Random Thoughts

January 13, 2025

1. Topical Reference: Revelation 18:6–9

Many of us just celebrated the birth of Jesus at Christmas on December 25th. I hope everybody knows that the choosing of that date was completely arbitrary and purposed to conveniently coincide with a pagan celebration of one of the Greco-Roman gods.

You see, when Caesar accepted Jesus, he hadn’t accepted the full Gospel which claims Jesus as King, Savior and Lord, but he merely had placed Him in a line of statue of an already existing pantheon of gods.

What strikes me in this is that the Apostles didn’t really value the specific date of Jesus’ birth, but rejoiced in the fact that the Messiah had finally come as promised. Instead, their focus was all about His life and teachings, His propitiatory death during Passover, and His Resurrection from death, and ascension back to His Father, and arrival of promised Holy Spirit taking up the ministry where He had left off.

2. Topical Reference: Revelations 19:5–9

Another matter, a silly question proposed recently on Medium, “Was Jesus married?” The marriage at Cana was recorded… Certainly the marriage of the Messiah would have been, too. Don’t you think?

Further, the Marriage of the Lamb* which seemed important enough for the Apostles to write about in length was of overriding importance. Why not also about a domestic wedding of their KIng?

Then, allow me to remind everyone that Jesus’ transcending bride is the assembly of all Believers from the beginning of time, up to this very day, and every day until He returns. (see the end chapters in Revelation.)

* — “The Marriage Supper of the Lamb symbolizes the joyous union between Jesus and His followers.” — https://www.biblestudytools.com

3. Topical Reference: Mark 3:31–35; Luke 8:19–21; Matthew 12:46–50

When Jesus’ mother went with her other sons and her daughters and showed up where Jesus was ministering, I wonder if His siblings were perhaps concerned about Jesus’ general well-being, concerned simply about overexertion. Or perhaps their worry was the real threat that existed from the Jewish Religious Leaders, and the Roman occupation.

There’s another possibility: Did they simply think that because they were family, they could be granted a private audience with Him?

Maybe it was a combination of all those ideas.

So then, what would have been Mary’s worries? Patty and I agree that if she had had concerns, her concerns would have been for the peace of mind of His siblings, not for her own…

Had Mary forgotten all that she had “stored up in her heart” from the pronouncement of the Angel about the Nativity? Had she forgotten what the righteous and devout elders, Simeon and Anna, said when they first saw Jesus? Did she forget the marriage feast in Cana where Jesus turned all that water into wine? Did Mary not remember the slightest little detail of Jesus’ life?

In this speculative view, Mary would have been acting in her role as an ordinary mother. She would have gone with her children to help to settle them down. The younger siblings might have been panicky, but not her.

Yes, I think Mary could have gone, partly at the insistence of her children who might have had legitimate concerns for their brother.

Sure. After all, she was their Mom, and mothers are often like that…

Still and all, Mary had all those early reassurances and promise from the Angel, to Jesus’ birth, to her visit with her cousin Elizabeth, to the visiting shepherds, to the visiting of the Magi,to the joyous reception of the elders, Simeon and Anna at His dedication at the Temple in Jerusalem, to his wisdom at the age of twelve — holding His own talking with the Religious Leaders and Scholars — again in Jerusalem, — and so on and so forth.

…No doubt Mary still held all those events in her heart, not doubting for a second who her son, Jesus. actually was.

So, beyond my speculations, this is the Bible reference that we may pinpoint the singular view:

His mother and brothers came to Him, and they were unable to get to Him because of the crowd. And it was reported to Him, “Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, wishing to see You.” But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.” — Luke 8:19–21, Berean Standard Bible (BSB).

Carrie Underwood — Mary, Did You Know? (Official Audio Video)