Learning from the Mother of Jesus

As Mother’s Day comes again, we want to offer the chance to learn about one more mother: the mother of the Savior himself. Many of us feel that Mary must have been practically perfect and that we could never relate to her. But you may have more in common with Mary than you think.

For instance, do you ever wonder what God has in store for you? Do you have a general idea of what God wants you to become, but not how to make it to that point? If either of those descriptions is part of your life, then you might benefit from studying the life of Jesus’ mother more closely.

Mary is probably the most well-known, well-loved, and well-respected woman throughout both the Bible and history itself. After all, God must have chosen one of the most righteous women who had ever lived to become the mother of His only begotten. But it’s easy to forget that Mary was a real person. In fact, she was probably quite normal in many ways and not all that different from you and me.

For one thing, she seemed pretty surprised to receive a visit from an angel and a little confused about her assignment to carry and raise God’s son. But instead of disbelieving or retreating, Mary simply asked for necessary information and promised the angel that she would do whatever God asked of her.

God has ways of telling us what He wants us to accomplish. Maybe He has the Holy Spirit gently prod you to talk to the girl sitting next to you on the bus. Perhaps He fills your chest with warmth and excitement whenever you think about becoming a doctor. The question is how we respond. Do we decide that our feelings aren’t really from God? Do we doubt our own abilities to accomplish the goals that come to our minds and hearts? Or do we follow Mary’s example by moving forward in faith?

Mary’s assignment was far from easy. For one thing, only a handful of people on earth truly understood her situation. While she was expecting the baby Jesus, many people probably misjudged her as an unrighteous person instead of a virgin chosen by God. And once Jesus was born, Mary’s real job began. It’s hard to imagine kneeling next to the boy who will one day atone for your sins and teaching him how to pray, but Mary must have done exactly that. She also allowed Jesus to leave the family to begin his ministry when he was thirty, despite the fact that Mary was probably a widow at this point and Jesus, as the oldest son, would have been the family’s chief breadwinner.

But Mary’s most terrible day must have been at Calvary. Watching her perfect son be falsely accused, beaten, and killed must have pierced Mary’s heart, as had been prophesied to her years earlier by a man named Simon. Many of us would have become bitter toward God. But we have no evidence that Mary did. She simply stood near Jesus, offering her last bit of support to her Savior and her son.

Our assignments often become more difficult than anticipated. But no matter what other people think of us, how unqualified we feel, or how painful our duties are, we must continue doing the best that we can and trust that God will help us accomplish what is necessary. Like Mary, we can remember all of the things that God has done for us and others in the past and know that He is the true source of our strength. With Him, we can accomplish and become anything.

Then, perhaps in the near or distant future, others can look back and take courage from your life just as you have from Mary’s.