Mary, mother of Jesus, chosen by God to bring his plan of salvation to his people. A young woman aware of the implications of God’s message to her.
You will bear a son and his name shall be Immanuel, God with us.
She looks back on the good works of God and sings:
“My soul glorifies the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
to Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors.”Luke 1:46-55
Last year, Sojourn went through a series in December on the Mothers of Jesus. Check out this gorgeous video featuring the women God used to bring about his redemptive plan to rescue his people and restore them to himself. Earlier this year, I delivered a talk on Tamar and Judah: #metoo and Redemption.
Each woman carried her own shame. Each woman, flawed, and yet redeemed by God.
Some have imagined what Mary would say to the mother of us all, Eve. Would she lift her head from being bent in shame? Would she dry her tears? Would she take Eve’s hand and place it on her belly to feel the Saviour of us all, the promised one from Genesis 3, alive and well inside of her?
And I will put enmity
between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will crush your head,
and you will strike his heel.”Genesis 3:15
VIrgin Mary Consoles Eve by Sister Grace Remington, ink and colour pencil
In the image, Virgin Mary Consoles Eve, Eve’s leg is entangled in the trap of sin and Satan. But it is not Mary’s foot that God promises will crush Satan’s head.
Mary might console the mother of Jesus but she, herself, is not the answer to hers or our shame. She, like the other mothers of Jesus, is a conduit for God’s plan of redemption for them … for us.
She is a precious vessel being used by God. And so are we. Vessels that proclaim Jesus,
“He comes to make his blessings flow
As far and wide as the curse is found
He comes to make His blessings flow”Mary Consoles Eve, Waiting Songs by Rain for Roots