A look at the life of Mary the mother of our Lord shows us (to use the words of another) “the marvelous grace of God in singling out this poor woman for this unspeakable honor, and also the fruits of that grace as displayed in her simple, unwavering confidence in the Lord and in her devoted and humble life.” Space does not permit us to enter into every detail of her life, but a consideration of a few experiences in her life will not only magnify the grace of God, but also serve as practical instruction for us.
We might notice right away that while Mary is certainly mentioned in Matthew, she tends to fade into the background. This is as it should be, for in Matthew, Jesus is viewed as the rightful King. As an example, in Matthew 2, five times we read the phrase, “The young child and His mother,” when we would likely have said, “The mother and her young child.” But the Spirit of God properly reserves the place of prominence for the Lord Jesus; it was He who was to be worshiped and to have the first place. As to Mary’s words and actions, they are mentioned only in Luke and John.
Highly Favored
We notice first of all the encounter of Mary with the angel Gabriel. She “found favor with God” (Luke 1:3030And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. (Luke 1:30)) because of her godliness and piety; she was “highly favored” (Luke 1:2828And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. (Luke 1:28)) because of the sovereign grace of God that chose her for the special privilege of being the mother of our Lord. We notice too that her question to the angel concerning how all this would happen did not result in any rebuke, as in the case of Sarah, Abraham’s wife, or Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist. Mary’s heart was right, and when the answer was given, her quiet response was, “Be it unto me according to thy word” (Luke 1:3838And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. (Luke 1:38)). Mary was also given more information than she asked for, as Gabriel had also been commissioned to tell her that her cousin Elizabeth had conceived a son in her old age.
In the course of time, Mary and Joseph are compelled to go to Bethlehem, at the decree of the Roman emperor, but all this only accomplishes God’s purpose that the Messiah should be born in that city. But what rejection and poverty accompany that wonderful birth! With no room in the inn, Mary and Joseph are relegated to a stable. Mary was surely being prepared for the eventual pathway of sorrow and rejection of her Son. Later, when they brought Him to the temple, to present Him to the Lord, the words of Simeon confirm this: “Behold, this Child is ... for a sign that shall be spoken against; yea, a sword shall pierce through thine own soul also” (Luke 2:34-3534And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; 35(Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. (Luke 2:34‑35)). The sacrifice offered was the offering of the poor — “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons” (Luke 2:2424And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons. (Luke 2:24)). Joseph and Mary were poor and could not afford a lamb.
The Natural Tie
However, there are two other things that Mary needed to learn, as our Lord matured as a child and eventually entered upon His earthly ministry. She needed to learn that our Lord must, first and foremost, be involved in His Father’s business. Second, she must learn that her natural tie to Him as His mother gave her no special claim upon Him. At the age of 12, He went up to Jerusalem with His parents to keep the Passover. When His parents started on the return journey, unknown to them, our Lord stayed behind in the temple, hearing the doctors of the law and asking them questions. When His parents finally found Him and His mother reproached Him for doing this, His reply to her was, “Wist ye not that I must be about My Father’s business?” (Luke 2:4949And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? (Luke 2:49)). Later, at the marriage in Cana of Galilee, when there was no wine, His mother (no doubt really wanting to help the situation), drew this fact to Jesus’ attention. But His reply was, “Woman, what have I to do with thee? Mine hour is not yet come” (John 2:44Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. (John 2:4)). We know that Jesus did, in fact, supply the need, but He must do it on His Father’s bidding, and not because of His mother. On another occasion, when His mother and His brethren could not get near Him because of the crowd, they evidently sent a message to Him, wishing to see Him. His answer was, “Who is My mother, or My brethren? And He looked round about on them which sat about Him, and said, Behold My mother and My brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is My brother, and My sister, and mother” (Mark 3:33-3533And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren? 34And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! 35For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother. (Mark 3:33‑35)).
“Behold Thy Mother”
However, it is beautiful how this changes somewhat when our Lord is on the cross and about to die. Mary had witnessed His sufferings on that cross, and surely, as Simeon had prophesied, a sword must have pierced through her own soul, as she saw all that happened to her firstborn Son. But now Jesus takes up her case. It is true that once again Jesus addresses His mother as “woman,” but the Spirit of God refers to her as His mother (John 19:2525Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. (John 19:25)), and when Jesus commits her to the care of John, He says, “Behold thy mother!” (vs. 27). In effect, He transfers to John her relationship with Himself as His mother, and thus owns that relationship in the earthly sphere. He did not own that relationship during His public ministry, but in perfect appropriateness, He owns that natural bond when He is about to give up His life, and He provides for her care.
After the Lord’s Ascension
We see Mary for the last time in Acts 1:1414These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. (Acts 1:14). She does not appear at the grave, nor on the resurrection morning, but after our Lord’s ascension, she is noted as being with the apostles, with other women, and with His brethren. This does not in any way diminish the privilege she had enjoyed as being the mother of our Lord, but that honor did not extend beyond this earth. Now that Jesus is risen and ascended, she humbly takes her place with others who honored Him, and she became part of the church. We do not hear anything further of her.
The scriptural account of her life makes it clear, on the one hand, what a tremendous privilege was hers, to be chosen of God to be the mother of our Lord. On the other hand, Scripture carefully guards against any tendency to exalt her beyond this and to make of her an intercessor between man and God, or an object of worship.
W. J. Prost