Shabbat Shalom Friends!
This shabbat I’d like to share some thoughts on a biblical person that we don’t talk about much. This is someone who is used as a symbol for incorrect worship, but yet was not always viewed as bad.
Trying to get away from the paganism and false ideas that mainstream Christianity, followers of the true Way have shunned away from most things you can find in mainstream worship. In this case, I am talking about Mary the mother of the Messiah.
We in the faith seem to avoid mentioning her like the plague. And rightly so, as many of the false Christian religions some of us were called out of worshiped her, prayed to her, and held her in esteem on the same level as the Father and Son.
For a few moments, let’s let go of this stigma and fear while reading this, for I believe that Yah has given every person in scripture to us as an example, regardless of how the world interprets them.
“So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.” – Luke 2:15-19
“And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Yeshua lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it; but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances. So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.” And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them. Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart.” – Luke 2:42-51
What an interesting phrase that we don’t hear often. Mary kept all those things in her heart.
We too, are encouraged to be like Mary and to keep all these things in our heart: “He also taught me, and said to me: “Let your heart retain my words; Keep my commands, and live.” – Proverbs 4:4
But what is being talked about here? What does this mean? This phrase is used in other places throughout the Bible, for example:
- In Daniel 7, after Daniel dreamed prophetically about the 4 beasts, the horned beast, etc it says: “This is the end of the account. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly troubled me, and my countenance changed; but I kept the matter in my heart.” (verse 28)
- In Genesis 37 regarding Jacob/Israel, after his son Joseph told his dreams to Jacob and the brothers, which says: “And his brothers envied him, but his father kept the matter in mind.” (verse 11)
I have compiled all of Strong’s Hebrew and Greek word definitions for these and the Luke verses and this is what I got:
- keep = conserve/retain, preserve/keep alive/remember/maintain/guard, observe/believe/do
- heart = figuratively the mind (thoughts and feelings)
Do we conserve, preserve, and observe in our hearts?
CONSERVE means to prevent waste or loss/to manage wisely.
Luke 2:42-48 is a classic example of a mother seeking to prevent harm to her child. During those times, often families would travel to the feasts in large groups and caravans. Mary and Joseph may have thought that Yeshua was with the group with the relatives.
Likewise to this example, we should be searching out the risks in our spiritual lives before they happen. If we ever see a moment where our walk with Yah is in danger we should be racing to conserve His way in our lives much like Mary probably ran back to Jerusalem for her son.
Do we run towards evil? Or run away from it? We should be conserving the truth in our minds, preventing us from losing it.
PRESERVE means to keep in existence/to maintain/to make lasting.
“And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.” – Acts 1:13-14
The faithful disciples and believers, which included Mary, knew that Yeshua was now physically gone. They knew that in order to preserve His remembrance, His teachings, and His way- they would have to meditate, pray, and fast about it. That is what we see in this example.
Our walk with Yah should not be base on event after event, study after study. It should be one continuous journey, an existence that lasts from beginning to end. To truly preserve God’s way in our hearts and minds, we must maintain and make lasting our journey.
OBSERVE means to act because of belief/to follow/to hold to a manner of life or a course of conduct
“And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.” Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.” – Luke 1:35-40
Mary, in her faith, acted on the new belief she had been given by Yahweh. She went to visit Elizabeth immediately after God told her what was happening.
Our life should be similar. Every time we read or study Yah’s word, He is speaking to us. Do we file the teachings away for later? Or do we apply them to our lives immediately?
The key concept of observing is action. To observe Yah’s way is to act accordingly. As Mary showed us: believe and DO.
A common analogy is one of God calling us on a phone. We have to pick up! It’s not about going to fellowship, listening to online teachings, reading your Bible, being spiritually uplifted by brothers and sisters…
It’s about what you do afterwards. After those things happen. Do you act? Change? Proceed? Are you truly observing the way?
– – – – –
Mary the mother of Yeshua should not be a taboo person to discuss. It is wrong to worship her as mainstream Christianity does, but it is not wrong to use her as a positive example in our lives.
Mary “kept all these things in her heart”. The things she saw and heard, she protected them, made them last, and acted on them.
Are we this way with our walk with Yah? Do we truly conserve, preserve, and observe God’s way? Do we protect our calling? Do we make every event and Godly thing last longer in our lives? Do we act on Yahweh’s instructions?
I encourage you to “keep all these words in your heart”.
Shalom!
Josh