“And it came to pass, as He spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto Him, Blessed is the womb that bare Thee, and the paps which Thou hast sucked. But He said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.” (Luke 11:27-28)
There are many who venerate Mary, the mother of Jesus. They have made the greeting words of the angel Gabriel, their prayer. While Mary was the perfect vessel God used and was privileged to have raised Jesus, she was earthly, just like us. She probably had intimate knowledge of Jesus as far as His earthly body needs and laid many things that happened in her heart. (Luke 1:34, Luke 2:19, Luke 2:51) She knew Who He was and had an inkling of the power of God in Him. This is demonstrated at the wedding feast when she asks Jesus to solve the problem with the lack of wine. She knew Jesus could do something. And Jesus didn’t refuse her. “His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it.” (John 2:5) She also knew Jesus was the Messiah, but she may have thought like everyone else that He would liberate Israel from the Romans. She didn’t really understand His ministry. This is evident when Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem when He was only 12 years old. “And He said unto them, How is it that ye sought Me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?” (Luke 2:49)
As far as knowing God’s plan concerning the Gospel, only Jesus knew. Mary was part of the disciples that followed Jesus. When a woman raises her voice to praise His mother, Jesus makes it clear that all who believe in Him, repent and obey God’s call are blessed. “But He said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.” (Luke 11:28) He was saying blessed are those who are hearing the Word that I preach and obey what I am preaching. This event would have been the perfect time to teach veneration of Mary. But this is not so. Jesus teaches that hearing the Word of God and obeying it is greater. Jesus never taught about Mary, but about the Father. He never taught that Mary was one with Him, but the Father. He never said to pray to Mary. On the contrary, He said pray to the Father. “And in that day ye shall ask Me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name, He will give it you.” (John 16:23)
Jesus taught about praying to the Father in His Name and obedience to the Holy Spirit. Never in any of His teachings does He mention prayers to Mary. There are over 100 Scriptures that say to pray to the Father. “And He said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.” (Luke 11:2) Here Jesus gives us the pattern for praying; worship God the Father, pray for His Will to be done here on earth, petition for your needs (bread), ask for forgiveness and protection against the evil one. I would also add to end with Jesus’ Name as He said in John 16:23.
He also taught obedience to the Holy Spirit. Obedience to the Holy Spirit is obedience to God because God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit are One. When Philip asks Jesus to show them the Father, Jesus replies, “Jesus answered, "For a long time I have been with you all; yet you do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen Me has seen the Father. Why, then, do you say, 'Show us the Father'?” (John 14:9) And about the Holy Spirit, Jesus said, “When, however, the Spirit comes, Who reveals the truth about God, He will lead you into all the truth. He will not speak on His own authority, but He will speak of what He hears and will tell you of things to come.” (John 16:13) Like Jesus, only spoke what the Father wanted, the Holy Spirit will tell us what the Godhead (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) are saying and let us know.
It is a beautiful thing to rely on the Holy Spirit. He will lead us in the right way, the way we should go, the way God wants us to go. By God, I mean the Godhead (Father, Son and Holy Spirit). They are One. This is a hard concept for man to understand. Our understanding is limited to this world. The teaching on the Holy Trinity is a teaching that needs to be studied at another time.
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