The Biblical Mary-4

My prayer is that you may know some who are within the Church of Rome and trapped in their dogmas that contradict scripture. You may be able to use some of this teaching as a way to help them see what they currently are unable to see. Mary had one visit by an angel or a vision. She did not receive any more revelations directly, but God instead communicated through and to Joseph. But, first God warned the Magi.

Matthew 2:11  After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 

2:12  And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way. 

The next people to be given a vision/dream from God were these magi from a pagan/foreign land. Perhaps they had heard about a future king from Daniel’s messages that were passed down through the last 500 years. We do not know, but God did not warn them through Mary. In fact, we have no record of them even telling Mary of their dream.

Matthew 2:13  Now when they had gone, behold, an angel of the Lord *appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him." 2:14  So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night, and left for Egypt. 2:15  He remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: "OUT OF EGYPT I CALLED MY SON." 

Now Joseph was given a message from God through an angel and a dream. This is a very dire and disturbing message of Herod’s evil plans to kill this baby, Jesus incarnate in the flesh. Joseph did not wait till morning, but left under the cover of darkness. He was long gone before anyone knew they had left. No one seemed to know they were gone or where they had gone. Mary did not receive this message. Why? One reason could be is now she is a married woman under the protection of her husband. Joseph is now the head of Mary and of the household/family. He was the one to lead the family to safety and therefore he was the one to receive this dream.

Matthew 2:19  But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord *appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said, 2:20  "Get up, take the Child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel; for those who sought the Child's life are dead."  2:21  So Joseph got up, took the Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. 

2:22  But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Then after being warned by God in a dream, he left for the regions of Galilee, 2:23  and came and lived in a city called Nazareth. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets: "He shall be called a Nazarene." 

This second and last dream to Joseph began like the first dream. The angel of the Lord told him to ‘get up’. This is an imperative/command. Joseph obeyed and returned to the land of Judah. But, he was right to fear the son of Herod, so to perhaps unknowingly fulfill prophecy, he went to Nazareth. Again we should note, only Joseph received the last two recorded messages from God. Mary would not and did not receive any other direct contact from God that is recorded.

So Joseph is the head of his family just as every other men in Judah. There was no special revelations on how Mary should be treated, honored, referenced, or consulted. She was to be Joseph’s wife as all other wives. God’s commands to fill the earth would not exempt Mary. To Joseph, Mary would now become his wife as he had originally thought. Mary was not given any exemption from God’s commands either.

Genesis 1:27  God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 1:28  God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth." 

After the flood, this command was repeated to Noah.

Genesis 9:1  And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth.

More next Saturday.