December 2002

Christ:
The Landscape of Life

Part Fifty

“LO and BEHOLD”

“Guarding our garments” (O)

         In our ongoing revelations of the virgin Mary, we have seen this highly favored girl through new eyes. As we have noted, her name [which denotes a person’s nature or character] comes from Heb 4813 which is defined: “MOST REBELLIOUS, GRIEVOUS, UNPLEASANT, BITTER, PROVOKING and DISOBEDIENT!” This is a far different image than we have ever seen of this young girl. In Lk 1:48, Mary also calls herself the Lord’s “handmaiden”; a word from Gk 1399 meaning: “a female slave”; and from 1401: “A bondservant in subjection or subservience”; and from 1210: “Be in bonds or in bondage!” Mary also says she is of “low estate”; and this term is from Gk 5014: “DEPRESSION (in rank or feeling), MADE LOW, CAST DOWN, VILE and HUMILIATION!” These are facts, not opinions, about the vessel chosen to birth the Christ Child!
          But that low estate of Mary was changed forever by Messiah’s Presence within her womb! And when she was led of the Spirit to visit Elisabeth, that miraculously pregnant cousin said to her, “You are blessed among women; and blessed is the Fruit of your womb!” Then she also adds, “Blessed is she (Mary) who has believed that the things the Lord has said to her will be fulfilled!” Mary confirms this in her declaration, “All generations shall call me blessed!” (Lk 1:42-48) Her belief released God’s blessing! We are equally blessed if God’s Mercy has released us from our prison of unbelief! (Ro 11:32) Would you like all generations to call you blessed? Rejoice, for God has not one but 9 blessings in store for you! (Mt 5:3-12) Count them for yourself:

1) BLESSED are the poor in spirit (the cost to us); for
theirs is the Kingdom of God (our Blessing)!

2) BLESSED are they that mourn (the cost to us);
for they shall be comforted (our Blessing)!

3) BLESSED are the meek (the cost to us); for
theirs is the Kingdom of God (our Blessing)!

4) BLESSED are they that mourn (the cost to us);
for they shall inherit the earth (our Blessing)!

5) BLESSED are they who hunger and thirst for
Righteousness, (the cost to us); for they shall
be filled (our Blessing)!

6) BLESSED are the merciful (the cost to us);
for they shall obtain mercy (our Blessing)!

7) BLESSED are the pure in heart (the cost to us);
for they shall see God (our Blessing)!

8) BLESSED are they which are persecuted for
Righteousness’ Sake (the cost to us); for theirs
is the Kingdom of heaven (our Blessing)!

9) BLESSED are you when men revile you; saying
all manner of evil things against you for My Sake
(the cost to you); for your reward in heaven shall
be great (your); for they persecuted the prophets
that came before you in the same way!

         Mary was indeed “highly favored” to have “The Holy Spirit come upon her”; and to have “The Power of the Most High overshadow her”; so she could birth (KJV says) “That Holy Thing called the Son of God”! I was never comfortable hearing the Son of God referred to as a “Thing”- holy or otherwise; yet the Greek offers no reference number to trace the origin of the word. But then the Holy Spirit led me to look up the word “holy” in Greek 40; which was also interpreted as “Holy One”- a far more reverential term for Jesus Christ. I was content with that revelation till the Holy Spirit disclosed a still greater revelation! This same Greek root is given exclusively in the NT as “S-A-I-N-T”! It is the reference used for: “saints at Lydda” (Ac 9:32); “saints at Jerusalem” (Ro 15:26); “saints at Achaia” (2 Co 1:1); “saints at Ephesus” (Eph 1:1); and “ALL the saints”! (2 Co 13:13)
          All earthy beings are first born in the “low estate” of carnal-minded death as is revealed in Ge 1:26 which says “God said, Let us make MAN in our image, and after our own likeness”; and in Ge 2:19 where “God brought every every beast of the field and every fowl of the air to ADAM, to see what he would call them; and whatever he called every living creature, that was its name!” Both of these words, MAN and ADAM, share Heb root 120 adam meaning, “A human being of LOW DEGREE!” This reference is from Heb 119 meaning “Show blood in the face; turn red!” This flush or blush is caused by man’s HUMILIATION at being naked before God! Humiliation is one definition of Mary’s “low estate”; and there is only one escape from this cursed condition and that is being born anew into the SECOND AND LAST CHRIST-ADAMIC NATURE! When this happens, we are all “highly favored” and especially, “blessed of God”!!

[TO BE CONTINUED]