Devotion: Mary
Please read Luke 1:28 & Luke 2:22
When Jesus was 40 days old, at the time of the Passover, Mary and Joseph with Jesus went to the temple in Jerusalem with a two-part agenda, to fulfill the Law God gave through Moses.
They brought two young pigeons or turtle doves as an offering for Mary’s purification after childbirth so that she could again participate fully in the worship life of the community. After this was done, Mary was then able to enter the temple where they presented Jesus to God.
The Law of the Firstborn required all Israel’s firstborn to be sanctified and dedicated to God in His holy sanctuary. This was in observance of the deliverance of every firstborn of Israel (including animals) from the curse of death God placed upon all firstborn of Egypt in the final plague that compelled Pharoah to let God’s people leave Egypt.
As they are complying with the law, the family is approached by two elderly people who have been waiting for the Lord’s Messiah, Simeon and Anna. They rejoice, they bless Jesus and his family, and Simeon prophesies to Mary: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
“And a sword will pierce your own soul too.” Mary would have wondered what that meant, exactly, and when it would happen. She would have thought about it, too, as Jesus grew and started his public ministry, and then as Jesus’s teachings became provocative to both the ruling Jewish leaders and the occupying Roman government. After Judas betrays Jesus and Passover approaches, she comes to understand that the sword that will pierce her soul is the cruel death of her son, her beloved Jesus. Finally she knows the meaning of Simeon’s prophecy.
And she knows what she must do. She must be with Jesus as he dies. Her presence and her love will mean so much to him. She must call on the promise made to her when the angel told her that she would be the mother of the savior: “The Lord is with you.” She prays for strength and courage and whatever else she needs to do this hard, hard thing. And with God’s help and grace, she does.
In the Old Testament, God bestowed his presence on very few people. Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we are forgiven, we are right with God, and God dwells within all who believe in him. We can do hard things and we can survive hard experiences because God is with us always. In her steadfast love and courage, Mary serves as an example of the strength and courage we can find in God.
God our Father, grow in us a strong faith like Mary’s and remind us to bring all our problems to you. And may we also thank and praise you for the countless ways you bless and care for us each day. Amen.
Written by Cheryl Stubbendieck
Cheryl Stubbendieck is a member of Sheridan’s Devotion Writing Team, leads the Wednesday Morning Women’s Bible Study and the 9 Months in the OT Old Testament reading project at Sheridan. She and her husband Jim have two sons: Aaron, his wife Chaitra and their son Theo live in Houston; Reed lives in Stillwater, Oklahoma.