Resurrected Hope After Bitter Betrayal
Yesterday, I was talking to my friend Abby about our vicious mama bear rage when someone does something to hurt our sons. Even though my sons are adults, the protective rage is still there. As I recounted a decade old story of an adult talking down to one of my sons, my face burned with anger and I said, “Who the (insert string of swears) talks to a kid like that?”
As I stood there taking a calming breath, I remembered something I often say is one of the biggest proofs of the resurrection: Mary’s song in Luke.
When you read what Luke wrote the story of Mary, it is important to remember Luke interviewed her after the crucifixion. No one was following Mary around with a video camera as these events happened. She wasn’t journaling her thoughts every day. When Luke came to her after seeing all of Jesus’s disciples desert him. After seeing the crowds chose a murderer over Jesus. After seeing Jesus beaten and crucified. After all the miracles. All the love he had shown. This is how they treated her son. How did Mary overcome the bitterness and pain?
Something huge had to happen. Something even more than just Jesus being raised from the dead. Mary had to understand what the resurrection meant for us all. She saw firsthand how much God absolutely adores us and she saw first hand how the powers of this world fight against that love. She saw the power of the kingdom of heaven and forgiveness for even the people who betrayed her son.
Because she understood what the power of the resurrection means for all of us, she was able to move past the deep pain of betrayal. When Luke asked her how she remembered her story, she shared these words with him:
“Oh, how my soul praises the Lord.
How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
For he took notice of his lowly servant girl,
and from now on all generations will call me blessed.
For the Mighty One is holy,
and he has done great things for me.
He shows mercy from generation to generation
to all who fear him.
His mighty arm has done tremendous things!
He has scattered the proud and haughty ones.
He has brought down princes from their thrones
and exalted the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away with empty hands.
He has helped his servant Israel
and remembered to be merciful.
For he made this promise to our ancestors,
to Abraham and his children forever.” (Luke 1:46-55 NLT)
Whatever your pain. Whatever bitter betrayal you are clinging too. There is hope for you in the power of the resurrection. Hope for the kingdom of heaven expanding in your heart and freeing you from the control of all that hurt.
This song by Brad Paisley and Sara Evans does a beautiful job of depicting Mary’s pain and the hope.