On the other hand, she remained supportive of her faithful son. As a result, many people who think Mary's role unimportant to the Good News as a whole misunderstand the relationship between the person of Mary and the Person of Jesus. She knew of the Old Testament prophesies about the coming Messiah. Keep in mind, though, that she was likely a widow​—a single mother at that, perhaps with young ones still at home. And her joy was compounded, for Jesus later appeared to his half brother James, no doubt in private. During his ministry, a woman in the crowd cried out that Jesus’ mother must truly be happy for giving birth to him. 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. If so, she kept such feelings in check. The teaching that claims Mary was freed from labor pains would agree Mary brought forth Jesus but miraculously aided by God. Jesus was the only human without sin. (Luke 3:21, 22) Then he began to select his disciples. OUR FAITH IN ACTION. 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. Mary did not have a big ego, but had full faith and confidence in God’s guidance over her life, even when circumstances seemed unbelievable. Jesus “had no sin” (2 Corinthians 5:21). ", Learn Religions uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. What a thrill for her to hear her son announce that a centuries-old Messianic prophecy was now fulfilled in him! (1 Corinthians 13:11) How can a parent be helpful to grown offspring? Miriam, or Mary as we call her in English, was a devout Jew living in the town of Nazareth. 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. Along with his mother, his disciples, and his fleshly brothers, he went to a wedding feast at Cana, which was evidently a hilltop town some eight miles (13 km) from Nazareth. When she arrived, the stone had been rolled away and Jesus' body was gone. And through His grace, she was converted.The Bible records seven major encounters that Mary Magdalene had with Jesus which changed her life:. On one occasion, a group of relatives​—no doubt including Jesus’ brothers—​decided to go and “seize” Jesus. (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. The role of Mary, the mother of Jesus in His ministry was that she was part of those who Jesus came to "seek and to save" (Luke 19:10). But God saw Mary's trust and obedience. (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? Can you likewise help your children to put God first in life? Mary saw the need and wanted to help. If so, Mary was no stranger to loss. Mary may not have considered the full extent of her future suffering. Now the earth shook violently. As the afternoon light dispelled the gloom shrouding Golgotha, or Skull Place, Mary grieved for her son. Her beloved son was rejected and cruelly murdered. Who was the Virgin Mary? Publication download options 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. Question: "Did Mary have other children? Would you like to read this article in %%? The gospels of Matthew and Luke in the New Testament and the Quran describe Mary as a virgin. The sky had gone dark at midday. It is clear from the Gospels that Mary Magdalene had a great love for Jesus. Did she miss Jesus? But surely she knew that her life would hold many sacrifices as the mother of the Messiah. God knew that Mary was a woman of rare strength. Can I go a step further and rejoice in that plan as Mary did, knowing it will cost me dearly? The virgin birth is that Christ miraculously passed from the uterus through the vaginal opening without altering the physical state of Mary. Suddenly her life changed forever. Thereafter, Jesus’ mother and her other children appear but not Joseph. In her son’s illustrations, did Mary detect some echoes of Jesus’ childhood as he was growing up in Nazareth? TERMS OF USE Copyright © 2021 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. “In him is no sin” (1 John 3:5). Mary and Jesus. Rather, she chose to let them see that her faith brought her joy and peace of mind. THE WATCHTOWER Can Anyone See the Future? (Matthew 13:55, 56; Mark 6:3) Even if Jesus had been training James​—likely the next oldest son—​to carry on the trade, the departure of the eldest would not be easy for the family. Death is a terrible enemy, and it wounds all of us in one way or another. 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. Yet, as you can imagine, this is a very difficult thing … She turned to those serving at the feast and said simply: “Do whatever he tells you.” Mary saw that it was no longer her place to direct her son; rather, she and others should take direction from him. But here is a more important question: How would she respond when Jesus of Nazareth became Jesus Christ, the long-promised Messiah? > 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. THE WATCHTOWER Can Anyone See the Future? What did she expect him to do? In Matthew and Luke she is betrothed to Joseph. We are reminded again that Jesus was born under the law when, in Luke 2:22-24, Mary and Joseph present Jesus in the Temple and ransom him for a pair of turtle doves as prescribed by Jewish law. Obedience to the Lord's will meant Mary would be disgraced as an unwed mother. During the festivities, Mary became aware of a problem. Mary has been away for three months, so we can be sure that Joseph is eager to see her. Since pains at childbirth is one of the punishments inherited from original sin which Mary is free from. But when any child, however imperfect, becomes an adult, the transition may present challenges. Her son never set her up for adulation, let alone worshipful devotion. Women in the Bible​—What Can We Learn From Them. Elizabeth, her cousin, was six months pregnant at the time. 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). We can only imagine, but she knew that her son was a great man who would do great things. Jesus was well aware of His origin and the mission given to Him by His Father in heaven. ^ par. How many children did Mary have?" 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. She saw it as a privilege to be supportive and encouraging to Jesus. We find the last mention of Mary at the meetings with her sons, praying. Mary herself recognized her own need of a Savior. (Romans 5:12; 1 Corinthians 15:26) Is it possible to survive such wounds? Jesus no doubt cherished Mary’s support during the eventful years that followed. How did Mary the mother of Jesus feel when Jesus was crucified? We are used to seeing Mary as beautiful, young, with a warm smile, loving eyes, and of course a character born without sin. Mary was the only person to be present with Jesus at his birth and his earthly death. 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. (John 19:17, 25) Memories likely flooded her mind. In effect, she was saying to him, “Son, please do something about this!” Jesus’ reply must have surprised her. Did they? . A parent’s humble expressions of faith and confidence may do grown children much good. Share Not necessarily. While Catholic tradition teaches that Mary was sinless, Protestants believe only Jesus was sinless. She had recently become engaged to a carpenter named Joseph. She could never have expected to hear the most incredible news—that she would have a child, and her son would be the Messiah. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. Mary was an ordinary Jewish girl, looking forward to marriage. Parents today can learn much from Mary’s faith. Is it not possible, then, that she was sitting in the audience when Jesus spoke at the synagogue in Nazareth? Mary was the one who was chosen to be the mother of Jesus Christ, God’s own Son. Luke contains the most references to Mary and places the greatest emphasis on her role in God's plan. She was the only human being to be with Jesus throughout his entire life—from birth until death. It is quite understandable if she was unable to follow Jesus as he preached throughout his homeland. ", Mary Fairchild is a full-time Christian minister, writer, and editor of two Christian anthologies, including "Stories of Cavalry. Jesus saw her, and though every breath he drew was an agony and every word he uttered cost him dearly, he spoke. In brief: Mary Magdalene, weeping at the empty tomb, sees two angels standing guard. Mary accepted her son’s correction, for she was a sensitive and humble woman. She must have found unique joy in listening to Jesus, the greatest of human teachers, who took such commonplace objects and scenes and drew from them the most profound of lessons! James Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bibleclarifies Joseph’s lineage: “Every Jew kept a record of his lineage, and was proud if he could claim royal or priestly descent; Joseph was ‘a son of David’ (Matthew 1:20Matthew 1:20But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, you son of David, fear not to take to you Mary your wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the … According to Christian theology she conceived Jesus through the Holy Spirit while still a virgin. Some critics will say the fact that Mary “brought forth” Jesus would mean she experienced labor pains. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One … The Gospels tell us relatively little about Mary during the three and a half years of Jesus’ ministry. There would be no reason not to use the language of Mary having brought forth Jesus. https://assetsnffrgf-a.akamaihd.net/assets/a/wp/E/20140501/wpub/wp_E_20140501_lg.jpg, Share 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. 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). Mary could see that her eldest son viewed the news as a signal; it was time to embark on his ministry. “His disciples put their faith in him.” Mary too put her faith in Jesus. Mary, witness to suffering with love and faith in "The Passion of the Christ". 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. Luke 1:46-50 (Excerpt From Mary's Song) And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. This phrase simply meant that Mary had been given much grace or "unmerited favor" from God. This Christmas you may hear a sermon or two comparing today's unwed mothers with a well-known one from the ancient Mideast: Mary, the mother of Jesus. From our perspective 2000 years after the events of the gospel accounts, we may find Mary's lack of understanding about Jesus to be puzzling. Even in the little town of Nazareth, people were talking about John the Baptist and his stirring message of repentance. 8 After figuring in an incident that occurred when Jesus was 12 years old, Joseph is absent from the Gospel record. One that may have surfaced was a recollection from some 33 years earlier. Then the angel left her. She Survived the Sword of Grief. Also distressing was the way her other sons responded to Jesus. We read: “His brothers were . Alfred Edersheim. Each writer reports the event without concern for apparent contradiction. Mary already bore a heavy load; did she dread this transition? He placed his mother in the care of his beloved apostle John. While it is difficult to generalize about the place of Mary, mother of Jesus in Protestantism given the great diversity of Protestant beliefs, some summary statements are attempted.  |  What did Jesus say and do? But one thing the Bible clearly indicates about Mary is … God looks at our obedience and trust—typically not the qualifications that humans consider important. Although Mary's calling held great honor, it would demand great suffering too. It was a very lonely place, but had many fertile slopes as well as rock caves where several Christian family members and friends of Mary already lived. ^ par. Still echoing in her ears was her son’s last outcry as he died after hours of torment. Let us go back three and a half years: Mary sensed that change was coming. * 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. Fearful and troubled, Mary found herself in the presence of the angel Gabriel listening to his announcement. 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. What a fitting end to Mary’s record, and what an example she left behind! Because of her faith, she survived the sword of grief and received, at last, a glorious reward. (Luke 1:38). His words did, however, convey a gentle reproof. Did she at times wish that he were still at home with her and her family? PRIVACY POLICY, https://assetsnffrgf-a.akamaihd.net/assets/m/2014326/univ/art/2014326_univ_sqr_xl.jpg. (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. We learn at John 7:5 that Jesus’ four brothers did not have their mother’s faith. (Matthew 3:1, 13) For Mary and her household, Jesus’ absence would mean an upheaval of sorts. Jesus went to John to get baptized, then became God’s Anointed One, or Messiah. (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. Jesus thus showed how important it is for a man of faith to care for those who are his own, especially when it comes to their spiritual needs.​—John 19:25-27. It seems likely that Mary’s husband, Joseph, had already died. Although she would be highly honored as the mother of the Savior, she would first know disgrace as an unwed mother. Answer: Mary the mother of Jesus was a godly and blessed woman, but she was not without sin. (Luke 2:25-35) Only now, in this tragic hour, did she fully grasp the truth of those words. Surely she expected Joseph to divorce her, or worse yet, he might even have her put to death by stoning (as the law permitted). Jesus Christ is fully human, but He is also fully God (John 1:1). Mary learned of the greatest of all miracles​—Jesus had been resurrected! 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." (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. Answer: Mary, the mother of the Lord Jesus Christ, has been the subject of much speculation, primarily because so little is known about her. (1 Corinthians 15:7) That meeting affected James and Jesus’ other half brothers as well. When it comes to the actual technicalities of Mary’s delivery of Jesus, we really don’t have much information to go on. Jesus is once called “the son of Mary” with no reference to Joseph.​—Mark 6:3. Perhaps she hoped he would start now. They had run out of wine! THE WATCHTOWER Can Anyone See the Future? "May it be to me as you have said." 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! Was Mary’s faith in Jesus rewarded? Urgent though his work was, he still took time for happy occasions with family and friends. Can we even imagine Mary’s pain as she watched Jesus’ torturous six hours on the cross? Jehovah never fails to reward faith, and surely Mary’s case was no exception. 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