Triplets of Prophecies Fulfilled: Mary, Mother of Jesus

Reflecting God’s Triune nature as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, patterns of three abound in Scripture. Three women named Mary were close to Jesus in His earthly ministry, beginning with His mother Mary, the willing handmaid of the Lord (Luke 1:38). God had orchestrated the details of Mary’s life to fulfill various Messianic prophecies through her son Jesus, including her genealogy, residence, and betrothal.

Mary’s genealogy (Luke 3:23-38) extends all the way back to God Himself, emphasizing that Jesus is God’s only begotten Son (John 3:16). It includes three noteworthy ancestors, Adam, Noah, and Enoch, who remind us of God’s love, mercy, and grace.

The disobedience of God’s first son Adam (and his wife Eve) brought the curse of sin, sorrow and death upon themselves, the earth and all mankind (Genesis 3:6-19). Had they not rebelled, there would have been no need for God to send His Son Jesus as the sinless Sacrifice to reconcile sinful man to Himself (2 Corinthians 5:18-19; Hebrews 2:17), showing His perfect, infinite, self-sacrificing love (John 3:16; 15:13).

Wickedness continued to increase through the days of Noah, when God destroyed all the earth’s inhabitants by flood. Yet in His mercy, He saved the faithful remnant of Noah and his family who loved, believed and obeyed God (Genesis 6-8), just as He continues to save all sinners who call on His Name in faith (Acts 2:21; 15:11).

Enoch foreshadows God’s grace that awaits all His children still living when He returns for us at the Rapture. Because Enoch walked with God, God took Enoch to be with Him forever, without experiencing death (Genesis 5:24). Similarly, those us who are alive and remain will be caught up in our glorified bodies to meet the Lord in the air (1 Corinthians 15:21-58; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17).

Through these three ancestors of Jesus Christ, we have the promise that just God must punish sin, yet His mercy substituted His Son to pay our debt in full (Romans 3:25; 1 John 2:2; 4:10), and His grace gives all who trust Him eternal life with Him (Romans 3:20-24; 6:23);.

Mary’s lineage also includes three ancestors mentioned in Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah (Daniel 9:25), meaning Anointed One or Christ (John 4:25), Who would deliver His people from their sins. That Messiah was the Seed of Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3; Luke 3:34) and of his son Isaac (Genesis 17:19; 21:12; Luke 3:34; Romans 9:7; Hebrews 11:17-18) Who would bless all nations (Genesis 22:15-18; 26:1-4; Acts 3:25-26; Galatians 3:8,16), descending through the line of Isaac’s son, Jacob (Genesis 28:1-15; Luke 3:34).

Three additional ancestors in Mary’s lineage also point to her Son as being the promised Messiah, Who would be the Seed of Judah (Jacob’s son; Genesis 49:1,8:12; Luke 3:33), the Rod from Jesse (Isaiah 11:1; Luke 3:32) and the Light of David (1 Kings 11:36; 2 Chronicles 21:7; Luke 3:31).

Scripture further describes Jesus Christ as the Son (Matthew 1:1; 9:27; 12:23; 15:22, etc.), Seed (2 Samuel 7:12-13; 1 Chronicles 17:11-15), and Root and Offspring of David (Revelation 22:16). He will rule forever on David’s throne (Luke 1:32) as the Righteous Branch, King, and The Lord Our Righteousness Who will reign, prosper, and execute judgment and justice in the earth (Jeremiah 23:5-6; 33:14-15).

Through God’s preordained plan, Mary’s family tree therefore positioned her to give birth to the promised Messiah, as did her engagement and her dwelling places. She was betrothed to Joseph, a humble carpenter who was also in the lineage of David (Matthew 1: 1-16), so that Jesus’ claim to the throne when He comes again cannot be challenged (Luke 1:32-33).

Unlike Mary, who was the biological parent of Jesus, Joseph was not a blood relation, but was “grafted in” to the holy family by his marriage to Mary (Matthew 1:16). To me, this foreshadows God’s love, mercy, and grace in extending His plan of salvation to all people, and not just to His chosen nation of Israel (Luke 2:30-32), even though all have sinned against Him (Romans 3:23). Regardless of our heritage, all who have been grafted in to God’s family (Romans 11:17-24) by their faith in His Son (Ephesians 2:8) become part of the bride of Christ (Ephesians 5:22-27).

God chose Joseph to be Mary’s betrothed not only because he was a descendant of David, but for his qualities of compassion, faith, and obedience to God. When Joseph learned of Mary’s pregnancy, he may have felt rejection, betrayal, and fear. His compassion for her led him to the just decision to put her away privately, rather than humiliating her publicly or even having her stoned, as would be required by the laws of Moses (Matthew 1:18-19).  

Yet he readily believed what the angel of God told him in a dream about Mary’s child, Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, would be called Jesus, and would save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:20-21). Joseph followed God’s perfect plan by marrying her, refraining from sexual relations until after she had given birth, and naming the child Jesus (Matthew 1:24-25).

This was the first of three dreams in which the angel of God gave him special instructions, and each time Joseph listened, believed and obeyed (Matthew 2:13-14;19-21), protecting Jesus by removing Him from danger.

Through Mary’s birthplace, betrothal to Joseph, and submission to her husband’s direction as he followed God’s commands, God used the details of her life to carry out three prophecies concerning the geography of Jesus Christ’s life on earth, involving Nazareth, Bethlehem, and Egypt.

Mary was from Nazareth (Luke 1:26-27), thus enabling fulfillment of the prophecy that the Messiah would be a called a Nazarene (Matthew 2:23; Isaiah 11:1). Before Jesus was born, Mary and Joseph left Nazareth to be taxed in Bethlehem, city of David, following the decree of Caesar Augustus that everyone should be taxed in his own city  (Luke 2:1-7) This fulfilled the prophecy that the everlasting Ruler of Israel would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:1-6).

And yet then Mary, Joseph and Jesus fled to Egypt to escape the infanticide King Herod had ordered, fearing that the prophesied King of the Jews, born in Bethlehem, would usurp his power. This fulfilled the third prophecy concerning places important in Jesus’ early childhood, for He would be called out of Egypt (Hosea 11:1; Matthew 2:13-15) to return to live in Nazareth.

 
One of the most miraculous prophecies concerning Jesus Christ, and proving His divinity, was His virgin birth, also fulfilled by Mary who allowed herself to be used of God in this unique way, as we shall see next time. As we study the details of Messianic prophecy fulfilled by Jesus Christ, may we have no doubt that God is Who He says He is, that He works all things together for good (Romans 8:28); and that His true Word can be trusted as we look forward with sure hope to His second coming!  

© 2016 Laurie Collett

Triplets of Stillness: Mary of Bethany Listening at Christ’s Feet

Triplets in Scripture reflecting God as Trinity continue in the three Marys who were close to Christ in His earthly ministry; the three life events the Bible shows us of Mary of Bethany; and her family unit of three siblings, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus (John 11:1-5).

One of these three events takes place among three people in Martha’s home, where she as the hostess has invited Jesus to dinner, and Mary is there also (Luke 10: 38-42). Jesus has just told His disciples the parable of the Good Samaritan about being a true neighbor, motivated by love like the Samaritan, instead of by religious service, like the priest, or self-righteousness, like the Levite (Luke 10:29-37). Jesus and His disciples went along their way, until He entered the village of Bethany and visited Martha’s house (v. 38).

Can you imagine having Jesus over for dinner? No doubt you would prepare by cleaning the house, gathering the best foods to serve Him, and making your home as inviting as possible. I’m sure Martha did that, and her sister Mary also, but when Jesus arrived, Martha continued attending to the meal rather than to the Master. Mary chose wisely (v. 42) to spend these precious moments as close to Jesus as she could, sitting at His feet and hearing His Word (v. 39).

In contrast, Martha showed her love for Jesus by taking care of every detail of His visit. Yet her service kept her too busy to appreciate His company, resulting in her accusing Jesus of not caring that she was doing all the work, and demanding that He ask Mary to help her (v. 40).

It makes me wonder how many times, in the name of Christian service, that we lose sight of our love for Christ and one another, complain about how much we are working without recognition, and make demands of those whom we are trying to serve.

Instead of receiving from Jesus a pat on the back, kind word of appreciation, and help enlisted from Mary, Martha must have been shocked to hear Jesus say she was “cumbered,” or preoccupied with her service; “careful,” or anxious that the work would not be completed; and “troubled” about many things (v. 40-41).

No doubt she was hurt, yet Jesus also must have been grieved that Martha focused more on her service than on her Savior, that she was anxious even in the presence of perfect Love Who casts out all fear (1 John 4:18), and troubled even though He urged His followers not to let our hearts be troubled (John 14:1, 27).

Although I wonder how Martha could fail in this way even when in the direct presence of Jesus Christ Himself, I know I am often guilty of her sins. All of us who have been saved by His grace (Ephesians 2:8-9) through our faith in His death, burial and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) have His Holy Spirit always with us (John 14:16). And yet there are times when doing, serving, and complaining suit us better than just being God’s children, receiving His love, and listening to His Word.

Like Martha, we may feel that the more we do to serve God without being rewarded, the more we are justified in complaining and even accusing Him of not loving us. May we be more like Mary, who recognized that He is all we need (Philippians 4:19), chose to bask in His presence, and was secure that nothing could separate her from Christ’s love (Luke 10: 42; Romans 8:35-39).

Both women loved Jesus dearly and believed He was the Son of God, and Jesus loved them (John 11:1-27). But Martha got caught up in the distraction of religious service, the pride of self-righteousness, and lashing out at our Lord with demanding anger rather than the submissive, tender, self-sacrificing love He so richly deserves.

As we see earlier in Luke, Mary epitomized that kind of love, as she sacrificed her pride, offered her body as a living sacrifice, and gave her earthly treasure to worship Jesus as she anointed Him with precious ointment Luke 7: 37-50). At the dinner in Martha’s house, listening to Jesus was precious to Mary, and she savored every loving smile and tender word He gave her, which could never be taken from her (Luke 10: 39,42).

Mary’s behavior illustrates that God created us for intimate fellowship with Him, for the “good pleasure” of His will, a phrase that the apostle Paul uses three times (Philippians 2:13; Ephesians 1:5,9). Believers today no longer have the blessing of literally sitting at Jesus’ feet, but we can still learn from Him through His Word (Psalm 119); listen for His still, small voice as we pray (1 Kings 19:12); and submit to His perfect will for our lives (Luke 22:42).

As Oswald Chambers said:

You have no idea of where or how God is going to engineer your future circumstances, and no knowledge of what stress and strain is going to be placed on you either at home or abroad. And if you waste your time in overactivity, instead of being immersed in the great fundamental truths of God’s redemption, then you will snap when the stress and strain do come. But if this time of soaking before God is being spent in getting rooted and grounded in Him, which may appear to be impractical, then you will remain true to Him whatever happens.

Jesus Himself found time apart from the crowds, His ministry, and His disciples to be alone with His Father (Luke 5:16; Matthew 26:36); to wait for God to speak (Luke 3:22); and to submit to the Father’s perfect will (Luke 22:42). Like Mary of Bethany, may we learn to be still (Psalm 46:10), and know that He is God!

© 2015 Laurie Collett