Shawn Moynihan - Mary of Nazareth - Class 3 - Mary's Mission

Automatically transcribed. Accuracy is good but not perfect, and words are sometimes wrong. Trust the audio over the text.

1. 0:00

   This is day three of the 2025 Palm Springs Bible School. Our first period teacher is Brother Sean Moynihan. His general subject is Mary of Nazareth. Today’s topic is Mary’s community. Good morning brothers and sisters. Today we’re going to take a look, God willing, at 4 scenes of Community. The first scene is Mary’s interaction with Elizabeth. We talked about Mary’s song yesterday, but now we’re going to really focus in on on the amazing blessing that we have in each other, in community, in God’s family. The second scene of community is when Mary comes back to Nazareth visibly pregnant, and we’re going to see how Mary responds when her community does not understand her. The third scene in community is the wedding at Cana. And there we’re going to see Mary’s example of how to help in community, how to solve problems in community. And the last example is Jesus being rejected to the synagogue in Nazareth.

2. 1:18

   And from there, we’re going to learn how to respond when we’re hurt by community. So let’s start by looking at the biblical principles of God’s community. Well, first of all, and our brother did a great job last night talking on this. It’s a family. It’s not an organization. It’s not a club. We read in John. But as many as received him to them he gave the right to become children of God to those who believe in his name, who were born not of blood, nor the will of the flesh, nor the will of man, but of God.

3. 1:56

   God chooses and arranges the members of his family according to His plan and purpose. First Corinthians 12/18 in the Mount translation. God arranged the members and the body, every one of them, just as he chose. So as we look around this room, we’re strengthened by the fact that God has chosen each one of us.

4. 2:23

   As we work in our cliches, we see brothers and sisters that God has chosen just as he’s chosen us, and he’s arranged them as he sees fit. Another principle is that through our relationship and community, our discipleship is made manifest. As Jesus says in John 13, By this all will know that you are my disciples if you have loved one for another. And so Mary’s community in Nazareth was was filled with interconnected family and friends. We see that from passages like 2, like Luke 242 and we can see that that God chose the members of the synagogue at Nazareth, that that community purposefully just as he does now. And we will see that people in Nazareth demonstrated their faith by their actions towards each other, sometimes to God’s glory and sometimes, sadly not.

5. 3:22

   Brother Thomas provides another helpful touchstone here. See, I thought it’d be tricky with this PowerPoint slide, and now it’s just taking up time. I was frankly intimidated by Brother Luke’s really impressive graphics, so this is as good as I can. So, Brother Thomas writes, the Eternal Spirit intended to enthrone himself on the earth, and in so doing develop a divine family from among men, everyone of whom shall be Spirit, because born of the Spirit, and that this family shall be large enough to fill the whole earth.

6. 4:08

   So let’s take a refresher of Nazareth, Mary’s community. Well, we know that God specifically chosen Nazareth as the community in which to raise Jesus. We know in Matthew 2 that they thought to resettle as they returned from Egypt in Judea, and they were commanded to go north to Nazareth so that it might be fulfilled.

7. 4:27

   He shall be called a Nazarene. We saw on our first day that the community was Bible focused and it had a strong sense of Jewish identity and nationalism. Now I bring this up because I think it’s relevant for us who are are blessed in in North America with economic prosperity. In the Galilee there was economic prosperity far above what which is in Judea. Eidersheim writes a 1st century rabbinical proverb stated if you wish to be rich, go to Galilee.

8. 4:59

   If you wish to be wise, go to Judea. Completely unbiased statement from those in Judea. Now there were three big drivers of economic prosperity from Galilee in the time of of Mary. The first was massive infrastructure projects that Herod the Great and and son Herod, Herod Antipas engaged in. Many folks, as I know they’ve mentioned it to me, have been to Sephres.

9. 5:26

   And so that would be one of the examples of the great building projects, the great infrastructure projects that were undertaken, and that would of course have benefited folks like Joseph and Jesus who are tectons. The second great driver of economic prosperity was agriculture. And Josephus writes, the Galilee’s soil was universally rich and fruitful and full of the plantations of trees of all sorts in so much that it invites the most slothful to take pains and its cultivation by its fruitfulness. Accordingly, it is all cultivated by its inhabitants, and no part of it lies idle.

10. 6:03

    So the third driver of economic prosperity was the Sea of Galilee fishery. We know from historical records like Strabo that the salted fish from the Sea of Galilee went throughout the Roman Empire. And we also know that it was integral to the development of this thing called garam. Do you know what garam is? It’s ketchup, right?

11. 6:31

    It’s the it’s the Roman equivalent of sriracha. It’s a fish sauce that was ubiquitous in the Roman Empire. You could not sit down to a meal in a Roman household without a dish of garam. So we know from historical records against straw bone folks like that, that the Sea of Galilee fishery was instrumental in developing this widely prized commodity. We saw in the first class as well that Mary thrived in Galilee’s religious setting.

12. 7:03

    Ben Witherington and talking about the setting that Mary would have grown up in, some women were able to become learned in both oral and written law and tradition, and we can see from our first two days that Mary was one of those folks. So how did Mary’s community view her before she arose and went with haste to Elizabeth? Well, she must have been a model young person, don’t you think? Someone who just brought brightness and joy of God’s word with her.

13. 7:42

    It seems like, you know, we talked the other day yesterday about her being an orphan and, and we know what that’s like in in our communities, right, Where someone who maybe doesn’t have those family connections. We do a really good job of reaching out, right? And I know this from personal experience. My grandparents raised me.

14. 8:03

    And so I mean, when I went to when I went to youth conferences and gatherings and stuff like that, someone always made sure I had a ride. Someone always made sure that I was included. You know, they always warned me to stay away from that Jeff Jelineau guy. He seems a little bit sketchy. Just kidding.

15. 8:19

    Actually, it was the other way around, to be fair. So it’s safe to say that Mary would have been very highly regarded, right? And I think there’s a parallel to her and Ruth, of course, she connects with Ruth about the Handmaid and Bethlehem, etcetera. So I think we can say that all the people of my town know that you are a virtuous woman, a woman of Kyle.

16. 8:44

    So I think too that they would have been in, in community celebrating the marriage of these two godly young people. And we know that he who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favour from the Lord. And again in our collision Cambridge, we have so many young couples and it’s it, it just lifts everybody up when you see young people who love God and love each other. So even though Mary had lots of support in Nazareth, she had a problem that she needed to go to the extended community for help with.

17. 9:21

    And so we’re so blessed with aunties and uncles and, you know, people that can help us. I tease my wife’s sister Kathy, that she’s entered her Auntie Kathy stage and she’s just embracing it. But we’re so blessed to have those people that we can go to. And so Mary goes to Elizabeth. We read in Luke 1. Now Indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age and this is now the 6th month for her who is called barren, forgot.

18. 9:54

    With God nothing will be impossible. So brother Thomas suggests that that he lie married who is Mary’s father, married the sister of Elizabeth’s father. So that’s how those things connected. So that’s an interesting suggestion. So how are Mary and Elizabeth related? They would have been related in such a way that that Jesus and John the Baptist would have been second cousins.

19. 10:30

    So we read that Mary arose and went with haste. Now we know that that’s a phrase arose that’s significant in the Bible. These are women of Israel who arose Deborah, Naomi, Ruth, Hannah, and the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31. Now it’s interesting. Gabriel doesn’t tell Mary to go to Elizabeth. So what makes Mary think that she needs to go to Elizabeth?

20. 11:06

    Well, I think it’s this. For God, nothing will be impossible. So that’s a quote from Genesis 18 we read picking up in verse 13. The Lord said to Abraham, why did Sarah laugh and say, will I really have a child when I am old? Is there anything impossible for the Lord? I will return to you when the season comes round again and Sarah will have a son. So I think that that triggered, because Mary’s mind was so biblical, it triggered her to think of Sarah and a prototypical mother figure.

21. 11:44

    So, so Mary did not have a mother. And I think it’s safe to infer that over many years, Elizabeth had developed kind of a mother relationship with Mary. And, you know, Sarah is the prototypical mother in Israel. We read in Isaiah 51. Look to Abraham, your father, and to Sarah who bore you. Now, this is a really important thing. We know and we read in Titus that older women are teachers of good things.

22. 12:16

    And I’m just going to throw this quote out again by Brother Roberts. You can no more suppress a wise woman’s influence and a wise woman’s voice then you can suppress the law of gravitation. And we know that, right? And ecclesias that thrive, godly sisters are are working in the background and and working with each other, maintaining those relationships. It’s very powerful.

23. 12:45

    Naomi and Ruth are a model, I think, for what would have happened with the conversation that Elizabeth had with Mary. If you recall in Ruth three and four, Naomi and Ruth develop a plan. So Naomi lays it out. You’re going to do this. Ruth says, yeah, we’re going to do that. Takes a risk with Boaz trusting in Boaz that he is a just man and a faithful man and will act as a kinsman Redeemer. And then they debrief the plan.

24. 13:19

    So I think this is exactly the conversation that Mary and Elizabeth would have had. OK, you’re pregnant. You’re going to go back to Nazareth. You’re going to be visibly pregnant when you go back. What’s the plan? And I think the plan was to trust in God and trust that a just man would act justly.

25. 13:38

    Now, I love this quote by only now. And he says the visit of Elizabeth and Mary is one of the Bible’s most beautiful expressions of what it means to form community, to be together, gathered around a promise, affirming that something is really happening. See, God’s placed us in community, and we wait for the return of his Son in community. And as we wait, we must affirm the power and truth of God’s promises.

26. 14:13

    Elizabeth and Mary would have reaffirmed in each other that, of course, what God promised will happen because he is God and he keeps his promises. So Mary returns to her own house in Nazareth. She goes back recognizing the risks and trusting God. She’s found with child. We read in Matthew 118. Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows. After his mother was betrothed to Joseph before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. So it was clear that this was not something that had to do with Joseph.

27. 14:54

    So Mary, it appears to be, seems to be, was rejected by our community and by her betrothed. If you had grown up with Mary, what would you have thought when you saw her come back from Elizabeth’s house? How would you have treated her? What would you have said? What consequences would you be calling for? The record really indicates that Mary seems alone. She returns to a community that knows her well and would have been surprised by her quote UN quote, immorality. Mary didn’t share the truth broadly with her betrothed or her community.

28. 15:40

    I know some folks have have suggested that she tried talking to Joseph, but there’s really no record of that. So I think that she just trusted in God that it would be right. So Joseph has some options, right? He can provide the test. That’s in Numbers 5, the test of the bitter, the Morrow water to see if she’s been unfaithful.

29. 16:04

    And that’s actually what the proto evangelism of James suggests happen. So I do not believe that happened, but that’s the context there. His second option was to divorce her. The third option, which was a real one we know from John 8 he could have had her stoned to death.

30. 16:25

    So Mary went back to Nazareth knowing that these were the options and the last option would be to forgive and protect her. So Joseph, what an example. He is a just man acting in community. We read in Matthew 119 from Mounts. Her husband Joseph was a just man and willing and unwilling to disgrace her in public. He planned to release her quietly. This word just is a powerful word. It’s all over the New Testament.

31. 17:00

    It’s usually translated just or righteous. He was unwilling to disgrace her in public. He was willing to be self sacrificial. He was willing to say I don’t care what people think about me. I don’t want Mary to be hurt. This word, the great disgrace, is a powerful word. The only other time it happens is in Hebrews 66, where it talks about crucifying the Son of God afresh and holding him up to a public shame.

32. 17:36

    And of course, the release here was a divorce, as as we talked about earlier, there were the two cups, the cup of betrothal and the cup of marriage. But the cup of betrothal started the legal aspect of the marriage and then to release her quietly and in Greek that has the sense of hidden.

33. 17:57

    And so Joseph was willing to keep these things hidden, to bear it himself so that Mary would not suffer unduly. So we’re told that Joseph is thinking on these things. And that’s an interesting word, helps word studies, defines it as properly in a passionate frame of mind, easily agitated or quickly moved by strong provoking impulses.

34. 18:28

    So Bible commentators like Kenneth Bailey have pointed out that this means Joseph was angry, you know, and understandably right. If he didn’t know the real origin of of the conception, he would be angry. He’d feel betrayed, but he keeps searching for the right thing to do despite his anger. You know, this is a powerful exhortation to me because one of the things I deal with is anger.

35. 18:53

    And, you know, Joseph here just processes it. He keeps thinking about God, thinking about God. And even though he’s angry, he acts in a just way. And then God sends help. We read in Matthew 1, starting in verse 20. But as he pondered this, behold, an Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream saying, if you’re paying attention to the exhortation last night, who’s the unnamed Angel? Gabriel, right?

36. 19:23

    Because he is the Angel in charge of all things Messiah, Joseph, son of David. Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife for that which has been conceived in hers by the Holy Spirit, and she will bear a son, and you were to call him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.

37. 19:43

    So I think one of the things that Joseph would have thought about is the four female descendants that are mentioned in his genealogy, Tamar and Rahab and Ruth and Bathsheba, all at various times potentially marginalized by the community. All with at various times a suggestion perhaps of sexual impropriety, and all proved righteous in the end.

38. 20:11

    So I think he thought of these things and he got, he got help with this dream and the angel’s message. So Joseph does a powerful thing. He stands up and removes Mary’s disgrace. Kenneth Bailey writes In Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes, Matthew presents Joseph as a human being of remarkable spiritual stature. He possesses the boldness, daring, courage, and strength of character to stand up against his entire community and to take Mary as his wife. He did so in spite of forces that no doubt wanted her stoned. His vision of justice stayed his hand. In short, he was able to reprocess his anger into grace. I love that anger into grace.

39. 21:09

    So Joseph protects Mary and he’s willing to say when people ask him, is that your son? Yes, that’s my son. Knowing that of course God was the was the real father, but for the sake of of protecting Mary and and somewhat normal childhood. Joseph said, yes, that is my son. And we see throughout the Gospel that that’s how Jesus is referred to as the son of Joseph. So Joseph protects Mary’s and Joseph’s actions are the embodiment of love.

40. 21:44

    Love does not seek its own. Joseph was not seeking its own love, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. So on the first day, we talked about how Mary teaches us to wait between the two cups. Well, it’s not just an individual waiting, right? We wait between the two cups in community.

41. 22:08

    And Joseph and Mary show us how to live in community between the two cups. They teach us to trust God to work in the community that He has arranged. Mary went back to Nazareth knowing that things would be hard and also knowing that God would make it right. They didn’t revile when others reviled them.

42. 22:35

    Think of how tempting it would have been for Mary. Hey, let me tell you the real story. She didn’t revile back. Joseph didn’t revile back.

43. 22:47

    They teach us to bear others burdens, especially the marginalized. They taught They teach us to demonstrate righteousness through mercy, and to reprocess anger and to grace. So Joseph and Mary are wed.

44. 23:09

    We can infer that from 2 passages and Matthew 1 and from Luke 2, Luke 2 in particular when they go to the Bethlehem for the census to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife who was with child patrol’s wife is a is a weird grammatical construction that really indicates that the marriage They had the wedding ceremony, but the marriage had not been consummated yet. David Finsey in his article of Wedding bells in Galilee in 2022 in Biblical Archaeological Review says this is what a wedding was like in Nazareth.

45. 23:44

    A bride was carried to the groom’s house in a litter or carriage. People applauded or played music, side wore a crown. The wedding feast was given by the groom’s family and typically the ceremony was a huge event celebrated by the entire village. Have to wonder. All the controversy around Mary and Joseph, if it was as big and as joyous as this, hopefully it was. So Mary and Joseph become a key part of Nazareth’s community. So we, we’re going to God willing to talk about this tomorrow, the birth and things like that. So they, they wed, they go down to the census in Bethlehem, they stay in Judea for roughly 2 years. They go back, they go in flight to Egypt, they come back, they think they’re going to settle in Judea and they are directed N to Nazareth.

46. 24:43

    Mary is. Enmeshed in Nazareth’s community. And Luke 2 shows us that we’re going to talk about the account of Jesus at age 12 tomorrow, God willing. His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of Passover, and Joseph and his mother did not know it, but supposing him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey and sought him among their relatives and acquaintances.

47. 25:06

    And so here’s this beautiful picture of this caravan of people that are friends and acquaintances, that love God, love each other, and that there’s complete and total trust. Think of the complete. And total trust that Mary would have had in these friends and acquaintances to not be checking on where the Son of God was.

48. 25:29

    So. Mary is completely enmeshed in Nazareth’s community and a positive force developing great relationships. And we know that Mary’s family is well known throughout Galilee because remember the great discourse in the synagogue or Capernaum, the people in the synagogue of Capernaum say. Right. Exactly who? Who is this guy? We know his mother and father. So.

49. 25:57

    Marriott seems to develop relationships not just in Nazareth, but throughout the Galilee. So let’s. Flash forward to another wedding in the community 30 years later. John had. Begun his preparatory work. Jesus leaves to be baptized by John. Jesus returns to Nazareth, this time with followers, in time for a community event, a wedding in nearby Cana. Now.

50. 26:28

    Who doesn’t love a community wedding? It’s awesome. It’s a joyous thing, especially when we see a brother and sister joined. It’s so spiritually deep. It’s a time of joy. It’s an awesome event. So. Imagine Jesus and Mary’s conversation as they see each other. At this. Wedding. They must have spoken about Jesus being given the Holy Spirit without measure because that’s the only way it makes sense that Mary had this faith in Jesus ability to solve an unsolvable problem.

51. 27:10

    And did they talk about the next steps in Jesus ministry? So this is a. Critical time, because I’d submit to you that this is a time where Jesus creates some separation. And he says to his. Mom. You’re not my mom. Anymore, you’re my disciple first and. Why do we? Think that? Well, it’s mentioned on the third day.

52. 27:34

    On the. Third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee and the mother of Jesus was there. What happened on the third day there was the creation of boundaries. And fruit was. Made manifest and we’re going to see how this plays out and this miracle. So. Mary. Not the governor of. The feast solves the community problem, we read in John 2.

53. 28:02

    On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Now both Jesus and his disciples were invited to the wedding, and when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to him, they have no wine. Jesus. Said to her woman, What does your concern have to do with me? My now has not yet come, his mother said to the servants. Whatever he says to you, do it.

54. 28:26

    So. Mary comes across here as a force of nature, doesn’t she? She. Sees a community problem and she addresses it. She identifies the problem. They have no wine. And brothers and sisters, I I really acknowledge that many times our our sisters are aware of issues in the in our family, spiritual family that brothers are blissfully ignorant of.

55. 28:59

    Maybe it’s just Kathy having much greater emotional intelligence than me. Maybe I shouldn’t generalize. But. Identifies the problem and she understands that it’s a community problem because as we read in First Corinthians 12, and if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it, or if one member is honoured, all the members rejoice with it. And she knows.

56. 29:24

    That she can’t solve the problem, only Jesus can. And she trusts. The method of problem solving entirely to Jesus isn’t that amazing. Whatever he says to you, do it. No, I don’t know about. You but sometimes I not. I don’t really want the problem solved, but I would like it solved in my way.

57. 29:49

    As I used to say. When I coach basketball to my players, be reasonable. Do it my way. But. That’s not what we should do, is it? And, and, and Mary exemplifies this. She trusts the method of problem solving entirely to Jesus. She understands. That Jesus will solve the problem by working through community members, right? Whatever she because she says to the servants, whatever he tells you to do, do it.

58. 30:19

    Problems are solved through community members. And then of course the. Outcome is better than anything that we could do on our own when we trust God to work and solve our problems, the governor says. You have kept the good wine until now. Some model of problem solving in a community that glorifies God. So let’s talk about Jesus and Mary’s relationship. Jesus is respectful.

59. 30:51

    This word, woman, Gune, is a highly respectful and affectionate mode of address. And when he says your. Concern is really better translated. This doesn’t concern either of us. And I would suggest to you that Jesus here is testing. He’s testing his disciple Mary. He’s pushing back. What is she going to do? And she acts in faith.

60. 31:16

    She acts in faith. Jesus will solve this problem. And it’s the third day. There’s a new boundary established. Jesus separates son and mother and establishes Lord and servant. Remember what else happened on the third day of creation? Fruit was was born, and fruit was born by this miraculous sign. We read in John 211 this beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee and manifested his glory, and his disciples believed in him.

61. 31:49

    Fruit was. Born. The beginning of. Signs. John writes that Jesus did. Now this word sign is a really important word for Mary. It’s the word. Used in the Isaiah prophecy. Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign. And it’s also. A word that Simeon directs to her. Then Simeon. Blessed them and said to Mary his mother, Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign.

62. 32:20

    Which will be. Spoken against. So, Mary. In Faith helped to bring about solving this community issue. And Jesus. Created a sign that bore fruit in belief.

63. 32:38

    So. Let’s turn to the next community example. And this is Jesus being rejected twice in Nazareth. There’s two accounts. The Luke account occurs early in Jesus ministry. The Matthew and Mark account occur later. They document the rejection of of Nazareth that happened in the middle of Jesus ministry. We know this because Luke’s Gospel is generally a chronological gospel, and there are some significant differences between the two accounts.

64. 33:10

    There’s the Daily. Readings from Isaiah 61 and Luke. And there’s the attempted murder and the miraculous escape. So let’s take a look. Jesus is a. Nazareth Synagogue. This is in the place where he grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom and the grace of God was upon him. It’s the place where He increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and men.

65. 33:43

    Now wisdom. And stature. Stature. Is that Luke telling us that, yeah, Jesus got taller as he got older? No, he’s saying that he was respected in the community.

66. 33:55

    He went to. Nazareth, where he hadn’t been brought up. And that word brought up is really interesting. It’s trifle and it’s usually translated as nourished or fed. So that the. Synagogue was where he was getting his food. It’s the. Place where he was brought up, and it was his custom on the Sabbath day to go and teach.

67. 34:18

    And he went. Into the synagogue and stood up to read. And Mary? Hears Jesus exhortation. To preach the. Gospel to the poor. He has sent me to heal the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed today. This scripture is fulfilled in your hearing. You.

68. 34:46

    Know those of us that are blessed to have our children walk in faith and to have our sons deliver exhortations. I have the privilege of doing that. I mean, I remember my oldest son’s first exhortation. I’ll never forget it. And I. Remember looking at him. And just being. So thankful to God and. It was like.

69. 35:14

    It was like it was like time lapse photography because I saw him. I saw him as a three-year old and a 13 year old, and now he’s a 30 year old.

70. 35:29

    Such a. Blessing. And so that’s what Mary would have been feeling for sure. And not only. That, but he’s hitting all the notes that she hits so triumphantly in her song. He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has put down the mighty from their Thrones and exalted the lowly. He is filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty.

71. 35:59

    And then Jesus, family and friends and neighbors react. We read, he said. To them you will surely say this proverb to me, physician, heal yourself. Whatever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in your country. And then they referred to him as Joseph’s son. In the later account they referred to him as Mary’s. So what happens next?

72. 36:30

    Mary’s. Community tried to kill her son, we read and Luke 4. So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath. And Rose. Up and thrust him out of the city, and they led him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw him down over the Cliff.

73. 36:55

    Then. Passing through the midst of them, he went his way. Can you imagine? What Mary was feeling. It’s. Undescribable. And I think part. Of it was as we looked at the first day is that many people in that area were descendants of the House of David. And so they were especially angered that this one person was claiming something special, even though they knew Jesus, even though they would have seen him grow up and and be an exemplary person. Such as?

74. 37:33

    Jealousy. Such as jealousy. So how did Mary? Forgive her friends and neighbors for trying to kill her son. How did she? Forgive her community for this hurt. Well, we have to confess, brothers and sisters, that because we are a body made-up of people that make mistakes and sin. It’s not always sunshine and rainbows, is it?

75. 38:07

    We make. Mistakes. We hurt each other. I make mistakes, I hurt people. How do we respond to those hurts? So I’m going. To do a bit of confession time here, our four children were brought up in a time when our community in Ontario was undergoing quite a bit of internal strife. And. Sadly, our two youngest were the proverbial little ones who became offended at some really negative interactions with brothers and sisters who made them feel very unwelcome.

76. 38:44

    And this has been. A great challenge for me. I confess. That one of the many sins that I struggle with is holding a grudge and not forgiving.

77. 38:56

    I think. It’s my Irish heritage, my sinful flesh, but I really embrace what Joseph Kennedy told his sons. Sons, forgive your enemies, but always remember their names. So that’s not forgiveness, is it? So I struggle with that. I struggle with that big time now.

78. 39:21

    Sister Kathy has been a great example to me. And Mary? ‘S example is just so powerful. Mary’s example has really helped me. Her example? Teaches me to forgive, to stay in community, and to love my brothers and sisters because God has chosen them to be part of His family.

79. 39:49

    Mary taught me that. The way to forgive hurt. Is to love them. Mary did all these. Things love is patient and kind. Not jealous. Not boastful. Not proud, rude or selfish. Not easily angered. And it keeps no. Record of wrongs can. You imagine what Mary could. Have done Do you know who my son is?

80. 40:17

    Love does not. Gloat over the other people’s sins, but takes its delight in the truth. Love always bears up, Always trusts, always hopes, always endures. What a powerful example Mary provides for us, and especially for me as I struggle with this.

81. 40:42

    So the last. Recorded event in Nazareth’s community is the second rejection. So Nazareth Jesus travels from Capernaum to his. Town of. Nazareth, his own native town, we read in Mark 6. In Nazareth he’s rejected for a second time and again. Nazareth is contrasted with the faithfulness that Jesus found at Capernaum, and this occasion he taught in the synagogue at Nazareth.

82. 41:09

    His neighbors were. Astonished at his teaching, they wonder where he received such wisdom and power. They don’t mention Joseph by name. This time Jesus is called Mary’s Son. They are offended at Jesus. Jesus healed only a few people. Jesus did no mighty works there because of their unbelief. And. In kind of a a neat kind of juxtaposition here, a neat irony in the earlier event, the people marvelled at Jesus, and now Jesus marvels at them, at their unbelief. So Nazareth ends up no longer being Mary’s home. As we set at the cross, Mary is told by Jesus to go and live with John, who lived in Capernaum, and she’s given a new community.

83. 42:05

    And it’s a community that’s characterized in Acts chapter 2 we read in verse 12. Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey. And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying. Peter, James, John and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholemy and Matthew, James the son of Alpheus, and Simon and Zealot and Judas the son of James, these all continued with one accord and prayer and supplication with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus with his brothers.

84. 42:41

    Mary is named. Here, because she was an integral part of the early ecclesia, she’s an integral part of that community. And that’s. What God does for us. He gives. Us the blessing of community. Remember Peter? And don’t you love Peter? Because he says what everybody’s thinking, right? He says see we have left all and followed you. And Jesus.

85. 43:11

    Responds assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house, or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the Kingdom of God, who shall not receive many times more in this present time. And in the age to. Come eternal life. In the present. Time. We’re blessed now with community. We’re blessed now with brothers and sisters who would do anything for us.

86. 43:41

    You know, I look. In the audience. And I see. Brothers and sisters who have changed my life. Who’ve strengthened? Me who’ve rejoiced with me, mourned with me.

87. 43:57

    I see brothers and. Sisters that together we’ve held tight to the exceeding great and precious promises that unite us into one family. And so brothers and. Sisters, let’s take Mary’s example and appreciate each other, appreciate our family, appreciate our community, and let’s build it up as we await his son.