念 慈 母 Remembering Mom (II) Luke 1:38; 念 慈 母 Remembering Mom (II) Luke 1:38; Fremont Chinese Evangelical Free Church Melvin Wong ChristianMentalHealth.com/sermon.htm Serving you

Acknowledgment Permission to use personal materials Andy and Cindy Lai Technical Engineering Team Pierre Wong Mike Sin & Associates Family Support Connie and Cameo Wong

引 言 引 言 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 1:38 ( 聖經新譯本 ) 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 她去了。

路加福音 1:46-55 ( 聖經新譯本 ) 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 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 ，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 能，驅散心裏妄想的狂傲人。

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 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 列祖所說的，恩待亞伯拉罕和他的 後裔，直到永遠。」

Mary: Her Personal Features OrdinaryOrdinary woman, (not educated: but spiritual) spiritual) Plain Jane? –Engaged –Engaged to a carpenter; blue-collar, –Homemaker, –Homemaker, a housewife CouldCould put up with the most unpopular: unpopular: Teen pregnancy PutPut up with the misunderstanding of fiancé: Shame SufferedSuffered through the threat of a disengagement: disengagement: Mat 1:19 CouldCould put up with the unexpected: Sudden travel, manger WasWas child focused, child centered: God centered WhatWhat made her great? great? unmovable belief when in crisis! –Was –Was not special: Only ordinary; achieved great things

The Spiritual Maturity of Mary UnlikeUnlike Sarah, Wife of Abraham (Father of faith); she did not doubt the angel’s message, but asked how pregnancy was possible. She accepted it right away; she was happy! WhenWhen baby Jesus was dedicated at the temple a few days after birth; prophets Simeon & Anna said: “A sword shall pierce your souls (Luke 2:34) Motherhood’sMotherhood’s Painful privilege: Witnessed son rejected & crucified crucified by the people he came to love & save LetLet go of Jesus after the Temple incidence: Independence! ListenedListened to him at the wedding of Canaan: (John 2:1-5) AcceptedAccepted care by John’s household: (John 19:25-27)

What Makes a Mother Great? (Surrogate(Surrogate mother is not new!) Teenage unwed mother! –How –How do you feel if you were bearing someone else’s son? –Did –Did she have the knowledge of her son is a sacrifice? AngelAngel appeared to her? Can she believe it? MisunderstoodMisunderstood by her fiancé –Obey –Obey God over fear of personal embarrassment

What Makes a Mother Great? YourYour son’s the messiah? King or villain? MotherhoodMotherhood of glory? glory? or pain? Bittersweet experience! SheShe witnessed birth of her son and the death of her son! IsIs it fair? Should she be glad or resentful? LearnedLearned how to let go: Jesus (12-yr lost at the Temple)

Women’s Faithfulness AreAre you as available to be used by God as Mary was? GodGod does not need you to bear another Jesus! –He –He needs you to raise His Ambassadors (lighthouses) DoDo you know God? Apply His words? Believe His will? God’sGod’s best servants are often plain people available to Him plans involve extraordinary events in simple people YourYour true character is revealed by how you respond to the unreasonable (un-common sense) and unexpected OrdinaryOrdinary woman doing uncommon things: Single mom EverydayEveryday 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 有 媽 的 孩 子 像 個 寶 投 進 媽 媽 的 懷 抱 幸 福 享 不 了

做 一 個 無 后 悔 的 人做 一 個 無 后 悔 的 人做 一 個 無 后 悔 的 人做 一 個 無 后 悔 的 人 樹 欲 靜 風 而 不 息 子 欲 養 而 親 不 在

Applications: Men’s Integrity-Mercy WhatWhat would you do if you were Joseph? (Thoughtfulness) –Do –Do you believe Mary: Pregnant, but not son’s father? –Have –Have incredible Faith & Obedience & Commitment! –How –How could you not question or argue with her? YouYou are an ordinary man raising a family, what relevance this has on you? You are supposed to be the leader of wife! –Commitment –Commitment in time of adversity needed: Real love! –How –How to raise Christ-centered child? Sons & Daughters ApostleApostle John: Cared for Mary after Christ died! –Care –Care for orphans and widows: Literal & abstract ones

Prologue Christ’sChrist’s birth & death has been completed: No more Mary AllowAllow God to use you with the courage of Joseph & Mary WomenWomen obey your Lord your God: No matter what! (50%) –Love –Love yourself: Respect-love your man: Accept your kid MenMen obey your Lord your God: No matter what! (50%) –Love –Love yourself: Respect-love your wife: Accept your kid LookLook for the opportunities to care for other’s needs! –Satisfies –Satisfies the mother’s heart: Widows –Apostle –Apostle John took care of Mary: “Who Jesus loved” –John –John was given to Mary as a son for her Let’sLet’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 有 媽 的 孩 子 像 個 寶 投 進 媽 媽 的 懷 抱 幸 福 享 不 了

路加福音 1:38 ( 聖經新譯本 ) 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 她去了。