As you read and ponder Matthew 1 and Luke 1, record the spiritual impressions you receive. What doctrinal truths do you find? What messages will be of most value to you and your family? The study ideas in this outline may help you discover additional insights.
Access the full study materials for this lesson here.
Matthew 1:
Access the full study materials for this lesson here.
This week's lesson is centered around the calling of Mary to be the mother of Jesus. I think I'll read through Matthew 1 and Luke 1, recording my thoughts and impressions, then turn to the lesson manual for further reading.
Matthew 1:
- I chose to actually pay attention to the lineages here for once instead of it just being a boring list of names -- I had no idea that Ruth was an ancestor of David, and therefore of Jesus!
- Okay, all you hoopy froods, in Matt 1:17 it says "So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations." That's three sets of 14 generations. 14 x 3 = 42. The answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything.
- What a difficult time that must have been for Joseph, learning that his fiancee was pregnant. We learn from verse 19 that he was going to be nice about it and just keep everything quiet, but I like verse 20 also, where it says, "But while he thought on these things". He must have thought for quite awhile. He must have felt betrayed, and embarrassed, maybe even angry for awhile. He must have weighed the implications of divorce, of the effect on himself, on his family, and on Mary herself. I also think he must have prayed about it a lot, else why would an angel come to him if he was not open to messages from God?
The main thing I'm impressed with here this time is the difference between Zacharias' and Mary's reactions to Gabriel's visits. At first glance, they seem very similar responses, but have very different consequences.
Zacharias says, "Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years." Zacharias is then struck dumb, both as a sign and as a punishment for his unbelief.
Mary says, "How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?" Mary receives further explanation and reassurance from the angel.
Both of them seem to question their respective revelations, and express the reasons it seems impossible, but what makes the difference? I believe it comes down to attitude.
I mean, I don't know what Zacharias' problem was. He was literally IN THE TEMPLE being visited by an angel, but was chastised for his unbelief. Is it possible that he had just been going through the motions at that time? Maybe the appearance of an angel was just that startling? Maybe he felt unworthy of such a blessing, which fueled his doubt. Maybe he was just a practical guy who had long ago given up hope that he would ever be a father in this mortal life. Whatever the reason, his words "whereby shall I know this?" appear to be asking for proof or for a sign. Zacharias was unwilling to take the angel at his word.
Now, Mary questions Gabriel as well, but her attitude is different. She asks, "How shall this be?" She is not asking for proof. I believe she is asking about what will be done, and what she can do, to bring about the birth of the Messiah. She probably also felt unworthy (v. 29, "she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.") but she only wanted to know how she was going to bear a child of any kind without being married or having sex.
Mary's belief and her willingness to obey earned her further explanation and reassurance from the angel. He told her how the conception would take place, that her relative Elisabeth was also miraculously pregnant, and tells her, "For with God nothing shall be impossible."
It can be helpful to remember their miraculous experiences whenever we face something that seems impossible. Can we overcome our weaknesses? Can we touch the heart of an unresponsive family member? Gabriel could easily have been speaking to us when he reminded Mary, “With God nothing shall be impossible” (Luke 1:37). And Mary’s response can also be ours when God reveals His will: “Be it unto me according to thy word” (Luke 1:38).
Sometimes I am going to get personal in this blog.
After all, the gospel is God's message to His children, and I am His daughter, so it only makes sense that in studying the gospel I should connect it to my own life. We are encouraged to "liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning."
It is a strange coincidence for me to be studying these stories of miraculous pregnancies this month, as in just a few weeks I'm scheduled to get a hysterectomy. I have never born children, and now I never will. God has promised that I will be a mother, that there will be no end to my posterity, but being as yet unmarried and soon wombless, like Elisabeth and Mary I just don't see exactly how those promises will come to pass.
But I look at Gabriel's words, "For with God nothing shall be impossible," and I know that God has a plan for me also, and for my future family, and for all those He intends me to Mother.
And I look at Mary's question, "How shall this be?" and I know it's okay to ask questions and try and find the answers, because, like Nephi, "I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them."
And I look at Mary's response, "Be it unto me according to thy word," and I know that if I am faithful and humble and obedient, and "let go and let God" that I will be blessed, and the impossible will happen in God's own time and in His own way, and when it does, it will be Good.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- Do you find yourself waiting for a blessing? What do you feel the Lord expects of you while you wait?
- What other messages might the Lord have for you in this story?
- What do you learn from Mary about accepting God’s will?
- As you read about Joseph’s righteous example in Matthew 1:18–25, what do you learn about accepting God’s will?
- Why might the people in these verses have been fearful? What causes us to feel fearful? How might God be asking us to “fear not”?
Are there 14 generations from Adam to Abraham? I was just wondering if there is something that the writer was trying to point out.
ReplyDeleteThere are twenty generations from Adam to Abraham, making 62 in total, which isn't as fun ;)
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