WHAT DID MARY SEE?
Luke 2:7–14 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. 8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
Last year at Christmas we published an article entitled “What Did Joseph See?” We used the same picture you see with this article.
But notice Mary has a better view and a more constant opportunity to gaze into the face and the eyes of her newborn child and Savior. What did Mary see? Remember, less than a year before this Mary saw the angel Gabriel stand before her and proclaim that she would give birth to the Son of the Most High. Now the child of all ages lay in her arms. And as He was born the angels sang, “Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Mary was looking into the face of the glory of God, now among men. God’s glory which had come to save us from our blindness. To open our eyes so we can see, if we will just open the eyes of our hearts and gaze into the eyes of our merciful, loving Savior.
Another precious woman, Mary of Bethany, discovered that she could cast her cares on Jesus as she sat at His feet gazing into His eyes. However Martha, her sister, worried and troubled about many things, missed the same opportunity.
38 Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” 41 And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. 42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38–42
From a heart of honor, Martha was moved to serve a wonderful meal for Jesus and His disciples. Yet, her worries mixed with the honor as she prepared and saw she needed help. She became troubled that her sister Mary was not helping her. Where was Mary?
Mary was discovering the joy of resting at Jesus feet. Captivated by the words He spoke, she could not move from His presence. Looking up into His eyes, she could cast all her cares unto Him.
Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7
What did Mary of Bethany see? I believe she saw His heart of love for her and more. I believe she saw His love for all of us. The love of Father God that sent His Son as an offering for our sin, so He could blot it out and remove it from the place of separating us from Him, forever. If we will only believe, all things are possible.
Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. John 12:3
What Mary saw so moved her that, in that same home in Bethany many days later, she would sit again at His feet and pour out a pound of ointment of spikenard, worth a year’s wages. Mary would anoint His feet with that precious perfume and wipe them with her hair. And the whole house was filled with that rare lovely fragrance.
What did Mary see that day? The same glory that Mary, the mother of Jesus, saw on the first Christmas day. The same glory she saw while her sister was still troubled the first time she sat at His feet. She saw the glory of the Father in His Son which the angels declared and sang to the shepherds near Bethlehem over thirty years prior. The same glory resides in the heart of every child of God as they worship Jesus our Christ, thanking God the Father for His wonderful gift. And as we do, we give the same gift that Mary gave, as she worshiped Jesus each time. That gift, the eyes of our heart opening in worship to behold His glory and freely return the love He pours into our hearts.
Two women named Mary saw Jesus as He is, in spirit and truth. And as we see Jesus, as He is today in Glory at the right hand of our Father in Heaven, so are we in this world.
16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. 17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 1 John 4:16–17
Our gift to Jesus is the same as both Mary the mother of Jesus and Mary of Bethany; to see Jesus as He really is, in glory in our hearts, as we worship Him.