The Holy Spirit And Mary

THE HOLY SPIRIT AND MARY

    “But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.⁵ God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. ⁶ And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” ⁷ Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.” Gal 4:4-7 (NLT)

    Mary as a guarantee of humanity.

    First consider our relationship to Jesus.  No one can accept Mary without fully embracing the mystery of the Incarnation.  The reality of Mary is a safeguard against any attempt to keep God at a distance by denying His closeness to us – by denying the reality of Immanuel, the Only-begotten Son of God in our midst.

    Mary is also the guarantee of humanity in the Church and in the world.  She is a woman and a mother; and like all mothers, she has a sense of the uniqueness of each person.  She brings a human touch to technology and the struggle for life.   

    God’s Plan for Mankind was in place before Creation.  This Plan centered around Jesus and a human mother.  As Eve was the first mother, Mary became the ‘God-bearer” (theotókos) as the mother through whom God the Son took flesh & blood. 

    “Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.  God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.”  Eph 1:4-5 (NLT)

    “Christian History involves the Action of God.  It is an action of God the Holy Spirit towards Christ, under the conditions of our humanity.  It was our humanity, as it were, that gave the signal for God’s Action.  The visible beginning for the Church was at Pentecost, but that is only the visible action that began in Heaven.  In fact, all the external world as we know it is an effect, caused by God.  Our causes are concealed, and mankind becomes to us a mass of contending and unrelated effects.  The Church began its career by arguing about its own Cause – in the time it could spare from its efforts to come into existence.”  Williams

    Mary as a guarantee of humility.

    Jesus is the Son of God, but He is also the Son of Mary.  Even in the Glory of Heaven He remains both.  We must not forget that Jesus willed to be dependent on His mother, during the time she carried Him, and also during the long years of preparation for His public ministry.  "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.” Mark 10:14

    God’s Son born of a human mother.

    “Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?" ³⁵ And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.”  Luke 1:34-35 (NKJV)

    “That He is to be born of Mary demonstrates Christ’s human nature.  But that the Virgin will conceive and bear the Son of God reveals the divine nature of Christ.  We note especially the reference to the Holy Trinity: God the Father (the Highest), the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”  Wallerstedt

   “But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. ²¹ And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." ²² So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: ²³ "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us."  Matt 1:20-23 (NKJV)

    “She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.”  Rev 12:5  

    “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder.  And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,  Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”  Isaiah 9:6

    Jesus places His human mother in safe care.

    “Standing near the cross were Jesus’ mother, and his mother’s sister [Salome], Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home.”  John 19:25-27 (NLT)

    In the agony of death, Jesus placed his human mother in John’s care. The fact that John is her nephew helps explain this. Some think this act implies that Joseph was dead at this time. And, her sons and daughters were likely still unbelievers (John 7:5), although after the Resurrection, they are mentioned with the believers (Acts 1:14).

    Mary in the upper room.

    “These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.”  Acts 1:14 (NKJV)