27/11/2024
During this season, there are a lot of posts talking about people who were supporting players in Jesus’ story. A lot of emphasis is placed on women in His story, that we inadvertently make His story the set up for how wonderful these women must have been (very little is ever even supported by scripture, btw, just speculation). We talk about what THEY did, what THEY knew how we can be like THEM. We focus on their work instead of Christ’s work.
We tend to forget that all of God’s Word goes together as one (especially when we step outside of scripture to try to make a point). Scripture is not meant to be read in segments that can be divided from one another. Ephesians says that we are saved by grace through faith, not of works, lest any man should boast. Placing Mary or her mother (who isn’t mentioned in scripture) on any kind of pedestal is saying “the Savior could not have came unless these women were pure.” I don’t think most people mean this, though! These posts get at my mothering heart as well, because I want to raise my children to love and serve the Lord as well, but I try to remind myself that they will never be able to live outside of whatever God has willed for their lives, because they will be saved BY grace and THROUGH faith, not of anything they do OR I do. Even if Mary’s mom failed in every way (or even if I do), I can rest in the fact that ultimately Christ is Lord of all and my mistakes do not effect the salvation of my children. (Disclaimer to say that we do still have a responsibility to raise children according to the Word, it’s not that we can live anyway we want, so please do not read that here, we just do not carry the burden of getting out kids saved, just doing what we are meant to do in raising them according to the Word)
Posts like these are well meaning, I’m sure, but ultimately these posts exalt our work and not God’s work. Mary and her mother were not strong enough to disrupt God’s ordained plan for the world, as God planned it from BEFORE the beginning of the world! Praise the Lord! They didn’t have to work for Christ to earn Christ’s favor and neither do we! Taking the focus of this season from Christ to Mary, her mother, or anyone else is what these posts do, maybe without the poster even realizing it (also notice how a couple of years ago it was all about Mary, now it’s all about Mary’s mother, getting farther and farther away from Christ and His finished work, the enemy and our sinful hearts are sneaky!)
What’s important to remember this year, more than whether Mary or her mother knew is to remember that Christ knew. Christ knew YOU. He knew YOUR sin. He knew every ugly thing you have ever done; every bad thought. He knew all that and He STILL came and bore your sins on the cross! He knew you would never be perfect, but He came and died. Not because you were worth anything, quite the opposite actually. He came to give you HIS righteousness so that you COULD BE worthy. Christ knew it all, and He still came for us.
With all that said, let this season be filled with Christ’s love and His grace. Remember we are saved by grace through faith (all given to us by Christ) not of works lest any man should boast. Let Christ’s grace and love cover your sins, let His love and grace cover the sins of others during this season as well. And remember: Christ became man to save those who would believe! Praise His Name!
— Katie Young
