Category: Mothers

The Herald -- John the Baptist

12/13/2020

5 "In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. 7 But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old." Luke 1:5-7

“‘I will look on you with favor and make you fruitful and increase your numbers, and I will keep my covenant with you." Leviticus 26:9

"Children are a heritage from the Lord,
    offspring a reward from him." Psalm 127:3

Elizabeth and Zechariah were righteous, godly people. But they were looked down on in society because they had no children.

Zechariah very likely was about 50 years old because Levitical priests served from 25 years old to 50 years old. He would have been inspected from head to toe prior to going into the Holy of Holies. He would have only been allowed to do this once -- and what a blessing. Toward the end of his priestly career he was chosen. Not all priests were given this honor.

11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” Luke 1:11-17

This must have been something Zechariah contemplated during the months of Elizabeth's pregnancy. Elijah was "THE" prophet for the Jewish people.

23 "When his time of service was completed, he returned home. 24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. 25 “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.” Luke 1:23-25

After this, they just went home. Elizabeth and Zechariah were a quiet couple. This time of seclusion wasn't a cultural thing or religious thing. It was something Elizabeth chose to do.

39 "At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”" Luke 1:39-45

Mary must have been so joyful for Elizabeth. Elizabeth was the first to recognize Jesus as Messiah. They had a -2-pregnant-women-moment. Mary probably went to help Elizabeth. Mary probably also went to see the miracle for herself. Mary also probably went to speak with someone who understood a miraculous pregnancy.

Luke 1:67-79 is called Zechariah's song:

67 His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
68 “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
    because he has come to his people and redeemed them.
69 He has raised up a horn[a] of salvation for us
    in the house of his servant David
70 (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),
71 salvation from our enemies
    and from the hand of all who hate us--
72 to show mercy to our ancestors
    and to remember his holy covenant,
73     the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
74 to rescue us from the hand of our enemies,
    and to enable us to serve him without fear
75     in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
76 And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;
    for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
77 to give his people the knowledge of salvation
    through the forgiveness of their sins,
78 because of the tender mercy of our God,
    by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
79 to shine on those living in darkness
    and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

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Blessings of a Mother

5/13/2018

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Four Mothers

Hannah -- A praying mother

18 "Now Samuel was ministering before the Lord, as a boy [a]wearing a linen ephod. 19 And his mother would make him a little robe and bring it to him from year to year when she would come up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. 20 Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife and say, “May the Lord give you [b]children from this woman in place of [c]the one she dedicated to the Lord.” And they went to their own [d]home." 1 Samuel 2:18-20

If you have a praying mother, be thankful.

Our mothers were the first ones to show us the love of God.

"Behold, children are a [a]gift of the Lord,
The fruit of the womb is a reward." Psalm 127:3

Eunace -- A Teaching Mother

3 "I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience [a]the way my forefathers did, as I constantly remember you in my [b]prayers night and day, 4 longing to see you, even as I recall your tears, so that I may be filled with joy. 5 [c]For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well." 1 Timothy 1:3-5

If you have a teaching mother, be thankful.

Jochebed -- A sacrificing mother

"Now a man from the house of Levi went and [a]married a daughter of Levi. 2 The woman conceived and bore a son; and when she saw [b]that he was [c]beautiful, she hid him for three months. 3 But when she could hide him no longer, she got him a [d]wicker [e]basket and covered it over with tar and pitch. Then she put the child into it and set it among the reeds by the bank of the Nile. 4 His sister stood at a distance to [f]find out what would [g]happen to him.
5 The daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the Nile, with her maidens walking alongside the Nile; and she saw the [h]basket among the reeds and sent her maid, and she brought it to her. 6 When she opened it, she [i]saw the child, and behold, the [j]boy was crying. And she had pity on him and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.” 7 Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and call [k]a nurse for you from the Hebrew women that she may nurse the child for you?”8 Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Go ahead.” So the girl went and called the child’s mother. 9 Then Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child away and nurse him for me and I will give you your wages.” So the woman took the child and nursed him. 10 The child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter and he became her son. And she named him [l]Moses, and said, “Because I [m]drew him out of the water.” Exodus 2:1-10

Jochebed sacrificed him to save him.

If you have a sacrificing mother, be thankful.

Mary -- a long-suffering mother

18 "And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart." Luke 2:18-19

What an amazing experience for Mary.

"When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus *said to Him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus *said to her, “Woman, [a]what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother *said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” John 2:3-5

Jesus honored her mother's request even though he told her it wasn't his time. He loved her.

47 "Someone said to Him, “Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside seeking to speak to You.”[a] 48 But [b]Jesus answered the one who was telling Him and said, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” Matthew 12:47-48

She gets rejected by her son publicly.

26 "When Jesus then saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He *said to His mother, “Woman, behold, your son!”27 Then He *said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” From that hour the disciple took her into his own household." John 19:26-27

From the cross Jesus took care of his mother. It was one of the last things he did.

14 "These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers." Acts 1:14

If you have a long-suffering mother, be thankful.

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The Herald -- John the Baptist

Blessings of a Mother

Shannon Hinrichs

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