Luke 24:1-9
On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb.2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb,3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them.5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?6 He is not here; He has risen! Remember how He told you, while he was still with you in Galilee:7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ”8 Then they remembered His words.
9 When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others.
Luke 24:1-9 DEEP IN HER HEART
(MARY THE MOTHER OF JESUS)
SPRINGFORD BAPTIST CHURCH
EASTER SUNDAY: April 9, 2023.
Today, I want to tell you about the miracle of Jesus being raised back to life from the perspective of Mary, the mother of Jesus. There was so much that she kept deep in her heart.
I am Mary, the mother of Jesus. Can you even begin to imagine what my life was like and all that I saw and experienced?
I think back to when I first learned that I would be the mother of God’s own Son. I remember how startled I was when an angel appeared to me and gave me this news. In my flood of thoughts and emotions and wondering how this could be, I remember the angel said to me, “Nothing is impossible with God.” This is true you know, and whenever I go over the things that I have kept deep in my heart I come to that certain conclusion: “Nothing is impossible with God.”
When Jesus my son was born there in Bethlehem, there were unusual things that happened. I remember that very night shepherds arrived at the stable where Jesus had been born and described for us what they had seen and heard. I wondered how they even knew about His birth and it turned out that an angel had delivered the message to them. They were keeping watch over their flocks of sheep at night and an angel came and told them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord.” Then the same shepherds told me that there was a great host of angels praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace.”
This was confirmation for me as Jesus’ mother that my son Jesus was no ordinary child. I did not know what the path of His life would bring, but I kept all these things deep in my heart and pondered them.
When our son was eight days old, we gave him the name Jesus as the angel had told me it should be. Yes, Jesus means “the Lord saves” and I wondered deep in my heart what this all meant for my son.
I was troubled by the words of Simeon when we went to present Jesus at the Temple in Jerusalem. I clearly recall that Simeon, a prophet there at the time, said to me, “This child is destined to cause the rise and fall of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be spoken against so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.” This also I kept deep in my heart and considered what it all meant and what God would do. I held on to the understanding that, “Nothing is impossible with God.”
You know how there are stories of children growing up that you go back to again and again. I still remember when Jesus was 12 years old and we went up to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. We were so worried on our journey home with our relatives and friends when we discovered that Jesus was not with us. We went back to Jerusalem and searched for 3 days until we finally found him in the temple courts amazing those who were listening to His questions and answers. I said to Him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.” He simply answered, “Why were you searching for me? Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house.”? I admit that I did not really understand what He was saying. I was just greatly relived that he had been safely found. This along with other things that happened when Jesus was growing up in Nazareth are what I treasured deep in my heart.
And there is another time I remember when there was a wedding in Cana in Galilee. Jesus was invited along with His disciples. I was very concerned when I learned that they had run out of wine for the guests. How embarrassing! What would they do? I thought, if anyone can help it is Jesus. When I told Him about it, He said, “Dear woman, why do you involve me? My time has not yet come.” With all the thoughts deep in my heart, I said to the servants, “Do whatever He tells you.” And that was when Jesus performed the miracle of turning water into wine. “Nothing is impossible with God”!
After that, there were countless miracles of Jesus healing people of all sorts of diseases and infirmities. Every time I heard about another one of these miracles, my heart swelled. I was so grateful that I had been chosen to bring Jesus into this world. I marvelled at the wisdom of His teaching and all the love that He shared. These things too I treasured deep in my heart and wondered over them.
But then there came that dreadful day when a series of events had happened so quickly that I could hardly breathe. I heard that Jesus had been arrested and my heart was gripped with fear. What would happen now? Well, I thought, “Nothing is impossible with God.” Surely, God will rescue Him from His accusers, but my heart sank when I learned that He had been condemned to be crucified. How could this be happening? How could God let this happen?
When I stood near the cross with my mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas and Mary Magdalene and Jesus’ disciple John, it felt as if my heart was breaking. Whatever happened to, “Nothing is impossible with God”? That was the worst day ever to watch my own son die on the cross and a sword did pierce my soul. My heart was completely broken and I felt as if all hope was gone, completely gone. Whatever happened to Jesus meaning, “The Lord saves”?
I do not even know how I got through the next day. Everything seemed like a blur.
The next thing I clearly recall is the women coming back from Jesus’ tomb with the news that the tomb was empty and that angels told them that Jesus was risen! When this news reached my ears, my heart was beating so fast. Could this be true? Could my son really be alive again?
Mary Magdalene assured me that she had seen him herself and had talked with Him. She was telling everyone who would listen, I have seen the Lord! I have seen the Lord!”
My heart could hardly comprehend going from the worst day of my entire life to the best day ever!
My amazing son Jesus had done the unthinkable and had conquered death. Again the words of the angel even before my son was born came back to me, “Nothing is impossible with God”!
There are people who will refuse to believe this is true. There are people who will carry on with their lives and give no thought to the sacrifice of my son Jesus and what it means.
I am here to tell you that for anyone who will open their heart to Jesus and receive what He has to offer, their heart can be made new.
I spent my life storing up things in my heart that revealed that Jesus was no ordinary human being. When I witnessed with my own eyes the heartbreaking end of his life, I was convinced that all hope was gone.
Knowing that Jesus was raised back to life by the mighty power of God, His Father signals that hope also is alive and well!!
I have spoken of what I have held deep in my heart. What about you? What is deep in your heart? Have you discovered the hope in your heart that only Jesus our risen Lord can bring?