2025_01_01 Insight Post- Rusty Coram
This week’s reading- Matthew 1, Matthew 2, Matthew 12:46-50, Luke 1, Luke 2, John 2:1-12, John 19:25-27, Acts 1:14
The person who gets the most attention during Christmas, besides Jesus, is Mary. She was a young woman given the unique assignment of being the birth mother of the Messiah. As we learn about her, Mary is humble and ready to accept the assignment even with the initial risk of being rejected by her fiancé as unfaithful.
Mary has a simple faith, meaning it is uncomplicated. She is visited by God’s messenger, Gabriel, who tells her God’s plan, and after confirming it, she simply responds with, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her. Luke 1:38 (NLT) Over the years, some have come up with the idea (not supported by the Bible) that Mary was born without the sinful nature of other humans. This idea is called the Immaculate Conception. It isn’t uncommon to ascribe special circumstances to people who do great things, but, for me, this unbiblical doctrine doesn’t respect either God or Mary. God sent His Son to become human. Mary was chosen not because she was perfect but because she would humbly follow. Her being a normal human with the same sinful nature as us all shows God’s grace and wisdom. Jesus had a supernatural conception through the Holy Spirit and thus is the only one born without a sinful nature. He was tempted as we are but never gave in to it.
Mary’s trust and obedience to God are a picture of what we can be if we choose to be faithful. She wasn’t immune to temptation and sin. She needed the saving grace that Jesus’ death and resurrection would bring to all of us. Mary’s legacy is not one of being perfect but of choosing throughout her life to be faithful. Did she do it perfectly? Of course not. Her example doesn’t need to be exaggerated; just followed!
Rusty Coram
Senior Pastor