Though in Catholicism, Mary is lifted up above normal men and women, nearly crossing over into divinity, the scriptures do not paint such a picture. The last recorded words of Jesus’ earthly mother in God’s word are, “whatsoever He saith unto you, do it.” [Jn 2:5] This word spoken of Jesus Christ is very fitting; for when one attempted to extol Mary, His mother, beyond her proper due, Jesus spoke very plainly in opposition to such magnification of man. It is written for us in Luke’s gospel,
“And it came to pass, as He spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto Him, blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. But He said, ‘yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.’” [Lk 11:27-28]
When one in the crowd sought to magnify Mary, a mere woman, Jesus promptly corrected this, saying, in effect, “No, my dear brother, but rather, blessed are those who obey God,” implying that exultation of Mary is not obedience to the scripture nor to God.
Another passage which defeats this is especially applicable and encouraging. For if any have thought themselves ill-used of God for their lack of goodness or talent, let him come to the true scriptures and find encouragement: for God is well pleased to use even the least saint. Again in Luke, we read,
“And the angel came in unto [Mary], and said, ‘hail, thou that art highly favored, The Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.’” [Lk 1:28]
Let us strongly reaffirm, so that there be by no means confusion: that precious saint of old, Mary, was not used of God for her goodness; no, in no wise: for she bears absolutely no advantage to any other saint, any other Christian, no matter great or small. For it is written,
“But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: that no flesh should glory in His presence.” [1 Cor 1:27-29]
Dear brother, have you thought yourself “some great one,” as Simon the sorcerer? [Acts 8:9] Take heed, yes, beware; and think upon what scripture warns: “for if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.” [Gal 6:3]
Now, let us place our minds upon what the angel said to Mary, when he said, “thou that art highly favored.” The phrase “highly favored,” is one single Greek verb, which means to be endowed with grace; to be made an object of grace. The word is only used twice: here, and once elsewhere to speak of all saints. In Ephesians, noticing the bold text, it says that God,
“Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved [Son].” [Eph 1:5-6]
Oh, my good Christian! Does it not bring you much joy that you are accepted in God’s beloved Son, Jesus Christ? What a glorious truth! But if we look further, behind the English word, “accepted,” is an even greater truth: that same pronouncement upon Mary: ”thou…art highly favored,” is likewise bestowed upon even the lowliest saint, all of us having been made objects of God’s glorious and free grace in His Blessed Son. For the word translated “accepted” is one-and-the-same used in Luke by the angel. May God be blessed and thanked for ages to come for this grand and indescribable gift; for in Christ, each of us, and not just Mary, have been made into objects of God’s grace. We have been permanently endowed with an unceasing supply of God’s powerful and good grace.
Now, having expounded upon that, though glorious indeed, one might be wondering how this applies to marriage.
Just as God, who “is love,” [1 Jn 4:8] has loved us with an everlasting, covenant love, akin to marriage, (which institution pictures God’s love [f.f., Eph 5:32]), pours upon us grace and mercy through and in Christ Jesus, so too the Christian husband is to love his wife. Just as we are “vessels of mercy,” [Rom 9:23] “chosen of God, and precious,” [1 Pe 2:4] so too the man is to make his wife, the precious and chosen wife of his youth, an object of his grace and mercy. If you, dear husband, have seen God’s love tremendous and desirable, then show the same to your wife. For the wife ought to be the favored, loved, and desired object of the husband’s grace and mercy: a lifelong partner upon which to bestow “grace over against grace,” [Jn 1:16] and mercy upon mercy, in tender, marital love.
In Jesus, we are exceedingly blessed with overflowing grace. Again and again, Jesus proves that which Paul said, “the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.” [1 Tim 1:14] Through His care, “for He careth for [us];” through His wise shepherding wherein He “maketh [us] to lie down in green pastures,” and “leadeth [us] beside the still waters,” refreshing our very souls, our Lord shows us again and again of His grace. [1 Pe 5:7, Psa 23:2-3] There is not a Christian alive today, who would truthfully say Christ has done Him no good. For Jesus, “The Good Shepherd,” [Jn 10:11] indeed, “is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations.” [Psa 100:5] It is Christ our King, our Lord, our Savior, who promises, “I am the Bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” [Jn 6:35] Those who are in the habit of going to Him will also be in the habit of being continually satisfied: they shall prove that which The LORD promised in His Son long ago,
“And The LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.” [Isa 58:11]
Now, if this is how Christ loves us, whose love is equal to The Father’s, and we, as husbands, are to love our wives as Jesus loved/loves the church, then how do we fare? May we leave the answer to our wives: what say you, wife? Does your husband make you as a watered garden? Does your life, heart, and soul flourish under the care of His tender and beloved grace? And you, husband, do you think that if Christ were to bestow grace upon you in like manner to that which you give your wife, that you would mind? Do you shrink back at such a thought? My dear brothers, let us be as Christ Jesus our husband: let us make our wives to be objects of grace and mercy. Let us be free-flowing vessels which receive from Him and pour out upon our wives. Let us love our wives as Jesus the Church.