Tag: Mary

Posted in theology

Some Protestant truth about Mary, Jesus’ Mother

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Virgin of Quito from the sculpture of the same name, is a monument in Quito, Ecuador. It is located on the top of the hill of El Panecillo, a loaf-shaped hill in the heart of the city and serves as a backdrop to the historic center of Quito. Wikipedia. EPrata photo.

Yesterday I wrote about idolatry: what is it, how we manufacture idols, and worshipping an idol isn’t always (or even very frequently) bowing down to a wooden idol.

It made me think of the idolatry Catholics people have for Mary.

Due to Mary’s role in being selected to gestate and birth the incarnated Jesus and to raise Him alongside Joseph, the Roman Catholic religion has exalted the woman to a position she does not biblically hold. The Roman Catholic believers call Mary a co-redemptrix along with Jesus, the Queen of Heaven, and more. They pray to her, ask for her blessings, and more.

The Catholics will complain that ‘we just don’t understand’ about Mary, but if you look at their Papal Bulls, Catechisms, and other material, it’s all there. They worship Mary, which is bad and wrong and heresy.

It is always good to push back on the blasphemies and promote the truth about Mary.

Ex-Catholic VM Swiderski published some refutations on Twitter, which as expected, Catholic believers complained about. Catholicism is a false religion, but I do admire their adherents’ vigorous protection of their reputation. Satan does a good job of pushing back. What follows is her material, which is also linked above-

VM Swiderski @VMSwiderski wrote:

I was raised Roman Catholic. When God caused me to be born again by His Spirit, I began reading, understanding, and devouring His Word. I began rejecting false doctrines I had been taught. In the process, I overlooked something very important. Mary.

Mary was chosen by God.
Mary worshiped God.
Mary was humble.
Mary was submissive to the will of God.
Mary was favored by God.
Mary was blessed by God.
Mary was a virgin before Jesus was born.
Mary had many children after Jesus was born.
Mary was among the disciples.
Mary prayed to God.

Bible verses about Mary:

“Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” Luke 1:28

“And the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.’” Luke 1:32

“And Mary said to the angel, ‘How will this be, since I am a virgin?’” Luke 1:34

“And Mary said, ‘Behold, I am the servant of the Lord.’” Luke 1:38

“‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!’” Luke 1:42

“‘And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.’” Luke 1:45

“‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.’” Luke 1:46

“‘And holy is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.’” Luke 1:49-50

“‘For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me.’”

“But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.” Luke 2:19

“And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.” Luke 2:51

“‘Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also).” Luke 2:34-35

“‘Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?’ And they took offense at him.” Mark 6:3

“But standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister…” John 19:25

“All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.” Acts 1:14

end of VM Swiderski’s material

Like all men and women who are mentioned in the Bible positively, Mary was not only favored, but selected to become virginally pregnant with Jesus, to raise Him, and sadly, also to witness His horrible death – as Simeon prophesied. (Luke 2:35; John 19:25).

However, we must remember Mary was a sinner. She herself recognized that fact when she acknowledged “my Savior”. (Luke 1:47).

Mary was not a perpetual virgin. She bore other children after Jesus. (Mark 6:3).

Mary was not conceived immaculately. Many people errantly believe the Immaculate Conception refers to Mary’s conception of Jesus by the Holy Spirit. No. It is the Roman Catholic idea that MARY was conceived immaculately, that is, she was free from sin. Yet Romans 3:10 says we are all sinners, there is none righteous, no not one.

Only Jesus is preeminent. He is not Co-preeminent with Mary. She is not “Queen of Heaven.” There is only one Sovereign in heaven, and that is Jesus, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. There are no queens. Daughters, yes. But Mary was a human, lived and died, and is in heaven awaiting her resurrected body and is in the throng praising and worshiping her King, just like the rest of the redeemed. Jesus alone is supreme. (Colossians 1:18).

Pope Benedict XVI had just placed a crown on the statue of the Virgin Mary
at the Vatican Basilica on the occasion of the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. source

The following was a sermon by Dr. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones titled “The Roman Catholic Church,” preached at Westminster Chapel in London, and originally published in The Westminster Record, May 1963.

Martyn Lloyd-Jones [MLJ] said, ‘You and I, as Christians, go to Him to confess; they [Catholics] go to the priest.“

MLJ: The cult of the Virgin Mary in Roman Catholicism is increasing rapidly in an alarming manner. They say that she is the “Queen of Heaven,” and that she is the one to whom we should go primarily. In many of their churches you will find that she is placed in front of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is almost hidden by her somewhere in the background. Why? This is what they say, that she being human is much more loving and tender than He is; that He is so great and powerful and authoritative, that He is so stern—this is what they teach, this is the whole explanation of the cult of the Virgin Mary—that He is such that we cannot go to Him directly.

The cult of the Virgin Mary in Roman Catholicism is increasing rapidly in an alarming manner. They say that she is the “Queen of Heaven,” and that she is the one to whom we should go primarily.
Ah, but fortunately she is there, and she is loving; and after all she was His mother and she can influence Him.

So we should pray to the Virgin Mary and ask her to intercede on our behalf. She is right there between us and the Son of God, the Saviour of our souls. And increasingly they have been adding to her power.

They began in 1854 to teach the “Immaculate Conception” which means not only that the Lord Jesus Christ was born free from sin, but that Mary was also.

The recently they have announced this doctrine of the “Assumption of Mary,” that she never died like everybody else and was buried, but that she literally ascended up to heaven even as her Son did.

And this, you see, so builds up the Virgin Mary, and makes her so prominent that Christ Himself is hidden out of sight. –end MLJ

The Kaaba is built around a sacred black stone, a meteorite that Muslims believe was placed by Abraham and Ishmael in a corner of the Kaaba, a symbol of God’s covenant with Abraham and Ishmael and, by extension, with the Muslim community itself. Source

We make idols out of anything. Real things like a big black cube the Muslims worship, or idols out of people like the Catholics did for Mary, or idols out of concepts & philosophies like appearance, communion, comfort, motherhood, and so on.

The depths of our sin know no bounds, thus, it’s easy for satan to tempt us to make idols out of good things.

Little children, guard yourselves from idols. (1 John 5:21 LSB)

Further Reading

GTY: Who Mary was (and wasn’t)

Ligonier: The Messiah’s Mother

GotQuestions: What is Marioloatry?

Posted in theology

“Lord, do you not care?”

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Podcast link-

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/elizabeth-prata/episodes/Episode-474-Lord–Do-You-Not-Care-e27knt2

Storm on the Sea of Galilee, by Rembrandt

SCRIPTURE: “And on that day, when evening came, He said to them, “Let us go over to the other side.” And leaving the crowd, they took Him along with them in the boat, just as He was; and other boats were with Him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat so that the boat was already filling up. And Jesus Himself was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion; and they got Him up and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” And He woke up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Silence! Be still.” And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. And He said to them, “Why are you so cowardly? Do you still have no faith?” And they became very afraid and were saying to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?” (Mark 4:35-41).

A few things before I move on. These were seasoned fishermen, used to the sudden squalls particular to the sea of Galilee (which is 700′ below sea level). Winds would sweep down the mountain at speed and ruffle the waters of the Sea until the waves were towering and short spaced between each other. For these experienced fishermen to be this scared of a storm, the storm must have been especially ferocious.

But secondly, after Jesus calmed the storm with a word, they became MORE afraid (afraid…’very’ afraid). The word for very is megas, meaning “large, great, in the widest sense.” It’s where we get the word mega from. Their fear changed from a physical danger type fear of the storm to a spiritual fear.

Now for the second passage today, where afterward I’ll compare the two.

Luke 10:38-42: “Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. And she had a sister called Mary, who was also seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the preparations alone? Then tell her to help me.” But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things, but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

‘Lord do you not care… that we are perishing?’
‘Lord, do you not care… that I’m overwhelmed and she’s lounging?’

Of course it is a silly question. We see that’s so, once the storm has passed, or once the frustration levels out. Of course the Lord cares. He had just spent the day with the disciples caring for the thousands of sick and possessed. He chose Mary, Martha, and Lazarus’ home because he loved them. Of course He cared. He was on earth because He cared. He faced the cross because He cared.

But aren’t we silly, in our moments of fear and frustration; we lash out at God.

In both those cases of ‘Lord, do you not care?’ the people asking it were looking at another person rather than God. The disciples were looking at each other ‘we are perishing!’ Martha was looking at Mary, not Jesus.

We care for ourselves physically, as does the Lord, but the Lord also wants us to take care of ourselves spiritually. He was gentle with Martha, telling her that Mary chose (CHOSE) to apply herself spiritually while she had the chance, letting the physical needs of cooking and cleaning and serving go by the wayside temporarily.

He was a bit harsher with the disciples. In Mark’s Gospel Jesus asked them why they were so cowardly. In all 3 Gospels where the story is recounted, (Matthew 8:23–27, Mark 4:35–41, and Luke 8:22–25) Jesus asked the men ‘where is your faith?’

The issue at the root of it is, do not let your physical needs, wants, or fears swamp your spiritual strength. If Jesus had intended for all the men to drown in the storm and immediately resurrect them, so be it. If He had intended for them to die and resurrect on Resurrection Day, so be it.

Of course it’s easier said than done. When we get cancer we might cry out “Lord, do you not care?” When the baby dies, “Lord, do you not care”? Our fear and our grief are so large it blots out reason, even sometimes, faith.

Gordon Lightfoot famously asked in his song “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald: “Does anyone know where the love of God goes when the waves turn the minutes to hours?”

Not that God withdraws His love. He never rescinds the love He has chosen to set upon His children, and for the ones who are not His children, common grace abounds. But that we, in our fear, anger, grief, our frustration, FEEL like God has withdrawn it.

Always choose the better portion. Jesus in effect said this to Peter, who had asked about John. “What about that guy?” Jesus said never you mind about Him, you, follow ME.’ (John 21:22)

We do not resolve our fears by looking to our surroundings or to what other people are doing, but by looking to Jesus.

Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. (Isaiah 45:22 KJV)

Posted in theology

The Magnificat

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Luke 1:26-56 contains an incredible amount of theology, praise, and biblical history. It’s the Annunciation (Gabriel’s announcement to Mary of her selection as the womb to carry the coming Messiah) and Mary’s praise to the LORD, called her Magnificat.

Mary’s Magnificat
by John MacArthur,
Friday, December 5, 2014

Imagine how Mary must have felt when she was told by an angel that she would be the parent of the long-awaited Messiah—that she’d be responsible for raising and nurturing her Savior. How do you think you’d respond? You’d no doubt find the responsibility overwhelming and intimidating. You might be instantly overcome with worry. You might even attempt to respectfully decline the position altogether. That’s why Mary’s response to the angel’s prophecy in Luke 1:28-35 is so remarkable. She was just a young woman—a girl, really—but she reacted with the grace, wisdom, and spiritual maturity of a seasoned saint.

It’s often instructive to compare Mary’s response to the news with Zacharias’ response to similar news. Zacharias was husband to Elizabeth. Elizabeth was kin to Mary and Elizabeth would bear the forerunner to Jesus, who would become known as John the Baptist. The angel Gabriel came to announce this news to Zacharias. Though he was old and past childbearing years as was Elizabeth, the husband and wife would receive the privilege of producing a son who would declare the Messiah’s coming.

Zacharias was a priest, ministering in the temple when Gabriel came. Zechariah’s response was-

Zacharias said to the angel, “How will I know this for certain? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years.” (Luke 1:18)

Zacharias should have known better. Why? 1) he was a priest, well versed in the scriptures 2) hel-LO! Abraham and Sarah! Precedent had been famously established that the LORD can and does enable barren women advanced in years to become pregnant, noted our preacher yesterday in his sermon.

Mary on the other hand, when she asked “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” (Luke 1:34b), no precedent had ever been seen where a woman suddenly became pregnant without the man’s participation. Zacharias was all, ‘give me a sign’ and Mary was ‘let it be done to me as you will’. Further, Zacharias would receive acclaim, fame, and notability with this miracle. Mary knew stoning was the consequence for adultery, and if she escaped that, she’d only receive during her lifetime, shame, suspicion, and snickers for this seemingly illegitimate pregnancy. Yet as MacArthur said above, she responded with humility, grace, and submission. All the more remarkable since she was a young girl.

One other thought before we get to the verses, compare Mary’s praise song with Hannah’s. (1 Samuel 2:1–11)

Here is her Magnificat, embedded in verses prior: Luke 1:26-55

26Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, 27to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 29But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was. 30The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. 31“And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. 32“He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; 33and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” 34Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” 35The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God. 36“And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. 37“For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38And Mary said, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Mary Visits Elizabeth

      39Now at this time Mary arose and went in a hurry to the hill country, to a city of Judah, 40and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. 41When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42And she cried out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43“And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me? 44“For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy. 45“And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.”

The Magnificat

      46And Mary said:
            “My soul exalts the Lord,

      47And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.

      48“For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave;
            For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed.

      49“For the Mighty One has done great things for me;
            And holy is His name.

      50“AND HIS MERCY IS UPON GENERATION AFTER GENERATION
            TOWARD THOSE WHO FEAR HIM.

      51“He has done mighty deeds with His arm;
            He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart.

      52“He has brought down rulers from their thrones,
            And has exalted those who were humble.

      53“HE HAS FILLED THE HUNGRY WITH GOOD THINGS;
            And sent away the rich empty-handed.

      54“He has given help to Israel His servant,
            In remembrance of His mercy,

      55As He spoke to our fathers,
            To Abraham and his descendants forever.”

      56And Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her home.

This one of my favorite depictions in art of The Annunciation. It’s from 1898, by painter Henry Ossawa Tanner, 1859–1937). Image and Description from Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Tanner painted The Annunciation soon after returning to Paris from a trip to Egypt and Palestine in 1897. The son of a minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Tanner specialized in religious subjects, and wanted to experience the people, culture, architecture, and light of the Holy Land. Influenced by what he saw, Tanner created an unconventional image of the moment when the angel Gabriel announces to Mary that she will bear the Son of God. Mary is shown as an adolescent dressed in rumpled Middle Eastern peasant clothing, without a halo or other holy attributes. Gabriel appears only as a shaft of light. Tanner entered this painting in the 1898 Paris Salon exhibition, after which it was bought for the Philadelphia Museum of Art in 1899, making it his first work to enter an American museum.

Posted in theology

The Anointing of Jesus: Righteous Wild Abandon

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Yesterday I wrote about how my Bible study ended with me coming to a settled conviction that though some of the smaller details seemed to vary, the incidents recorded in Mark 14 & Matthew 26, and the incident recorded in John, are speaking of the same incident.

I explained how I’d come to that conclusion after for a time initially believing the opposite.

After I finished sorting out the incident itself, there is the theological point to consider. I got to thinking about Mary and her vial of nard, worth 300 denarii. Her letting down her hair to dry Jesus’ feet. There is much to consider here.

Continue reading “The Anointing of Jesus: Righteous Wild Abandon” →
Posted in theology

The alabaster vial incidents, and my “wasted” time

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

I usually write about the word, or encouragement, or prophecy. But today I’m going to give a peek into and share an anecdote about my Bible study.

As I was reading Mark 14 and I got to the part when Judas went out to betray Jesus. (Mark 14:10), I began wondering, why now? What was the precipitating event that finalized Judas’ apostasy and treachery?

(What works for me is asking questions of the text. Why this? Why now? What is that about? How does that work? Where are they? What is that plant/tree/animal like?)

I suspected the catalyzing moment for Judas was the alabaster vial incident, AKA the anointing of Jesus, recorded just prior to Judas’ departure. But the more I read the parallel accounts, the more confused I got. I could not sort them out. I didn’t know why.

Continue reading “The alabaster vial incidents, and my “wasted” time” →
Posted in theology

What is the necessary thing? Plus, The Storm has Gathered…and Burst

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Sisters, let Christ instruct your soul.

We all know the story or Mary and Martha. Mary was at Jesus’ feet, listening and learning. Martha was scuttling around the house preparing food and serving the guests. She complained to Jesus that Mary was not helping. Jesus responded that Mary was doing what was necessary, and for that, her part will never be taken away. (Luke 10:38-42). Which indicates that Martha’s part will be taken away.

Not that serving is bad. We are instructed to put doctrine into action. Being busy for the Lord is a good thing. But too busy? To the exclusion of all else? No. The things that Martha did to serve that day are not remembered. But what Christ said on that day is remembered. It’s the spiritual things that are eternal. Continue reading “What is the necessary thing? Plus, The Storm has Gathered…and Burst” →

Posted in nativity, theology

Nativity & Advent: Sacrifice of Pigeons

Posted on by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

turtledoves verse

Previous essays in the series:

1. Zacharias: There is no such thing as chance, even when casting lots
2. Anna: The Lord’s Precious Widow

And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”  (Luke 2:22-24). Continue reading “Nativity & Advent: Sacrifice of Pigeons” →

Posted in encouragement, Uncategorized

A Mother’s Agony

Posted on by elizabethprata

Luke 2:34-35

And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

We know that the people whose lives are recorded in the Bible were real. Abraham, Noah, Daniel, Hagar, Rahab, Mary…and the others, were all real people who lived a life on earth with all their joys and trials, and heartaches and triumphs. They did their jobs, sang and laughed, worshiped, prayed, ate, relaxed, and did everything real people do.

Sometimes we read about their lives on the pages of the Bible and as inspired as we are, we tend to think of these people as object lessons, as in, what can I learn from their lives that will inspire me to further obedience or knowledge of Christ?

I see people close to me going through difficulties and heartaches. Some have aging parents in poor health, some are experiencing grief because of death, some are parents with ill children or have children who have received dread diagnoses.

The Lord saw fit to place me in this era and in this nation, where, as a Christian, I am not currently being stalked, hunted, killed, persecuted, or arrested. I know our brethren in the closed countries are, but as of now I personally am not. Sometimes I feel guilty about that, but then again, this is when and where the Lord created me, He appointed times and seasons for everything, so I cannot speak back to the Potter.

I think some of the greatest agonies ever endured. Number one has to be the separation Jesus endured when God withdrew from Him on the cross. “My God, My God, why has thou forsaken me?” Jesus cried. (Matthew 27:46–47). The glory and intimacy He had enjoyed for all eternity with the Father was broken, and Jesus was alone in the dark, spiritually bereft.

If there is a number two agony someone had endured, could it be Jesus’ Mother, Mary, watching her Son hung up as a criminal, beaten, tortured, and dying in front of her eyes? Most mothers believe in their sons. Moms tend to err on the side of their innocence, proclaiming their son’s non-guilt to anyone who would listen. However of all mothers who ever lived, Mary alone knew she had a perfect Son. He never did a wrong thing. He never harmed anyone. Growing up, He treated everyone with perfect courtesy, perfect consideration, perfect attention, perfect honor, perfect trust, perfect love…the list is infinite because Jesus’ qualities as God were perfectly and fully manifested in His human life.

So for Mary to see her beautiful Son, hung up as the lowest criminal, on the most dastardly method of execution ever invented, must have been a grief only mothers can conceive of, and even all other mothers can’t know the depths of her spiritual and motherly despair.

Jesus knew His mother’s temporal agony would be great and her future as a widow would be uncertain. The Lord is good and kind.

When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Woman, here is your son.” 27Then He said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” So from that hour, this disciple took her into his home. (John 19:26-27)

He also knew her spiritual agony would be great too. As Barnes’ Notes says,

Yea, a sword … – The sufferings and death of thy Son shall deeply afflict thy soul. And if Mary had not been thus forewarned and sustained by strong faith, she could not have borne the trials which came upon her Son; but God prepared her for it, and the holy mother of the dying Saviour was sustained.

The Lord of all is so great, kind, wonderful. He is the originator of our faith, the pinnacle of perfection. And yet even as he looked ahead to the sure knowledge of imminent separation from the Father, a moment none of us can even plumb the surface of, never mind the depths, Jesus cared for His weeping and agonizing mother. He sustained her in her faith and spiritually carried her through her agony.

Whatever agony you endure, especially if you are a mother, remember Mary. Remember that even though her crisis was one that no other mother can even attempt to understand, we can still sympathize. It gets even better, because Jesus is there to help us, sustain us, give us the courage to endure. He did for Mary. He will for you.