Mary, the mother of Jesus, is probably the most famous mother in the world. She is venerated by millions around the world. She has been idolized in art, music, and literature. But, who was she and what can we learn about her life as the mother of the savior of the world?
Five Still-Life Pictures of Motherhood
Here I offer five snapshots from Mary’s life as a mother – and things I’ve learned from each.
1. Mary comes to terms with her pregnancy.
The angel told her that she was pregnant and that it was from God. Mary was shocked and dismayed. She resigned herself to it but didn’t know what to think. It’s not until she visited her cousin, Elizabeth, that she truly embraced her purpose. Elizabeth was the first to confirm the message of the angel. Elizabeth said, “Yes! What has happened to you is from God.”
It’s then that Mary sang her song. It’s then that Mary embraced the thing God created her to do.
Lessons:
- Sometimes we need another human being to affirm what God wants to do with us.
- We were created for a purpose and created to passionately pursue it with strength and courage.
2. Mary chastises Jesus.
When Jesus was twelve years old he stayed in Jerusalem without his parents knowing it. They couldn’t find him for several days. When they did find him, Mary chastised him. Little boy Jesus eventually obeyed and returned with them to Nazareth. Jesus was a precocious child. Mary was firm with him (i.e., I don’t care if you are the Son of God, you will eat your green beans!)
Lessons:
- Speak truth to your friends and family – even if it’s hard.
- Love sometimes looks like anger.
3. Mary pushes Jesus.
Mary and Jesus were at a wedding. They ran out of wine. Mary wanted Jesus to fix it by performing a miracle. Jesus didn’t want to – he didn’t feel it was his time yet. And even if it was, he certainly doesn’t want to start his movement with a miracle as mundane as turning water into wine. Mary makes her wish clear. Jesus turns the water into wine.
Lessons:
- We all need to be challenged from time to time.
- Obey mom – she’s usually right.
4. Mary tries to save Jesus.
Jesus was healing people, casting out demons, and performing miracles. His enemies were hard-pressed to explain it away. After he raised someone from the dead in the village of Nain, his enemies called him demon possessed. They were out to get him. Jesus’ life was in danger.
Mary showed up. She tried to rescue Jesus. She told the Pharisees that Jesus was crazy – literally, “outside of his mind.” The Bible uses the Greek word from which we get the English word, “Schizophrenic.”
Did she really think that about him? Probably not. She was trying to rescue him.
Lessons:
- A mom will always feel every insult a child receives.
- Sometimes you can’t rescue them.
5. Mary stands at the foot of the cross.
Jesus had been hanging on the cross for about three hours when he looked down and saw his mother. I can’t even begin to imagine what she was feeling. Jesus was half-dead. He could barely speak.
Earlier Jesus had said, “Father, forgive them for they don’t know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). I doubt that Mary was saying that. She had to be in unimaginable pain.
Why was she there? No one would ever have blamed her for skipping this scene. No one would have blamed her for staying home that day. But there she was. Standing at the foot of the cross. Dying inside as her first-born son died a slow, brutal death.
Lessons:
- Your mother will go to hell and back with you.
- A parent never stops being a parent.
- This life is a sacred, sacrificial offering.
Well … that’s it! So many lessons we learn from our Moms. Thanks to all the Biblical moms we studied this week – and thanks to all of you who took the time to read!
