MARY AND HER LITTLE LAMB.
Whether planned or
unanticipated, pregnancy is a miracle.
Mary’s pregnancy was supernatural.
Imagine Mary’s surprise when
the Angel appeared to announce the amazing news of a baby while she was still engaged
to Joseph. This unexpected God-given
conception occurred with the overshadowing power of the Holy Spirit, as He enveloped Mary in a haze of
brilliance. Strong’s concordance
beautifully explains this as a preternatural influence, something above the
ordinary.
This was a special baby. The angel called Him the Son of God, and the
Son of the Most High. In fact, He was
the Lamb.
From her understanding of the
Old Testament writings, Mary knew of
the Lamb, and among all the maidens of Israel she was favoured of God. Mary carried the Lamb Child, as God planned
before He created the world.
No doubt she remembered God’s
call to Abraham who offered his only son, Isaac, as a sacrifice on the
altar. She knew of Abraham’s faith and
obedience. Mary knew how Abraham
released Isaac at God’s command and showed him the ram caught in the thicket by
its horns, to prevent any blemish or spot.
That is among the first pictures of the Lamb in the Old Testament.
Annually Mary’s family
celebrated the Passover, remembering a perfect lamb slain, its blood collected in a bowl, and brushed
on the side posts and lintel of the door with a bunch of hyssop. She knew the Lord hovered in safety over the
Israelite homes.
Understandably, dear Mary ambled
over the hills to visit her older cousin, Elisabeth, for consolation and
encouragement , and no doubt for meditation together, in the manner of holy
women. Then on the way, she probably
passed the sheep grazing in the fields, a potent reminder that God’s LAMB would
be the Saviour of the world.
When Mary met her
cousin, Elisabeth, already six months
pregnant, the baby, John, leapt in his mother’s womb. I am inspired at the explanation of ‘leaped’, as a sympathetic
move. The child inside Elisabeth
responded to the Babe within Mary.
Thirty years later, when John
the Baptist saw the Lord Jesus
approaching, he called to the crowds in his strong, thundering voice, ‘ Behold
the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world. ‘
On the night of Jesus’ birth
, the shepherds guarded their flocks in the fields. They were ordinary shepherds with extraordinary sheep, which were
intended for the Passover. It was
customary for the shepherds to guard the sheep at night during the lambing
season, so that no wild animals harmed the lambs for the temple offering.
The Angel appeared to the
shepherds that night at the bidding of God, the Lamb’s Father, for Jesus, the
Son of God was born to Mary.
‘Fear not, for behold I bring
you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of
David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. ‘
And David, too, guarded the
sheep and lambs at Bethlehem one thousand and sixty three years earlier.
After their fear subsided -
and who wouldn’t be apprehensive at an angelic appearance and announcement -
the shepherds hurried off to visit the Lamb.
We have no idea of the
conversation between Mary and Joseph and the shepherds. But their joy of seeing the Baby inspired
them to hurry off to spread the good news.
It was true, the Angel said it was for all people. And sharing the gospel always springs from
the touch of God in our lives.
Perhaps the shepherds tended
their sheep with greater care and diligence.
It was still thirty-three years before the temple sacrifices became
obsolete. At that time, the temple veil
tore from top to bottom by the hand of God at the moment of the triumphant cry
from the cross ‘It is finished’ and the Lamb yielded His Spirit to the Father.
Mary in the quiet of the
manger, with the baby in her arms, already knew that Jesus was the Lamb born to
die, remembering the Angel’s message, ’ You shall call His name Jesus, for He
shall save His people from their sins.‘
The prefiguring of Isaac and the Passover lamb was fulfilled in her
Son. It is not surprising she had deep
and profound thoughts as she cuddled the Lamb-baby to her bosom, and suckled
Him.
Thirty-three years later, she
stood beside the cross, comforted by the beloved disciple, John. She would remember her child’s birth, like
all mothers, and with tears, watched the fulfilment of Isaiah’s prophecy, ‘He
was led as a Lamb to the slaughter.’
What seemed tragedy was
triumph. The Lamb slain on earth became
the risen Lord, Who ascended to heaven.
One day there we shall sing with Mary, ‘
CHRISTMAS - The Lamb of
God, who takes away the sin of the world.’
Make sure He is your Lamb, who
takes away your sin. Write to Gwenda
hgsteward@optusnet.com.au