Tuesday, March 2, 2021

MARY, MOTHER OF JOHN MARK

We see yet again how women have a significant role in sharing the Gospel message.  The importance of hospitality is presented here, as  it was in the story of Martha of Bethany.  I hope you are gathering and pondering the value of women when it comes to sharing the love of Christ.

Mary, the mother of Mark who wrote the second gospel, is spoken of once in the book of Acts  (read her story here), yet this brief description of her is suggestive of her life and labors and you’ll see I make a few speculations. 

She is possibly the aunt or sister of Barnabas, the one-time companion of Paul  (Colossians 4:10).  This may account for Barnabas' choice of Mark as his companion—a selection over which Paul and Barnabas parted. Being related to Mary would account for the leadership among the people gathering in her large home. I read that Sir William Ramsay holds that the record of Mary in the book Acts was by Mark, which would account for the details of his mother’s large house becoming a well-known center of Christian life and worship. There is a legend to the effect that this same house was the scene of a still more sacred gathering when, in its upper room, Jesus observed the Lord’s Supper on the night of His betrayal.

And if that is indeed the case it would explain an obscure reference that we find only in Mark's Gospel. It is discovered in Mark’s account of the arrest of Jesus Mark 14:51-52.  Other translations tell us that he was wearing a linen sheet. So here is the speculation, that when Jesus and his apostles left the home they were meeting in, that young John Mark wrapped himself in a sheet and followed them, only to almost be caught by the guards who arrested Jesus, escaping with little more than his life.

If that was the case it would explain how we get the account of Jesus’ prayer and struggle in the garden, because we are told that the apostles were all asleep. So the speculation is that John Mark, probably just a young teen, followed the One who his mother worshipped and was hiding in the garden was able to witness and hear Jesus’ struggle.

Peter found his way to Mary’s home after his miraculous escape, for he knew that a group of believers had gathered there to pray for his release. Peter had a peculiar affection for this godly home. He called Mark, “his son” (1 Peter 5:13) -- a spiritual son, having led him to surrender his life to the Savior. 

 

The way in which the disciples met in Mary’s home is an example of her steadfastness and the bond of intimacy that existed between them. We see that Rhoda was one of the maids which  indicates that the household was considerably large, implying that Mary was a widow with financial means to maintain such a spacious home. As Barnabas her relative gave up his land for Christ, Mary gave up her Jerusalem home to be used as an infant church.

Mary was a woman of noble qualities and was loyal to her Christian ideals. At that time Christians were persecuted, yet she faced the consequences of sharing her home as a center of spiritual power and influence, and was self-sacrificing in time, effort and money to serve the Lord. 

As for Mark the evangelist, Mary’s son, he was deeply attached to his mother which was probably one reason why he returned to Jerusalem from Perga (Acts 13:13). He wanted to be near to the one who had meant so much in his life.  His faith had been formed and shaped by the faith of his mother.  Let us all be mothers, like Mary who have the character to be peculiar and confident in who Jesus is to shape the lives of our children and grand-children.

Blessings, 

Lisa

Mary, Mother Of John Mark

Mary lifted the lamp just enough to peer out of the window, then quickly lowered it back to her side. The house must be kept dark, for the guards were nearby. And if not for the strange noise she had heard, Mary wouldn't have taken the chance. For these were perilous times. King Herod had stepped up his campaign of persecution. Now Christians, some Mary loved and called friends, were being arrested and tortured. Even the disciples of Jesus, James and Peter had been captured. And to find favor with the Jews, Herod already had James killed. Now Peter was in a prison cell awaiting the same fate. "Not if I can help it.", said Mary softly. "For this is a house of faith! In it we worship the Almighty, Living, God! Furthermore, no enemy, not even the great Herod can stop God's will from being done!" And with that, Mary turned defiantly and headed for the great room where the others were gathered. 

Mary's house was indeed a house of great faith, prayer, and worship. And that was all due to her nephew, Barnabas. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith. A follower of Jesus, it was through his ministry that Mary and her son, John Mark, came to know the Lord. Barnabas had taken John Mark under his wing, and helped him become a mighty evangelist for Christ. And watching all her nephew and son gave to God, no matter the cost, Mary knew she could do no less.

Opening up her home to fellow believers was both risky, and dangerous, but Mary felt led to do just that. It was important that those who needed a safe haven to pray and worship could do so freely. And even though at any given moment the doors could burst open and Herod's guards take them all, Mary was never afraid. For she trusted in God alone, and knew the promises of Jesus; her Savior who gave His life to save hers. And it was those very promises she was clinging to now.

As Mary returned with her lamp to the gathering room, the mood was somber. The fragrant voices of many prayers filled the air from the people on their knees. A vigil was being held for Peter, and petitions were being made to God for his release from prison. For tonight was the disciple's scheduled execution and time was running out. 

It was getting late, and the people were tired, but not a single one lost hope, nor resolve. "We'll stay as long as it takes.", said a man kneeled in the corner. And as others around the room agreed, Mary was filled with love and happiness at the strength of the fellowship around her. When suddenly, that happiness was disturbed by a loud knock at the gate.

"Who could that be?", a startled Mary wondered. "If it were Herod's men, surely they wouldn't bother to knock. Yet who would come at such a late hour?" Not wanting to arouse suspicion, reluctantly Mary sent her servant girl Rhoda to see who was calling. The minutes Rhoda was gone felt like hours. And just when Mary thought she couldn't take another second of waiting, in ran the girl, out of breath and too excited to talk. 

Finally after a few deep breaths Rhoda managed to get out, "Our prayers have been answered. It's Peter! Peter is at the gate!" Surely the girl was mistaken. In her zeal and the shadows of the night, she must have mistaken whoever it was for Peter. But the girl persisted. "I tell you it's Peter!, she declared. Even when someone offered the explanation of the stranger being Peter's angel, the girl wouldn't back down. And as Mary looked into the girl's eyes, now filled with tears, there was another knock at the gate. Knowing her servant to be truthful, Mary and the others went themselves to see who was knocking.

Her heart skipped a beat when Mary opened the gate and saw her beloved friend and leader Peter, standing on the other side. Afraid of attracting unwanted attention, quickly they ushered the disciple in. After they had tended his wounds and filled his belly, they gathered around to hear Peter's tale. They listened in amazement as Peter told of the appearance of God's angel, who had rescued him from prison. He spared no detail, and everyone who heard began praising the Lord for His love and faithfulness. 

Although Mary wanted desperately for Peter to stay, the danger was too great. He needed to leave before the morning light and news of his escape reached the ears of Herod. "Mary", said Peter. "Tell what you have heard and seen here to James and the brethren." And after grabbing a small sack of food for the road, Peter turned, smiled, and headed out into the darkness. 

As Mary locked the gate, she looked up at the stars and said a prayer of thanks. If she were to be honest, there had been times when she wondered if all of her sacrifices had been worth it. But in His grace and love, God had blessed Mary by letting her see His mighty hand at work in the miracle He performed. And as she blew out her lamp and climbed into bed, joy filled Mary's heart. For God was faithful, His promises rang true, and He had rewarded her obedience far beyond what Mary could have imagined. Excited and rejuvenated, Mary could hardly wait until morning to continue the work of the Lord.

(Mary, Mother Of John Mark, is one my heroes. She risked everything to follow Jesus. And so I ask myself, can I be a Mary? Am I willing to place everything I hold dear in the hands of the Lord? Is any sacrifice too great? Am I as powerful a prayer warrior as she? And do I have the faith to trust that God answers all petitions made by the ones He loves?)

 Luke 1

I know that everyone, when asked what Mary's legacy would be, would most likely answer that she was favored by God to be the mother of our Lord and Savior. No question, that this will always be Mary's ultimate legacy, but when I think of Mary, it's verse 1:38 in Luke that immediately comes to my mind.

"Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed"

Have you ever been asked to do something and your first thought is, "Why me? I can't possibly do that!" And all these reasons why begin forming in your head? I have to admit that, that has happened to me more times than I'd like to admit to. 

Letting ourselves be used by God can be hard at times. It requires us being willing to let ourselves be taken out of our comfort zones and sent in different directions than we might have otherwise chosen. It requires us being willing to turn our lives over to someone greater than ourselves.

It’s believed Mary was between the age of 13 through 16. Do you remember being a young teenager? Mary was already engaged to Joseph however, and her life was already planned out! Plus, you can imagine how people would talk back then!

Beloved, letting God be in charge of our lives is absolutely fundamental to the Christian faith, and yet it is something that I struggle with each and every day, for my pride and self-centeredness are forever warring for independence and I forget all too often that I too am a bond-servant or handmaiden of the Lord.

I know we live in a culture that says we should be self-reliant and independent, and the idea that I need to daily surrender myself to someone greater is completely counter cultural. Although it is hard and totally out of the norm, I need to remember that letting God take charge:

• Will provide me with the chance to go places that I would not have otherwise chosen. 
• Will give me opportunities that I would not have come up with on my own. 
• Will mean that I do not have to rely on my own strength or wisdom to deal with the challenge before me.
• It will be the Creator of this Universe working through me!
• It will mean I and others will be blessed.
• And He will be glorified.

This is exactly why Mary was brave enough to immediately turn her life over to the service of God. It wasn't going to be easy; there were going to be challenges along the way, "a sword would pierce her soul", but as the Lord’s servant she would be directly responsible for changing the fate of all humankind. Imagine that! 

Where would we all be today if Mary had refused to be God's handmaiden? 

And what is He calling you to do today? 

Whatever it is, it may not impact the entire world, but even if it is only one, that one is counting on you!

May each of us say each day to our Savior and Lord, "Behold I am the Lord's handmaiden. Let it be to me according to Your word."

Blessings!

sue

At the tender age of 12 or 13, as Jewish custom dictated, Mary was betrothed in marriage to a man named Joseph. I often imagine the excitement she felt preparing for the upcoming wedding and starting this new chapter of her young life. Yet all of her dreams and plans came to a screeching halt when Mary was visited by the angel Gabriel. “Greetings, favored one!”, said the angel.  “The Lord is with you.” (Luke 1:28) As Mary was wondering who this man was and what he wanted, the angel shared something even more shocking! “Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him, Jesus.” (Luke 1:30-31) 

Gabriel went on to tell Mary that this son Jesus, conceived through the power of the Holy Spirit, was actually the Son of God, and would sit on the throne of David, ruling forever! Imagine the thoughts, fear, and confusion swirling in Mary’s young mind! And yet even not fully comprehending the true depths of Gabriel’s message or what she would have to endure, Mary replied, “May it be done to me according to your word.” This young, innocent, girl, had a faith so strong, not only didn’t she hesitate to be used by God, she believed fully that God would provide all she needed to see His will done! And throughout her life and struggles, Mary relied on that faith to see her through. 

Oh how the momma’s heart in me sings with joy at the happiness Jesus brought to Mary’s life. The great love she felt holding Him in her arms, the excitement of watching Him grow, and the wonder of knowing He was her long awaited Messiah. And just as equally, my heart aches knowing that Mary witnessed the pain, betrayal, and sacrifice Jesus endured. And how torn her heart must have been as she watched her son nailed to the Cross. 

Bible scholars agree that Joseph had long since died before the death of Jesus. So near the end of her story, we find Mary widowed and grieving the loss of her child. Yet she is still willing to be used by God. For after the death of Jesus, it would have been custom for Mary to return home to be with her family; and the Bible tells us that Mary had other sons and daughters. ( Mark 6:3) Yet before He died, Jesus commanded Mary to go with the apostle John, and Mary followed. (John 19:26-27) It is widely believed that is there, in Jerusalem, where Mary stayed with the disciples working in the ministry up until her death.

Do you wish that you too could be used mightily by God, but wonder what He could ever do with someone like you? We need to remember that God didn’t choose Mary because she was the prettiest, smartest, or special in any way. He chose Mary because of her heart. 

Do you have the heart of Mary? The heart of Mary is open to receiving God’s calling. How is your prayer life? We can’t hear from God if the lines of communication aren’t open. The heart of Mary is ready to answer God’s calling. Are you ready, no matter the cost, to lay down your own plans to see God’s done? And finally, the heart of Mary is an obedient one. Will you follow where the God leads no matter where He takes you? 

The same words Gabriel spoke to that young Jewish girl he speaks to us as well. “Do not be afraid, for you have found favor with God.” (Luke 1:30) As followers of Christ we too are favored by God. So with the heart of Mary, be brave, be faithful, and be open to His calling. And watch how God, through little old you, does awesome and amazing things! 

 

This Week's Memory Verse is Luke 1:37-38,

For nothing will be impossible with God.”  And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. 

Hi Girls! 

I hope you've loved the first week of our study as much as we did and are ready to do some serious digging this week, for this week it's all about Mary, the mother of Jesus and she is found pretty much throughout all four gospels, and the first chapter in the book of Acts. 

I've broken up into passages where she can be found, but not into days in which to study each, for I decided I'd let you set your study schedule. 

Matt 1:16, 18-25; 

Matt 2:2-14, 20-21; 

Matt 12:46-50; 

Matt 13:55; 

Mark 3:31-35;

Mark 6:3; 

Luke 1:26-56; 

Luke 2:5-51; 

Luke 8: 19-20; 

John 2:1-5, 12; 

John 6:42; 

John 19:25-27 

Acts 1:14 

Gal 4:4

Remember we're looking for:

• Monday: Her story--a portrait of her life
• Tuesday: Her life and times--background information about the culture of her day
• Wednesday: Her legacy in Scripture
• Thursday: Her promise--the Bible promises that apply to her life and yours
• Friday: Her legacy of prayer--and praying in light of her story

We want to also encourage you to be thinking along these lines as you study each woman throughout the week. Ask yourself:

 

 

Scripture Passage for today is John 12: 1-11

Watchman Nee,  the late Chinese preacher, points out in his pamphlet titled, Why This Waste, that by looking at this story in the other gospels, we can tell that all the disciples joined Judas in scolding Mary for wasting this expensive perfume on Jesus when it could have been sold and the money given to the poor. But Jesus defended Mary by replying (Matt. 26:13), “Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her.”  

“Several days after Mary broke the alabaster box and poured the ointment on Jesus’ head, there were some women who went early in the morning to anoint the body of the Lord. Did they do it? Did they succeed in their purpose on that first day of the week? No, there was only one soul who succeeded in anointing the Lord, and it was Mary, who anointed Him beforehand. The others never did it, for He had risen. Now I suggest that in just such a way the matter of time may be important to us also, and that the whole question for us is: what am I doing to the Lord today?”

What does it mean to seek first the kingdom of God? It simply means putting Christ and the things of the Spirit first in our lives. It sounds easy enough, doesn’t it?

Each day, we are faced with choices; opportunities to invest our time and energy into, and some, although good things, may only be temporal things that have no eternal value.  Each of us has only so many hours in a day, and each of us, for the most part, have the opportunity to choose how we’ll spend those hours. The question then becomes, how many of those hours will we spend focusing on spiritual activities like reading God’s Word, prayer, teaching or serving others, etc.?

Are we focused on storing up treasures in heaven, or on worldly pleasures?

Just thinking about what you take hold of first thing in the morning could be a good indication.

We all have responsibilities regarding our family, work and other obligations and activities to tend to, and these can all be included in “seeking first the kingdom of God.” It all comes down to our free time. We need to be careful of what little time isn’t already spoken for, for I know often times I’ve taken on things that though they were good, they came at the expense of the spiritual tasks given to me. As a mom and teacher I found I was often asked to help out here and there, which ended up taking precious time away from my family, and even my own time with the Lord. And sometimes, I wouldn’t realize what I had done until damage had been done elsewhere.

Over time I’ve learned to seek Him and His ways of doing and being right, before committing to things that, though they were all good things, they just might not be meant for me to do. Seeking Him first for answers and reassurance has also helped with any guilt I may have felt declining a request for help as well. He has helped me stand firmer and know exactly what I should be doing and what I shouldn’t!

Mary could certainly relate:

 When the angel entered her home, he greeted her and said, “You are favored by the Lord! The Lord is with you.” She was startled by what the angel said and tried to figure out what this greeting meant. The angel told her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary. You have found favor with God. You will become pregnant, give birth to a son, and name him Jesus. He will be a great man and will be called the Son of the Most High.
The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. Your son will be king of Jacob’s people forever, and his kingdom will never end.” Mary asked the angel, “How can this be? … Luke 1:28-34
She of course went on to accept all the angel had told her. 

Joseph could also relate, for he was just a poor carpenter betrothed to Mary, who thought to secretly divorce Mary, until the angel told him the plan in a dream.  (Mt 1:18-24)

I wonder how many of us would have chosen Joseph and Mary to bear the Son of God!? 

And certainly not in Bethlehem! “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.” – Micah 5:2

In a stable, mind you.

And rather than the host of angels announcing His birth to the world, or at the very least the royalty of the world, God chose the lowliest of men; mere shepherds keeping watch over their flocks while the rest of the world slept. (Luke 2:8-15)

When it came time to dedicate Jesus, God’s Son- the King of kings and Lord of lords, Joseph and Mary could only offer the poorest of offerings – two turtledoves, or young pigeons. (Luke 2:24)  

And what of Simeon? He was simply a man that God chose to reveal the Messiah to. And Anna? An old widow, who had spent most of her life in the Temple. 

All of these simple people and simple beginnings. Nothing fancy, no fanfare! (Except the announcement to the shepherds perhaps) This was how our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ chose to come to us as the Messiah, the Savior of the whole world!!

 I believe I would have come up with another plan, much more grander perhaps, but the Lord did show me something else they all had in common... something of great worth to God… a heart that loved Him ... was ready and eager to follow Him, and rejoiced along with Him over His coming!

How about you? Has God called you to something? Do you wonder at times, why? Are you in the days of small beginnings even now?

The Lord is rejoicing to see the work He will produce through you. BUT, don’t take my word for it, look in the Bible … Moses had gotten off to a horrible start murdering an Egyptian and then running away. David began his time in a field tending sheep. Nehemiah rebuilt the walls around Jerusalem with a remnant despite the opposition and the odds. And need I mention Jesus disciples and all God was able to do through them! The Bible is full of examples of God using “the foolish things of the world to confound the wise”. (1 Cor 1:27)

If you are wondering, “why me?” or find yourself in the days of small beginnings, take heart! The Lord is excited to see the work begin in you, and He who has called you to the work is faithful to strengthen your hands to do it, (1Thes 5:24). He will also send helpers into the ministry should you need them, and will be faithful to help you in whatever task He has set before you (Phil 2:13)! He will encourage you through His Spirit and with His Word, and will provide all of you need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus!

He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it (1 Thess. 5:23). Just ask any of those God chose to be there when He came down to earth as our Savior!

 Blessings!