family.