A Mother’s Strength…Happy Easter

As I sat contemplating my next blog post, many themes ran through my mind, yet only one topic consistently came to the forefront.

The Passion of Christ

This week is always a conflict of emotions for me. Saddened by the thoughts and images of what Christ did for me on the cross, yet joyful and relieved by what Christ did for me on the cross. It fascinates me that both of those emotions can be fully engaged at the same time. I will find myself weeping in church this Sunday, just as I have done many other Easter Sunday’s because my heart is simultaneously breaking and filling with love at the same time. I am not sure if I shed tears of joy or tears of sadness, either way tears are always shed. I won’t attempt to recount the entire passion week as the story is told so beautifully throughout each of the gospels and I certainly don’t feel equipped to tell it any different than those authors. Rather as a mom who enjoys a good playlist of worship music and a good bible study to keep me on the path of self-disciplined time with the Lord, what I can share as a mother, my heart is wrenched for the thought of what Mary felt those final days. Have you ever wondered? She witnessed her son riding in on a donkey, the King of the Jews, worshipped and revered by the crowd, the Messiah who she had birthed, nursed, guided and loved. The little boy whom she rocked to sleep in her arms, comforted when he scraped his knee, disciplined when he disappeared in the temple to do his Father’s work.

There was the ultimate sacrifice on the horizon for Jesus accompanied by the ultimate sacrifice of a mother. Jesus was exactly what the angel had told her he would be in Luke 1:26-33.

26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

He was the Messiah and he would save the world. Mary was also forewarned of the pain she would endure as His mother, it was told to her in the temple by Simeon in Luke 2:33-35.

“This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

Can you imagine? Not only had Mary been told of this child’s existence and birth by an angel, now she is being told that He will be the cause of many who will rise and those who will fall. There was no in between, either people would love him, or they would hate and reject him. As adults, we know that not everyone will agree with us or like us. It doesn’t make the pain of rejection any easier. But to hear that about our children, the ones we love more than anything, would be very disheartening. “A sword will pierce her soul?” The word sword here is the same word used in reference to Goliath’s sword. Can you imagine the size and strength of that sword? I feel a physical ache in my heart thinking about it.

There are mothers who know before their children are born that life outside the womb will not exist, I can’t imagine their heartache. There are mothers who lose children far too soon, again this is beyond my comprehension. With the exception of Mary, there is no other mother who has been told “your son will be the Savior of the world, and in order to do that He will be crucified and you will witness it.” I cannot comprehend the pain nor the strength Mary possessed. But there is good news she also witnessed his resurrection, Mary’s heart would be made whole, just as our hearts can be made whole in Christ.

We are not done though, there is so much we can learn from Mary…she was faithful, humble, willing, devoted, and trusting. She was called by God to be the mother of His son and just as my heart is full each Easter of heartbreak and joy; I am certain it’s God’s way of giving me a glimpse of what Mary’s heart must have felt throughout Jesus’ life and death up until His resurrection. A heart full of joy, pride, and heartbreak yet she was willing and full of endurance. Are you willing to endure what God has called you to? A season of Motherhood, that isn’t always easy. A season of Fatherhood? Maybe a season as a mentor, prayer warrior, friend or spouse? This Easter as I bask in the glory of the Lord I am reminded to be like Mary; to be obedient, available, diligent, dedicated and prepared for what the Lord asks of me. He will finish it just as He did that day on the cross. Praise God for this week and for this example of Motherhood.

Happy Easter Friends! He is RISEN!

Until Next Time,

Courtney