Mary, A Model Mother

Intro: When I call Mary “a model mother,” I’m not talking about a “model” as one on the latest fashion or beauty magazine cover; but an example or pattern; A Role Model!
There is much that could be said about Mary, the Model Mother. What other lady in the Bible would outshine the Virgin Mary? What other mother in the Bible would surpass Mary, the mother of Jesus?
I want to focus in on three particular scenes in the life of Mary, the model mother.

I. Mary, by the Lowly Manger.
(Lk. 2:4-7) I know, this sounds kind of like a Christmas message! Well, here at Mother’s Day let’s take a moment to think about that amazing Christmas story.
A. Mary’s Dedication to God.
Her Purity- she was morally & spiritually pure.
Her Humility- she was not forward & brazen, but modest and discreet.
Her Bravery- she was not afraid of what others would say about her and her situation. She was not deterred by the threat of slander, criticism or misunderstanding.

B. Mary’s Selection by God.
God’s Recognition- God saw every woman alive on the earth and knew them all completely; then he Chose Mary. “Fear not Mary, thou hast found favor with God.”
Mary’s Submission- Even though God’s plan for her was incredible and almost impossible to believe, she willingly submitted her life completely to the will and plan of God.

C. Mary’s Conception of God.
Imagine! An earthly, human woman was going to conceive and bear God the Son! God was going to become flesh and Mary would be his instrument, his agent, his channel.
“That holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.”

I realize that God is not going to choose another woman to bear His Son into the world. I know that this was a one time occurrence that is not to be repeated. Still, even today God is looking for women who are dedicated to Him; women He can choose and use right here in this world. Mary was being selected not only to BEAR God’s Son but To REAR Him as well. His Birth was important, obviously, but his training was important too. God’s Son could not just be placed into any home and any family. His home and family had to be strongly founded on the ways of God and his parents had to be willing to teach him and train him in those godly ways.

II. Mary, at the Rugged Cross.
Jn 19:25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother...”
My what a scene! Mary, the mother of Jesus was standing by a rugged cross. Her son had been illegally arrested, falsely accused, wrongly sentenced, cruelly tortured, rudely mocked, and then crucified in shame and agony. We all know about the humiliation and suffering of crucifixion and Mary was right there, watching her son die.
What happened there goes far beyond the pain of human emotions. This was more than just a mother being tormented by the awful death of a son she loved. This was Jesus Christ! This was the Son of God, The Messiah. He was shedding His blood as the Lamb of God to pay the price for the sins of all mankind From this sacrifice would come redemption, justification, and salvation. AND, Jesus was dying for Mary too!
Remember when Mary went to share with Elizabeth the incredible news of her visitation by the Angel and fact that she would bear the very Son of God? Mary cried out in praise and said, “My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God MY SAVIOR.”
Mary was a wonderful lady but she STILL needed a Savior! Jesus died for her too.
Every mother needs to come spiritually to Calvary and stand near the Old Rugged Cross. Every mother needs to look upon Jesus Christ, recognize the atoning power of His Blood, feel the power of His Love and be Saved! Nothing qualifies a woman more to be a great mother than being a true, genuine Christian. Nothing can take the place of Salvation in a mother’s life:
not money, not education, not physical beauty, not intuition, not even human love.

III. Mary, in the Upper Room.
Acts 1:13 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. 14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
How I love this scene of Mary the Mother of Jesus in the assembly of disciples in the Upper Room.
Think about it, no one knew more about Jesus personally than Mary did. She was his mother. She had brought him into the world, cared for him, fed him, changed his diapers, taught him to eat, to talk, to walk, to pray and to read. She had watched him grow into manhood, witnessed his mighty ministry, stood by the cross and watched him die in shame and agony and then went home with John in sorrow and despair.
Then the word came that Jesus was alive! The stone had been rolled away. The tomb was empty. Jesus had been seen by his disciples. Think about those 40 days after resurrection. My, what an experience for Mary. She was in the crowd when he told them to tarry in Jerusalem until they were endued with power from on high. She heard his words about the coming Comforter. She heard about the promise that the Holy Ghost was going to be poured out and she heard about the command for them all to tarry in the Upper Room until they were baptized and filled.
In wonderful obedience and faithfulness, Mary made her way to the Upper Room. Jesus was gone. He would not be living in Galilee any more. He would not be traveling, preaching, teaching and doing mighty miracles of among the people. But, he had promised to send another Comforter that would abide with them forever. I love to think of Mary, right there in the Upper Room along with all those men. (I know there were some other women there, but the majority were men). Her Voice was raised in Holy Prayer, Her Hands were raised in Holy Praise, Her
Heart was lifted up in Worship as she cried out her Longing for the Promise of the Father.
Suddenly, there was a sound of rushing mighty wind; a tongue of fire settled on the head of Mary and she was filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak in other tongues. She was there to experience the outpouring of the Holy Ghost. She was there to receive the Promise of the Father. She was there to witness the salvation of 3000 souls when the gospel was preached. Mary was one of the first Pentecostal Mothers in history.
There is just something about a Pentecostal Mother that is so great it can’t be described in words.
A Mother that has been baptized in and filled with the Holy Ghost.
A Mother that speaks in tongues as Spirit gives utterance.
A Mother that has the Holy Ghost praying through her and for her.
A Mother that is used in gifts of the Spirit (sometimes in church; sometimes in the home)
A Mother that lifts her hands in holy worship in the house of God and cries tears of dedication & joy. She may shout aloud and rejoice, she may walk around the altar or run the aisles, she may sing under the anointing of the Holy Ghost.
Every Mother needs to go to Calvary for Salvation and to the Upper Room to be filled with the Holy Ghost.
By the Way- Every Dad needs to too!