Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1926-07-08
Great Personag es
of the Bible
By
REV. LEONARD A. BARRETT


also blood relative Of Elizabeth. who
was the wife OF zacharIas, the priest
II was an unwritten law that only
members Of the royal families wers
permitted TO unite In marriage witt
the priests Though OF royal blood
Khe was poor. Evidence for this IL
seen In that Joseph was carpenter
which trade did not bring large finan.
clal returns; and also from the value
Of the gift Mary and Joseph offered
az sacrifice when they brought Jesus
into the temple. The sacrifice con-
sisted OF a pair Of turtle doves and
two young pigeons. q small gift as
compared with those Of the wealthlar
elass OF her day.
One Of the most interesting expert.
ences In the biography OF Mary was
her attitude OF mind and heart when
she was Informed by the shepherds OF
the important place her son would oc-
cupy 10 the future history Of her ma
ton. To her the information came as
great mystery. She could not COM
prehend why she should be regarded
with such special favor. The writer OF
her biography informs as that i1sfead
of giving expression TO her feeling 10
wild excitement and ovepStrained
nervous tension, she remained elo-
quently silent. "Mary kept all these
sayings. bordering them Ia her heart"
No one but a mother knows the secrets
which she hides away I'll the sanctu-
airy OF her heart
Not only was the prophecy concern
ing Jesus locked up IN Mary's heart
She also treasured there the mystery
which surrounded her child Jesus. She
could not altogether adjust herself to
His dual nature Truly He was her
son. but He was also the Son Of God.
Pathetic is the incident for Mary
when she discovered that after leav-
Ing the temple she had lost her Son.
She sought for Him diligently, but no
where could He be found Upon re-
turning to the temple, hoping that she
might find Him Ia the crowd, Imagine
her CONSERVATION when she discovered
that Jesus, though but thirteen years
OF age, was occupying q distinguished
place In the temple. He was arguing
with the intellectual men OF His day
upon matters OF the law. Even more
mysterious was the reply Of Jesus
when Mary spoke to Him about His
absence. "Knew ye not that | must
be In Ny Fathers house." After this
incident, He returns to the humble
home In Nazareth. but Mary, perpIexed
and bewildered, kept all these things
In her heart"
a mothers pride and confidence IN
her son Is beautifully portrayed |
through an incident which occurred In
Cana. The occasion Is a wedding
feast and the refreshments which were
furnished for the feast had given out
Mary lntefteded with Jesus In behalf
Of the guests and the embarrassment
was relieved by the FIRST miracle which
Jesus performed. The confidence
which Nary had IA her Sea ls eK-
pressed In her command TO the serv-
ants, whatsoever He saith unto you.
10 It."
Upon another occasion Mary, moth
srIlke, desired to speak with Jesus,
doubtless upon a subject Of vital con-
.ern to herself. but which Jesus felt
vas not as important as the work Of
and healing. While Jesus
vas speaking to the crowds OF people,
Nary stood outside waiting for an op-
'ortunity to speak with Him. When
fesus was Informed Of her wish, He
made rely to His followers which
vas a frank declaration OF His spirit
IaI mission. MotherIlke, Mary again
Kept all this In her heart"
AT the crucihxiOn, the concern which
esus had for His mother Is very beau
Iful and tender. He provides for her
uture care and gives her q parting as
uranee Of His love and devotion. But
esus, her Son. whom she perhaps
ever did thoroughly understand. was
cling crucifed. Again. the only place
shere Mary could safely hide her sor.
ow and her pain was In the sanctuary
Z her heart.
This attitude Of Mary. OF hiding
Kings in her heart, stands out as
cry unique characteristic Of her ma
sre. The only safe place Of sure re-
eat is the human heart. 4
The wisdom Of the heart Is many s
mes more valuable than the wisdom
! the mind. "Out OF the heart are n
le issues Of life" The lamps Of c0ur-
ye, sympathy. and strength are III
thin the temple Of the heart The :,
al man il always, THE hidden man .
the heart. n
90. 1875. western Newspaper Union.i =