Bible Character Studies: Mary, the mother of Jesus

Mary

Contrary to Roman Catholic teaching, Mary doesn’t have a prominent place in the ministry of Jesus. She plays an important role in bearing the Messiah, and she is definitely blessed, but she is not in every scene in Jesus’ life, like the movie, The Passion seemed to portray. But then it was made by Roman Catholics. It’s hard not to talk about her without drawing attention to some of the errors of Rome and contrasting them with the Protestant view throughout history as we look at this interesting woman.

It’s noteworthy that since Jesus hands the care of His mother over to John (John 19:26-28) Mary has likely told John much about Jesus’ early life. Yet he chooses to leave that out of his gospel. For one who knew the most about Mary, compared to the other gospel writers, he mentions her the least. That is significant. For all we know, she even asked him to make it so.

Also, any time John mentions her, he doesn’t even use her name, but just calls her the mother of Jesus, or His mother. (John 2:1,3,5,12,19:25,26)

Her last recorded comment in this gospel is, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” (John 2:5) Then she fades from the scene until the crucifixion. We would do well to heed her words and focus on obedience to Jesus.

Also, contrary to Roman Catholic teaching that Jesus was her only child, in order to bolster their teaching on the perpetual virginity of Mary, she and Joseph had children together after Jesus was born. He is called her “firstborn Son” in Matthew 1:25 and Luke 2:7). It also says that Joseph did not “know her” as in sexually, UNTIL she brought forth her firstborn Son. (Matt. 1:25) This implies that they had a normal marital relationship after Jesus’ birth.

The term firstborn can be in reference to birth order or rank (importance). Either way it would imply He is not Mary’s only child. For birth order; He’s the firstborn, if rank; He would have to be compared with another. For further proof, John 2:12 mentions “His brothers” distinct from “His disciples”. Acts 1:14 also mentions His brothers in a sentence separate from the disciples and in connection with His mother.

Mark 3:31-35 tells of a time when His mother and His brothers came to see Him. He distanced Himself from them because they had no special favours as His family; unlike the Roman Catholic idea that Mary is somehow able to influence Him because she’s His mother, as justification to pray to her. As if He needed any prodding to be compassionate! Consider His compassion to the thief on the cross, even with no encouragement from Mary, although she was standing there.

Both Mark and Matthew name Jesus’ brothers (four of them) and also mention “sisters”, so that implies at least two. So at least seven children in the family, seven to Mary, six to Joseph.

“Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?” Matt. 13:55,56

This James is the one believed to have written the book of James, so he did eventually come to faith. Yet in his book he just refers to Jesus as his Lord and doesn’t claim any special status because of the familial connection. In fact, in his book, he condemns favouritism very harshly. Another brother of note is Jude (called Judas in the gospels, he no doubt shortened it because of Judas Iscariot). He wrote the epistle that bears his name.

Even during Jesus’ own intense suffering on the cross, He is concerned for others. As Joseph is no doubt dead by the time of Jesus’ public ministry, Jesus as the eldest son, looks to plan for the future care of His mother. His own half-brothers were at this point unbelievers, so He put her in the care of His beloved disciple John, whom He knew would be living the longest. It shows us we are to care for our elderly parents.

Mary is not sinless, but refers to “God, my Savior” (Luke 1:47). She wouldn’t need a Savior if she was sinless. Finally, she is mentioned among the worshippers in the Upper Room after the Resurrection. (Jesus’ brothers are also there. Perhaps at that point they were all believers.) She is not being worshipped or prayed to, but is just one of the followers of Christ awaiting the promised Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:14)

But Mary had a difficult life, in spite of the great blessing of being the mother of the Messiah. She went through the scandal of a pregnancy that many thought was the result of an illicit affair. She knew what it was like to have unbelieving children, to be a widow, and to have a Son cruelly treated and killed in front of her. The words of Simeon to her when Jesus was an infant were true; “…a sword will pierce through your own soul also…” (Luke 2:35)

As with most things, we need to have balance and not make too much of her, like the Roman Catholics, or too little of her as a backlash against their errors, as many Protestants do. When someone in a crowd shouted to Jesus, “Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which nursed You!” Jesus answered, “More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” (Luke 11:27,28)