Who says that women weren’t part of writing the scriptures? John 2 a wedding disaster averted, graces given, no one is perfect, no mother is perfect, “dear woman…”, extending, granting, giving - graces.
Yes, brought, or led, along by the Holy Spirit (2Pe 2:19-21), let us understand that the Spirit used every faculty of person - personality trait, intellect, talent, gift, interest, experience, even acquaintance to write the scriptures - to work with and through the whole of the person writing, just like how He uses us, working in us and through us - our talents and gifts, our very persons - to accomplish the works laid out for us.
God works in, with, and through us as redeemed versions of who has made us to be - as we are led by the Spirit, He interacts with us, desiring our glad cooperation - to do the good works prepared in advance for us to do, as He creates us in His Son, Jesus (Eph 2:8-10)
So, what about the writers of the scriptures and their sources?
Luke 1:1-4 - well educated, a gentile, a doctor, and a historian, went back, around, and investigated
Matthew - ironically, this rejected and despised Jewish tax collector, would write his gospel to his fellow Jews as an apologetic of sorts “to show them that Jesus of Nazareth was the expected messiah and both his genealogy and his resurrection were legitimate.” to reveal to them the Messiah, salvation through Jesus – as a Jew, He worked with the Holy Spirit deftly through the Old Testament to bring the truth of Jesus, as the Messiah, to bear.
Mark, the scribe, many believe, after being mentored by Barnabas, would join Peter (Acts 12:12-14; 1Pe 5:13) on his apostolic and missionary duties and transcribe Peter’s (and maybe even influenced by some of Paul’s and Barnabas's messages) in an attempt to tell the story of Jesus to Gentiles
John, now, much later in life, is remembering, recollecting, reflecting, and reminiscing about his time with Jesus, his beloved friend, (seeing himself as) “the disciple Jesus loved”, writing in an attempt to convince anyone who would read this beautiful epistle, this tribute to Friend, Savior, Brother, and Lord, that Jesus was real and true, worthy of love and adoration, truly God incarnate, the Son of the Most-High God (Mk 5:7; Lk 1:32), who would come from heaven - the Creator and Maker of all things - God, from the beginning (Jn 1:1-5) - the Messiah (Jn 20:30-31) and we can be born again, children of God, in Him. (Jn 1:12-13; 3:3-8, 16-18)
What does this have to do with today, this message?
Well, might it be that the writers of the gospel would have talked to Mary? John, it would seem, would live with and take care of Mary for a foreseeable future. Peter, if Mark did scribe Peter’s words, would have known Mary very well. And we might assume that Luke would have at least met her, interviewed her, or at least those who knew her - perhaps James and Jude, (as some assert) her sons born after Jesus.
What is the point? Mary’s story, her remembrances, those things she treasured in her heart, made her anxious and pierced her through, are integral parts of the gospels, the scriptures, the telling of the life and ministry of Jesus… from the perspective of the one chosen to bear and bear, God’s only begotten Son.
Today, we are reminded to, honor, the women chosen by God to bear us. We are given the reminded to honor mothers. To reflect on those through whom God would give us life, grant us at least part of our person - DNA, personality, strengths, gifts, and talents
So, where do we go? Grace. We all need grace. Even the mother of our Lord, the mother of Grace, needed grace.
Mary’s story is written on the pages of the gospels, her reflections are woven through this Story, His Story (Lk 1:48). It is Mary, a woman, that would be granted the privilege of bearing, and raising, or bearing up, laboring over, the Son of God… God chose this “dear woman” (as Jesus would later say - Jn 2:4) not just to bear the child, but to raise the child, to wonder about the child, to lead, guide, and train the child, to pray for and worry about the child…
It is hard for us to imagine that…. But, Mary is just as much a daughter of the curse as any one of us, and therefore would have suffered much of what we still suffer today.
Perspective, perception, nobody’s perfect, we all need grace, maybe, especially, moms
Genesis 3:16 “16To the woman he said, “I will make your pains in childbearing very severe;
with painful labor you will give birth to children.
Your desire will be for your husband,
and he will rule over you.”
…for the woman: Difficulty conceiving, pain in childbirth, in labor - or toil, by the sweat of the brow, or even with sorrow or frustration - women will bear their children - as, much like the man, her husband, she would also be concerned, anxious, even fearful that the seeds of love and life she would sow into the lives of her children, in her own barren sin-soaked soil to work and labor over would, or might, (themselves) bear fruit. And so, it would be with Mary, even, the mother of God.
Very much like the soil, or dust, outside the perfect life-giving environment of the Garden, from which their rebellion would cause them to cast – cursed too - would cause frustration and sorrow for the man - Gen 3:17-19
Mary, though her Son would be perfect, would still suffer the pangs and pains of bearing her child… we, you, are not alone.
Her wonder… though initially frightened, was delighted, and sang a song of praise
Luke 1:29, 46-55 “29Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God… “My soul glorifies the Lord 47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, 49for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name. 50His mercy extends to those who fear him,
She would be anxious and hurt
Luke 2:34-35 “34Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
She would ponder what she would see, treasure it in her heart, keep it safe, reflect upon it, and, I’m sure, tell others about her treasured thoughts…
Luke 2:19, 51 “But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”
She was proud of her Son and what she believed He was becoming… even though she might not understand - she was hopeful
John 2:1-5 “1On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” 4“Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” 5His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
She was worried and anxious, wanting the best for her Son, would look for Him, come to get Him, to take charge of Him…
Mark 3:21, 31 (Jn 7:5; 10:20) “21When his family b heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”…31Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him.”
…and feared what every mother, every woman suffers from: the dread possibility of separation from or rejection by their child.
Mark 3:33 33“Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked. 34Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers!33“Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked.“
But, there would be redemption, healing, a tender exchange, where love and honor are granted, provision and protection provided, and given a son to replace her Son - as her heart truly was pierced…
John 19:26-27 26When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, b here is your son,” 27and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.” -
If all of this is true of the mother of God, chosen by God, to bear, and bear, His Son, how much more true of those mothers we have, know, and love, those mothers “we” are…? That if this is true even for the mother of grace needed grace…
Maybe we ought to broaden our perspective and adjust our perception, and grant honor and respect, love and forgiveness - grace. We all need grace, and especially, moms. May we grant her, them, grace, redemption, love, and honor? The counterintuitive nature, mind,
