Jesus's Mother's Understanding

[Mintaka]

Incidentally, Mary didn’t technically “ponder” these things in her heart. She “treasured them up” or “kept them locked up safe” or “safe-deposited” them in her heart. Obviously pondering would be included, but Luke’s chosen word is “dieterei,” which is all about making sure something is secured all right and tight. Another meaning is “to maintain, to keep.” There’s an older meaning also, “to observe closely.”

Which would tend to indicate that Mary was Luke’s major informant about “all these things” in Jesus’ early life, which is pretty much what most people have always figured.

Anyway, it’s kind of a reference and kind of a Luke joke, because the same word gets used in the Septuagint at Gen. 37:11, when Joseph tells Jacob and his brothers about his dream, and the brothers are eaten up with envy, basically; but “his father treasured up” (or “observed closely”) what Joseph had said. (The Hebrew word is “had dabar”, kept in mind.)

 

[Julius_Caesar]

It’s a sign, or a kick in the heinie, and not a brand new piece of information.

This was not one of those times.

 

[Mintaka]

Sez you. I mean, think about it. Mary gave birth to her kid in Bethlehem, about two seconds away from Rachel’s Tomb, where Rachel was still famously weeping for her kiddies. Like other Jewish women, Mary rested at the Kathisma, the Seat that had been a rest for Rachel right before she gave birth to Benjamin and died.

And then Mary gives birth without pain, but with angels and animals and such. Other than the stable, it’s like the Disney Princess version of obstetrics. In a place known for Rachel feeling pain and dying hard.

Of course Mary and Joseph were already kinda suspicious! Baby Jesus is the Lord, both God and the Messiah, but not the Suffering Servant? Noooope. Mary is in Rachel’s place, but never going to have pain? Nopers. And they’re Jewish, so of course they knew it was bound to work out like that.

(But it could have been worse on Calvary. It could have been raining.)

The only way it would have been totally new information is if Mary had been assuming that she was going to be the messianic mother version from the apocryphal Jewish texts, where she was riding a magical camel in battle against her son’s enemies and carrying a magical flaming sword, or something along those lines.

She was probably assuming that “your heart a sword will pierce” was about her ending up a martyr, like the Mother of the Seven Brothers in Maccabees, which was also one of the possibilities in the apocryphal literature. But other than getting serious (and maybe being a bit pushy about the messianic banquet when in Cana), Mary doesn’t seem to have been all that fazed by seeming to have had her death pre-announced. So she’d obviously heard that martyr/death interpretation before.

(And was probably relieved when she found out it was about emotion, although she probably also thought God was being a giant troll. However, assuming that she was going to die next was probably the only way that God got her through the Crucifixion without breaking her, so there’s that.)

So yeah, if all she (and Joseph!) did was “wonder” (when personal heart piercing was announced!), I think she had a fairly tight grasp on Jesus’ part in the plan of salvation.

 

[Julius_Caesar]

But it could have been worse on Calvary. It could have been raining.)

Which was new info as everyone had a different conception of the Messiah than was the truth.

So in reality, Simeon WAS GIVING NEW INFO.

 

[Lindsey2905]

In my opinion, Mary knew what she was saying “yes” too, if the words in her Magnificat are anything to go with Plus she would have known scripture inside out, recognised what Gabriel was saying to her, and still said “yes” so selflessly.
I thank God that she did for the sake of my own salvation, and that of everyone elses.
She may have been conceived without sin, but she still had free will.

 

[Julius_Caesar]

Plus she would have known scripture inside ou

Would she have understood it in its proper sense?

 

[Lindsey2905]

From the Jewish midrash she was constantly in the synagogue, either cleaning or listening. (the only female to be allowed in by special permission after a certain age). My opinion is knowing the prophecies, she would have understood what she was saying “yes” too, and that she had said, “From now on all ages shall call me blessed”. I reckon she knew fine well.
May i ask why you call yourself Julius Ceasar, no offence meant, just intrigue

 

[Julius_Caesar]

From the Jewish midrash she was constantly in the synagogue, either cleaning or listening.

Jesus’ death being revealed in the Scriptures was a shock to His followers. So I’m not sure Mary would’ve understood the true meaning of Isaiah 53.