Joseph and Mary marveled at what Simeon had said. When Joseph and Mary presented Jesus at the temple, Simeon recognized that Jesus was the Savior and gave God praise. In describing the events of Jesus’ birth and the response of those who heard the shepherds’ message about Jesus, Luke writes, "But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart" (Luke 2:19). We, too, should have such faith in God and trustingly follow Him. Mary responded with belief and a willingness to submit to God’s plan. When Gabriel told her that the child would be conceived by the Holy Spirit, Mary answered, "I am the Lord’s servant. Mary was unsure how this could be since she was a virgin. Luke records the angel Gabriel visiting Mary and telling her that she would give birth to a son who would be the Savior. Many believe that Mary was one of Luke’s sources for the writing of his Gospel (see Luke 1:1–4). In fact, after this Mary spoke a song of praise to the Lord, extoling His mindfulness to those of humble state and His mercy and faithfulness (Luke 1:46–55). It was not based on any inherent glory in Mary. Elizabeth, Mary’s relative, praised Mary in Luke 1:42–44, but her praise is based on the blessing of giving birth to the Messiah. Nowhere in Scripture does Jesus or anyone else direct any praise, glory, or adoration toward Mary. To Jesus, obedience to God’s Word was more important than being the woman who gave birth to the Savior. What was Jesus’ response? “On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it” (Luke 11:28). There was never a better opportunity for Jesus to declare that Mary was indeed worthy of praise and adoration. One time when Jesus was speaking, a woman in the crowd proclaimed, “Blessed is the womb that bore You and the breasts at which You nursed” (Luke 11:27). God blessed and graced Mary by giving her several children, which in that culture was accepted as the clearest indication of God’s blessing on a woman. Jesus also had half-sisters, although they are not named or numbered (Matthew 13:55–56). Jesus had four half-brothers: James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas (Matthew 13:55). Mary remained a virgin until the Savior’s birth, but later Joseph and Mary had several children together. And he gave Him the name Jesus.” The word until clearly indicates that Joseph and Mary did have normal sexual relations after Jesus was born. Matthew 1:25, speaking of Joseph, declares, “But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. The idea of the perpetual virginity of Mary is unbiblical. Mary was a virgin when she gave birth to Jesus (Luke 1:34–38), but she was not a virgin permanently. The virgin Mary did not have an “immaculate conception.” The Bible doesn’t suggest Mary’s birth was anything but a normal human birth. At the same time, Mary was a sinful human being who needed Jesus Christ as her Savior, just like everyone else (Ecclesiastes 7:20 Romans 3:23 6:23 1 John 1:8). Yes, Mary was a righteous woman and favored (graced) by God (Luke 1:27–28). The Bible never says that Mary was anyone but an ordinary human whom God chose to use in an extraordinary way. The virgin Mary, by God’s grace, recognized that she needed the Savior. Mary herself understood this fact, as she declared in Luke 1:47, “My spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” Mary needed grace from God and a Savior, just as the rest of us do. Grace is “unmerited favor” that is, grace is a blessing we receive despite the fact that we do not deserve it.
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