A SAVIOR IS BORN! Glory to God, Peace to Man - The Child to Be Born Will Be Called Holy – The Son of God – From Little Bethlehem Will Come a Ruler in Israel- The Word Was Made Flesh
MATTHEW 1: 18-25 KJV
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.
20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
The name JESUS comes from the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew "Joshua" and means "The Lord is Salvation."
Faithful Mother: Obedient Disciple (Mary), WOMEN. There is a wonder surrounding Mary, the mother of Jesus, that transcends traditional religious thought. That she was a privileged vessel, chosen to bear God’s Son, is wonder enough, for she is a participant in the miracle of the Incarnation at a level no other human being can comprehend.
It is clear that she did not claim to understand it herself, but simply worshiped God in humble acknowledgment of the phenomenon engulfing her existence: "My soul doth magnify the Lord," she exclaims. We can hardly fathom the bewildering moments she experienced 1) when Simeon prophesied future mental/emotional suffering (Luke 2:35); 2)when she and Joseph spoke with Jesus after they thought He was lost in Jerusalem (Luke 2:49,50); 3)when Jesus gently rebuffed her at the wedding in Cana (John 2:4); 4)when Jesus seemed to reject her and His brother’s efforts at helping Him, though they clearly misunderstood Him at that time (Matt. 12:46-50). These instances prompt our learning the wisdom of persistence and obedience in following God’s basic directive on our lives even when the details of the outworking of His will are unclear or mystifying.
Mary is also a study in the pathway forward in God’s will. She might have sought elevation in position among those who saw Jesus for who He was – Messiah-but instead 1) she remained steadfast with Him all the way to the Cross rather than protect herself (John 19:25); and 2) she obediently joined other of Jesus’ disciples in the Upper Room, waiting as He commanded for the coming of the Holy spirit (Acts 1:14).
Mary is a model of responsive obedience, one who lived out her own directive to the servants at Cana-timeless advice for all ages: "Whatsoever he [Jesus] saith unto you, do it" (John 2:5).
In Christ,
Playwright Janet Irene Thomas
Bible Stories Theatre of
Fine & Performing Arts
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