念 慈 母念 慈 母 Remembering Mom (II)Remembering Mom (II)

Luke 1:38; 46-55Luke 1:38; 46-55

Fremont Chinese Evangelical Free ChurchFremont Chinese Evangelical Free Church

Melvin WongMelvin Wong

ChristianMentalHealth.com/sermon.htmChristianMentalHealth.com/sermon.htm

Serving youServing you

AcknowledgmentAcknowledgment

Permission to use personal materialsPermission to use personal materialsAndy and Cindy LaiAndy and Cindy Lai

Technical Engineering TeamTechnical Engineering TeamPierre WongPierre Wong

Mike Sin & AssociatesMike Sin & Associates

Family SupportFamily SupportConnie and Cameo WongConnie and Cameo Wong

引 言引 言

有 其 父 必 有 其 子虎 父 無 犬 子

“Every great man has a woman behind him”

A great man of Biblical times

Jesus

Mother of Jesus: Mary

“Theological baggage” of Mary

路加福音 路加福音 1:381:38(( 聖經新譯本聖經新譯本 ))

馬利亞說：「我是主的婢女，願照你馬利亞說：「我是主的婢女，願照你的話成就在我身上！」天使就離開的話成就在我身上！」天使就離開

她去了。她去了。

路加福音路加福音 1:46-551:46-55 (( 聖經新譯本聖經新譯本

))

馬利亞說：「我心尊主為大，我靈以馬利亞說：「我心尊主為大，我靈以上帝我的救主為樂，因為他垂顧他上帝我的救主為樂，因為他垂顧他使女的卑微，看哪！今後萬代都要使女的卑微，看哪！今後萬代都要稱我為有福。全能者為我行了大事稱我為有福。全能者為我行了大事，他的名為聖；他的憐憫世世代代，他的名為聖；他的憐憫世世代代歸與敬畏他的人。他用膀臂施展大歸與敬畏他的人。他用膀臂施展大能，驅散心裏妄想的狂傲人。能，驅散心裏妄想的狂傲人。

路加福音路加福音 1:46-551:46-55 (( 聖經新譯本聖經新譯本

))

他使有權能的失位，叫卑微的升高，他使有權能的失位，叫卑微的升高，讓飢餓的得飽美食，使富足的空手讓飢餓的得飽美食，使富足的空手回去。他扶助了他的僕人以色列，回去。他扶助了他的僕人以色列，為要記念他的憐憫，正如他向我們為要記念他的憐憫，正如他向我們列祖所說的，恩待亞伯拉罕和他的列祖所說的，恩待亞伯拉罕和他的

後裔，直到永遠。」後裔，直到永遠。」

Mary: Her Personal FeaturesMary: Her Personal Features

• Ordinary woman, Ordinary woman, (not educated: but spiritual)(not educated: but spiritual) Plain Jane? Plain Jane?– Engaged to a carpenter; blue-collar, Engaged to a carpenter; blue-collar, – Homemaker, a housewifeHomemaker, a housewife

• Could put up with the most unpopular:Could put up with the most unpopular: Teen pregnancy Teen pregnancy

• Put up with the misunderstanding of fiancé: ShamePut up with the misunderstanding of fiancé: Shame• Suffered through the threat of a disengagement:Suffered through the threat of a disengagement: Mat 1:19 Mat 1:19

• Could put up with the unexpected: Could put up with the unexpected: Sudden travel, mangerSudden travel, manger

• Was child focused, child centered: God centeredWas child focused, child centered: God centered• What made her great?What made her great? unmovable belief when in crisis! unmovable belief when in crisis!

– Was not special: Was not special: Only ordinary; achieved great thingsOnly ordinary; achieved great things

The Spiritual Maturity of MaryThe Spiritual Maturity of Mary

• Unlike Sarah, Wife of Abraham (Father of faith); she did Unlike Sarah, Wife of Abraham (Father of faith); she did not doubt the angel’s message, but asked how pregnancy not doubt the angel’s message, but asked how pregnancy was possible. She accepted it right away; she was happy!was possible. She accepted it right away; she was happy!

• When baby Jesus was dedicated at the temple a few days When baby Jesus was dedicated at the temple a few days after birth; prophets Simeon & Anna said: “A sword shall after birth; prophets Simeon & Anna said: “A sword shall pierce your souls (Luke 2:34) pierce your souls (Luke 2:34)

• Motherhood’s Painful privilege: Witnessed son rejected Motherhood’s Painful privilege: Witnessed son rejected & & crucifiedcrucified by the people he came to love & save by the people he came to love & save

• Let go of Jesus after the Temple incidence: Independence!Let go of Jesus after the Temple incidence: Independence!• Listened to him at the wedding of Canaan: (John 2:1-5)Listened to him at the wedding of Canaan: (John 2:1-5)• Accepted care by John’s household: (John 19:25-27)Accepted care by John’s household: (John 19:25-27)

What Makes a Mother Great?What Makes a Mother Great?

• (Surrogate mother is not new!) (Surrogate mother is not new!) Teenage unwed Teenage unwed mother!mother!

– How do you feel if you were bearing someone How do you feel if you were bearing someone else’s son?else’s son?

– Did she have the knowledge of her son is a Did she have the knowledge of her son is a sacrifice?sacrifice?

• Angel appeared to her? Can she believe it?Angel appeared to her? Can she believe it?• Misunderstood by her fiancéMisunderstood by her fiancé

– Obey God over fear of personal embarrassmentObey God over fear of personal embarrassment

What Makes a Mother Great?What Makes a Mother Great?

• Your son’s the messiah? King or villain?Your son’s the messiah? King or villain?• Motherhood of glory?Motherhood of glory? or pain? Bittersweet or pain? Bittersweet

experience!experience!

• She witnessed birth of her son and the death She witnessed birth of her son and the death of her son!of her son!

• Is it fair? Should she be glad or resentful?Is it fair? Should she be glad or resentful?• Learned how to let go: Jesus (12-yr lost at the Learned how to let go: Jesus (12-yr lost at the

Temple)Temple)

Women’s FaithfulnessWomen’s Faithfulness

• Are you as available to be used by God as Mary was?Are you as available to be used by God as Mary was?• God does not need you to bear another Jesus!God does not need you to bear another Jesus!

– He needs you to raise His Ambassadors (lighthouses)He needs you to raise His Ambassadors (lighthouses)• Do you know God? Apply His words? Believe His will?Do you know God? Apply His words? Believe His will?• God’s best servants are often plain people available to HimGod’s best servants are often plain people available to Him• God’s plans involve extraordinary events in simple peopleGod’s plans involve extraordinary events in simple people• Your true character is revealed by how you respond to the Your true character is revealed by how you respond to the

unreasonable (un-common sense) and unexpectedunreasonable (un-common sense) and unexpected• Ordinary woman doing uncommon things: Single momOrdinary woman doing uncommon things: Single mom• Everyday heroine: Uncompromised faith in spite of crises Everyday heroine: Uncompromised faith in spite of crises

世 上 只 有 媽 媽 好世 上 只 有 媽 媽 好

世 上 只 有 媽 媽 好世 上 只 有 媽 媽 好

有 媽 的 孩 子 像 個 寶有 媽 的 孩 子 像 個 寶

投 進 媽 媽 的 懷 抱投 進 媽 媽 的 懷 抱

幸 福 享 不 了幸 福 享 不 了

做 一 個 無 后 悔 的 人做 一 個 無 后 悔 的 人

樹 欲 靜 風 而 不 息 樹 欲 靜 風 而 不 息

子 欲 養 而 親 不 在子 欲 養 而 親 不 在

Applications: Men’s Integrity-MercyApplications: Men’s Integrity-Mercy

• What would you do if you were Joseph? (Thoughtfulness)What would you do if you were Joseph? (Thoughtfulness)– Do you believe Mary: Pregnant, but not son’s father?Do you believe Mary: Pregnant, but not son’s father?– Have incredible Faith & Obedience & Commitment!Have incredible Faith & Obedience & Commitment!– How could you not question or argue with her?How could you not question or argue with her?

• You are an ordinary man raising a family, what relevance You are an ordinary man raising a family, what relevance this has on you? You are supposed to be the leader of wife!this has on you? You are supposed to be the leader of wife!– Commitment in time of adversity needed: Real love!Commitment in time of adversity needed: Real love!– How to raise Christ-centered child? Sons & DaughtersHow to raise Christ-centered child? Sons & Daughters

• Apostle John: Cared for Mary after Christ died!Apostle John: Cared for Mary after Christ died!

– Care for orphans and widows: Literal & abstract onesCare for orphans and widows: Literal & abstract ones

ProloguePrologue

• Christ’s birth & death has been completed: No more MaryChrist’s birth & death has been completed: No more Mary• Allow God to use you with the courage of Joseph & MaryAllow God to use you with the courage of Joseph & Mary• Women obey your Lord your God: No matter what! (50%)Women obey your Lord your God: No matter what! (50%)

– Love yourself: Respect-love your man: Accept your kidLove yourself: Respect-love your man: Accept your kid• Men obey your Lord your God: No matter what! (50%)Men obey your Lord your God: No matter what! (50%)

– Love yourself: Respect-love your wife: Accept your kidLove yourself: Respect-love your wife: Accept your kid• Look for the opportunities to care for other’s needs!Look for the opportunities to care for other’s needs!

– Satisfies the mother’s heart: WidowsSatisfies the mother’s heart: Widows– Apostle John took care of Mary: “Who Jesus loved”Apostle John took care of Mary: “Who Jesus loved”– John was given to Mary as a son for her John was given to Mary as a son for her

• Let’s all seek to do heroic-Godly deeds in a sinful world!Let’s all seek to do heroic-Godly deeds in a sinful world!

世 上 只 有 媽 媽 好世 上 只 有 媽 媽 好

世 上 只 有 媽 媽 好世 上 只 有 媽 媽 好

有 媽 的 孩 子 像 個 寶有 媽 的 孩 子 像 個 寶

投 進 媽 媽 的 懷 抱投 進 媽 媽 的 懷 抱

幸 福 享 不 了幸 福 享 不 了

路加福音 路加福音 1:381:38(( 聖經新譯本聖經新譯本 ))

馬利亞說：「我是主的婢女，願照你馬利亞說：「我是主的婢女，願照你的話成就在我身上！」天使就離開的話成就在我身上！」天使就離開

她去了。她去了。