He knew she would willingly serve God in one of the most important callings ever given to a human being. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One … Mary is mentioned by name in the genealogy of Jesus, in the annunciation, in Mary's visit with Elizabeth, in the birth of Jesus, in the visit of the wise men, in Jesus' presentation in the temple, and in the Nazarene's rejection of Jesus. Gabriel Tells Mary Not to be Afraid . Nothing of the sort is ever said of Mary or anyone else. The teaching that claims Mary was freed from labor pains would agree Mary brought forth Jesus but miraculously aided by God. She may not have imagined the pain of watching her beloved child bear the weight of sin and die a terrible death on the cross. (Matthew 27:45, 51) It may have seemed to Mary that Jehovah himself was letting the world know that he, more than anyone else, was deeply hurt by the death of Jesus Christ. Although she would be highly honored as the mother of the Savior, she would first know disgrace as an unwed mother. Can I go a step further and rejoice in that plan as Mary did, knowing it will cost me dearly? Was Mary’s faith in Jesus rewarded? TERMS OF USE (Luke 11:33; 15:8, 9; 17:35) When Jesus said that his yoke was kindly and his load light, did Mary think back on some golden afternoon long ago when she watched Joseph teach a young Jesus how to make and shape a yoke with care so that an animal could bear it in comfort? Far from taking offense, Mary surely understood Jesus’ point​—spiritual ties are far more important than fleshly ones.​—Mark 3:32-35. He placed his mother in the care of his beloved apostle John. We read: “His brothers were . We later learn that they came to believe in Jesus as the Christ. Mary herself recognized her own need of a Savior. Her beloved son was rejected and cruelly murdered. If so, Mary was no stranger to loss. What did Jesus say and do? During his ministry, a woman in the crowd cried out that Jesus’ mother must truly be happy for giving birth to him. “In him is no sin” (1 John 3:5). These qualities made her unsuitable in the eyes of her people to be used mightily of God. At a wedding feast, the supply of wine was depleted. She gave birth to the Messiah and now he was dying to save us all from sin. An eyewitness to the execution, the apostle John, later included this telling detail in his account: During the ordeal, Mary was standing “by the torture stake of Jesus.” Nothing could prevent that loyal, loving mother from standing by her son to the very last. In brief: Mary Magdalene, weeping at the empty tomb, sees two angels standing guard. It seems likely that Mary’s husband, Joseph, had already died. Thereafter, Jesus’ mother and her other children appear but not Joseph. The Gospels tell us relatively little about Mary during the three and a half years of Jesus’ ministry. Mary saw the need and wanted to help. ", Mary Fairchild is a full-time Christian minister, writer, and editor of two Christian anthologies, including "Stories of Cavalry. What mus… Jesus Christ is fully human, but He is also fully God (John 1:1). Mary’s faith can teach you a great deal. God knew that Mary was a woman of rare strength. Suddenly her life changed forever. Did she wonder, in near exasperation, just what it would take to reach their hearts? Jehovah never fails to reward faith, and surely Mary’s case was no exception. What did she expect him to do? Yet, as you can imagine, this is a very difficult thing … One Bible account reveals something in that regard.​—John 2:1-12. It is quite understandable if she was unable to follow Jesus as he preached throughout his homeland. While Catholic tradition teaches that Mary was sinless, Protestants believe only Jesus was sinless. If we imitate her faith, we too will survive whatever wounds this hard world inflicts on us and we will enjoy rewards greater than we can imagine. There would be pain in childbirth and motherhood, as well as in the privilege of being the mother of the Messiah. In Acts, she is referred to as "Mary, the mother of Jesus" (Acts 1:14), where she participates in the community of believers and prays with the apostles. Luke 1:38"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. Although she could not comprehend how she would conceive the Savior, she responded to God with humble belief and obedience. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. Granted, no one else has ever raised a child quite like Jesus. She must have turned away quickly and stayed turned from Him for most of the contact and conversation, because the Scripture tells us she turns back toward Him when He mentions her name. But when any child, however imperfect, becomes an adult, the transition may present challenges. And her joy was compounded, for Jesus later appeared to his half brother James, no doubt in private. If so, she kept such feelings in check. (Romans 5:12; 1 Corinthians 15:26) Is it possible to survive such wounds? Copyright © 2021 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. (Luke 3:21, 22) Then he began to select his disciples. Elizabeth, her cousin, was six months pregnant at the time. One way is to express sincere confidence that a faithful son or daughter will continue to apply Bible teachings and receive Jehovah’s blessing as a result. Answer: Mary the mother of Jesus was a godly and blessed woman, but she was not without sin. Death is a terrible enemy, and it wounds all of us in one way or another. She had been freed by him from possession by seven devils, had followed him as a disciple, ministering to him from her means (Luke 8:2-3), and had been with Mary, the Mother of Jesus and the other women when Jesus was crucified (Mark 15:40-41). THE WATCHTOWER Can Anyone See the Future? Mary accepted her son’s correction, for she was a sensitive and humble woman. 16 Joseph was not Jesus’ biological father, so these siblings were technically Jesus’ half brothers and half sisters.​—Matthew 1:20. The Bible's account of the Annunciation continues in Luke 1:30-33: "But the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. ^ par. But God saw Mary's trust and obedience. Many of Jesus’ illustrations show the influence of his training by Joseph and Mary. When she and Joseph had just presented their precious baby at the temple in Jerusalem, an aged man named Simeon was inspired to utter a prophecy. Also distressing was the way her other sons responded to Jesus. Can you likewise help your children to put God first in life? As the afternoon light dispelled the gloom shrouding Golgotha, or Skull Place, Mary grieved for her son. THE WATCHTOWER Can Anyone See the Future? Jesus was reminding his mother that she really did not have a say in the way he directed his ministry; that was reserved for his Father, Jehovah. Parents today can learn much from Mary’s faith. Did she miss Jesus? Rather, she chose to let them see that her faith brought her joy and peace of mind. (NIV), Luke 1:46-50(Excerpt From Mary's Song)And Mary said:"My soul glorifies the Lordand my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,for he has been mindfulof the humble state of his servant.From now on all generations will call me blessed,for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name.His mercy extends to those who fear him,from generation to generation. The sky had gone dark at midday. There would be no reason not to use the language of Mary having brought forth Jesus. She looked at him not just as her son but as her Lord and Savior. When she arrived, the stone had been rolled away and Jesus' body was gone. When the angel appeared and told her the baby would be God's Son, Mary replied, "I am the Lord's servant ... may it be to me as you have said." Alfred Edersheim. Because of her faith, she survived the sword of grief and received, at last, a glorious reward. What a thrill for her to hear her son announce that a centuries-old Messianic prophecy was now fulfilled in him! Share Who was the Virgin Mary? Jesus is once called “the son of Mary” with no reference to Joseph.​—Mark 6:3. She Survived the Sword of Grief. Mary also knew the Scriptures. Grief-stricken and disoriented, she mistakes Jesus for a worker in the garden. When they meet, Mary likely tells him of her condition, doing her best to explain that her pregnancy is by means of God’s holy spirit. THE WATCHTOWER Can Anyone See the Future? She was thankful to God for preparing and giving her St. Joseph to be her spouse and the head of the family and she prayed and sacrificed for him and did all she could to help him understand his role, as head of the family, in raising Jesus and setting the most perfect example of Fatherhood possible for the Child who was perfection already. This phrase simply meant that Mary had been given much grace or "unmerited favor" from God. In effect, she was saying to him, “Son, please do something about this!” Jesus’ reply must have surprised her. Being chosen by God for a high calling requires total commitment and a willingness to sacrifice everything out of love and devotion to one's Savior. How many children did Mary have?" (1 Corinthians 15:7) That meeting affected James and Jesus’ other half brothers as well. It has been said that the death of one’s own child is the worst, the most painful, loss that a human can face. For his part, Jesus showed that he shared his mother’s compassion for this newly married couple. He replied: “No, rather, happy are those hearing the word of God and keeping it!” (Luke 11:27, 28) And when some in a crowd pointed out to Jesus that his mother and his brothers were near, he said that those who believed were really his mothers and brothers. It must have been distressing, though, to see that her fellow Nazarenes did not accept her son. Would you like to read this article in %%? Protestant views on Mary include the theological positions of major Protestant representatives such as Martin Luther and John Calvin as well as some modern representatives. OUR FAITH IN ACTION. Am I like Mary, willing to accept God's plan no matter the cost? Jesus went to John to get baptized, then became God’s Anointed One, or Messiah. Mary was the only person to be present with Jesus at his birth and his earthly death. As we consider Mary’s life from the start of Jesus’ ministry to the time of his death and just beyond, we will learn much about the faith that helped Mary to survive the sword of grief. (1 Timothy 5:8) Still, she continued to meditate on spiritual things that she had learned about the Messiah  and to attend meetings in her local synagogue as had always been the family custom.​—Luke 2:19, 51; 4:16. She could never have expected to hear the most incredible news—that she would have a child, and her son would be the Messiah. To the human eye, Mary Magdalene appeared hopeless but Christ saw in her capabilities for good. Still echoing in her ears was her son’s last outcry as he died after hours of torment. And through His grace, she was converted.The Bible records seven major encounters that Mary Magdalene had with Jesus which changed her life:. She had recently become engaged to a carpenter named Joseph. * Jesus was now called not only “the carpenter’s son” but also “the carpenter.” Evidently, Jesus had taken over his father’s business and had assumed the role of provider for the family, which included at least six children who were born after him. Even at the age of 12, He had a strong desire to “be about [His] Father’s business” (Luke 2:49).That desire was again pointed out to Mary when He performed His first miracle in the Galilean town of Cana by turning water into wine (John 2:1–12). On the other hand, she remained supportive of her faithful son. Behold the words in which Mary revealed to St. Bridget the pitiable state of her dying Son, as she saw him on the cross: “My dear Jesus was on the cross in grief and in agony; his eyes were sunken, half closed, and lifeless; the lips hanging, and the mouth open; the cheeks hollow, and attached to the teeth; the face lengthened, the nose sharp, the countenance sad; the head had fallen upon his breast, the hair black … Although Mary's calling held great honor, it would demand great suffering too. The angel told Mary in Luke 1:28 that she was highly favored by God. If we find it hard to imagine the extent of her grief, how much more so are we at a loss to imagine the joy she felt three days later! When Jesus spoke of a woman sweeping her house to find a lost coin, grinding flour for bread, or lighting a lamp and setting it atop a stand, did Mary think of that little boy who had been at her side as she carried out such daily tasks? She had to strive for the balance of remaining loyal to divine truth while working to win over the hearts of her family members without being overbearing or combative. Do you live in a religiously divided home? The gospels of Matthew and Luke in the New Testament and the Quran describe Mary as a virgin. We learn at John 7:5 that Jesus’ four brothers did not have their mother’s faith. The Church teaches that she was a virgin before, during, and after the birth, but when it comes to the specifics of the physical birth itself, much is open to speculation. Jesus no doubt cherished Mary’s support during the eventful years that followed. not exercising faith in him.” As to Jesus’ sisters​—of whom there were at least two—​the Bible is silent. Can we even imagine Mary’s pain as she watched Jesus’ torturous six hours on the cross? "And Mary said: 'My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior" (Luke 1:46-47). . He said: “Woman, why is that of concern to me and to you?” Jesus’ words contained no disrespect, although they have been misinterpreted that way. He foretold great things for Jesus, but he added that one day, Mary would come to feel as if she were run through by a long sword. After all, she had been given an angelic announcement of His birth—not to mention the miraculous conception of a … Audio download options (Matthew 11:30) Surely Mary found immense satisfaction  in contemplating the privilege that Jehovah had given her in life​—that of helping to raise and train the son who would become the Messiah. She could not have been just anybody. By using Learn Religions, you accept our, Enjoy the Complete Christmas Story of the Birth of Jesus, Meet Zechariah: John the Baptist's Father, Meet Elizabeth, Mother of John the Baptist, Meditations on the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary, The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Chronology of the Birth and Life of Jesus Christ, The Ultimate List of Christmas Bible Verses to Celebrate Jesus' Birth, Catholic Beliefs About Mary That Lack Biblical Support, General Biblical Studies, Interdenominational Christian Training Center. Some critics will say the fact that Mary “brought forth” Jesus would mean she experienced labor pains. (N.b. After Jesus' crucifixion, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb to finish preparing His body. God looks at our obedience and trust—typically not the qualifications that humans consider important. ", Learn Religions uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Mary has been away for three months, so we can be sure that Joseph is eager to see her. Mary learned of the greatest of all miracles​—Jesus had been resurrected! Is it not possible, then, that she was sitting in the audience when Jesus spoke at the synagogue in Nazareth? (Hebrews 11:6) Just imagine what it was like for her to hear her son speak or to hear reports of his sermons from others who heard them firsthand. Mary, witness to suffering with love and faith in "The Passion of the Christ". They had run out of wine! Women in the Bible​—What Can We Learn From Them. (John 19:17, 25) Memories likely flooded her mind. When it comes to the actual technicalities of Mary’s delivery of Jesus, we really don’t have much information to go on. What a fitting end to Mary’s record, and what an example she left behind! The result? Publication download options (Luke 2:25-35) Only now, in this tragic hour, did she fully grasp the truth of those words. A parent’s humble expressions of faith and confidence may do grown children much good. > Luke 1 (KJV) 26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. Jesus was the only human without sin. Mary and Jesus. Mary was delighted to see her other sons become loyal Christians. Jesus was reminding his mother that she really did not have a say in the way he directed his ministry; that was reserved for his Father, Jehovah. https://assetsnffrgf-a.akamaihd.net/assets/a/wp/E/20140501/wpub/wp_E_20140501_lg.jpg, Share  |  * In any event, Mary came to know the peculiar pain of living in a home where differing religious viewpoints prevailed. Savior '' ( Luke 1:46-47 ) of two Christian anthologies, including `` Stories of Cavalry body! Little town of Nazareth, people were talking about John the Baptist and his stirring message repentance. 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