God's Purpose for Her Son
A much loved portion of Scripture is found in Jeremiah 29:11-14. Our God says, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the Lord…” We can be excited to know that each one of us has a Divine purpose. Romans 8:25 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Some people only quote “we know that all things work together for good.” That is not true unless the person loves God by keeping His Word (Jn. 14:21&23) and is obedient in God’s call upon his/her life.
You may have held your newborn baby in your arms and wondered what God’s mighty call was upon their life. Would he/she be a missionary, another Billy Graham, a doctor, a lawyer …? We imagine the greatest purpose for our little ones, don’t we? Have you ever wondered what Mary thought when she held her newborn in her arms? This baby had been prophesied throughout all the former writings of Scripture. It was said that the “the government would be upon his shoulder and his name would be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Is. 9:6). An angel told Joseph that this baby was conceived by the Holy Ghost and His name was to be Jesus (Saviour) for He would save His people from their sins (Mt. 1:20&21). This baby would be born of a virgin and called Emanuel (God with us) (Is. 7:14). Gabriel tells Mary that this baby would be great, and called the son of the Highest, and the Lord God would give him the throne of his father David… He shall be called the Son of God (Lk. 1:32-35).
Mary heard the purpose for her Son, but could she comprehend what all of this could possibly mean? She held God in her arms, the One Who she conceived by God: yet, was called God’s Son. She could only reply, “For with God nothing shall be impossible” (Lk. 1:37). She knew that no Word from God is void of power or ability to perform. Mary didn’t try to figure it all out. She simply said, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word” (Lk. 1:38). No matter the amazement that flooded her heart, she knew that there was a great purpose for her son. It all had to be good; yet, what is this that Simeon speaks? This baby is for “a sign which shall be spoken against. Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed” (Lk. 2:34&35). Something concerning the baby she held was going to break her heart. What could it be?
All prophesy was fulfilled concerning Jesus. He fulfilled His purpose, but that purpose was not only to live but to die the death of the cross. The world may not call our babies’ purpose nor ours, a call of “greatness,” but when God calls, His callings are always great. He simply desires that we, as Mary, will respond to Him, “Be it unto me according to thy word;” then, and only then, “will all things work together for good.” Yes, Jesus’ death was good because His blood washed away our sins. …And, oh by the way, He arose from the dead VICTORIOUS!