Women of Note in the New Testament
47
tried to correct the practices of Jesus according to their standard.—
The
Desire of Ages, 90 (1898)
.
The life of Christ was marked with respect, devotion, and love for
His mother. She often remonstrated with Him, and sought to have Him
concede to the wishes of His brethren. His brethren could not persuade
Him to change His habits of life in contemplating the works of God, in
manifesting sympathy and tenderness toward the poor, the suffering,
and the unfortunate, and in seeking to alleviate the sufferings of both
men and dumb animals. When the priests and rulers came to Mary
to persuade her to force Jesus to give allegiance to their ceremonies
and traditions, she felt much troubled. But peace and confidence came
to her troubled heart as her Son presented the clear statements of
the Scriptures in upholding His practices.—
The Signs of the Times,
August 6, 1896
.
From the day when she heard the angel’s announcement in the
home at Nazareth, Mary had treasured every evidence that Jesus was
the Messiah. His sweet, unselfish life assured her that He could be
no other than the Sent of God. Yet there came to her also doubts
and disappointments, and she had longed for the time when His glory
should be revealed. Death had separated her from Joseph, who had
shared her knowledge of the mystery of the birth of Jesus. Now there
was no one to whom she could confide her hopes and fears. The past
[54]
two months had been very sorrowful. She had been parted from Jesus,
in whose sympathy she found comfort; she pondered upon the words
of Simeon, “A sword shall pierce through thy own soul also” (
Luke
2:35
); she recalled the three days of agony when she thought Jesus lost
to her forever; and with an anxious heart she awaited His return.—
The
Desire of Ages, 145 (1898)
.
The widowed mother had mourned over the sufferings that Jesus
had endured in His loneliness. His Messiahship had caused her deep
sorrow as well as joy. Yet strangely, as it appears to her, she meets Him
at the marriage feast, the same tender, dutiful son, yet not the same, for
His countenance is changed; she sees the marks of His fierce conflict
in the wilderness of temptation, and the evidence of His high mission
in His holy expression and the gentle dignity of His presence. She
sees that He is accompanied by a number of young men who address
Him with reverence, calling Him Master. These companions tell Mary
of the wonderful things they have witnessed, not only at the baptism,