Walking Among Them: Mary, mother of Jesus

The object of this study is to take some time out of our busy, often chaotic days and spend some time with women who have gone before us. Not just any women, but 26 women of the Bible. We’ll “Walk Among Them” and see how their stories relate to our lives. It’s my hope that we will discover God’s presence and grace in our own lives as the lives and lessons of these women unfold before us this year.

Walking Among Them, Mary of Nazareth

Mary of Nazareth’s story is an amazing one. She is one of the few women in the Bible that we are able to follow for a longer period of time. We meet her as a young girl, who by all historical traditions would have recently become a woman and was “engaged” to a man named Joseph. We can assert that she listened to the Scriptures and knew them well, very well. But she was only a girl and her life was about to move in ways that she likely could not have imagined.

It’s not everyday that an angel visits and the indication is that Mary is afraid. The angel Gabriel has told her that she is “highly favored,” and that the “Lord is with you.” (Luke 1: 26-28). This terrifies Mary and the angel goes on to tell her, “Do not be afraid Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will soon be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.” (Luke 1: 30 -32)

What Mary does next is simply extraordinary to me. Her words are words that I long to be able to say, without hesitation,

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered, “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.” (Luke 1:38)

As with most stories, we often only take them at surface value, but these women were real. As real as you and I. She experienced each and every emotion that we do. It’s only when we stop and read the Scripture and meditate on it, that we can imagine what her “walk” was like.

Mary knew something that most of us struggle with on a daily basis. She knew how to say “YES” to God. Mary knew that this was not going to be easy, in fact she had no idea what the future held for herself or her child, all she knew was that she was pregnant with God’s child.

Mary’s pregnancy was the first trial that we are able to “walk with her.” Here she finds herself pregnant and that meant only disgrace to her family. In Matthew’s account, he tells us, “Joseph was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace; he had in mind to divorce her quietly.” (Matthew 1:18-19)

Joseph’s visit from an angel helps him to see that this is God’s plan and that His will was to be fulfilled.

Mary’s was a mother. She wiped noses, she did dishes, she fetched water, she lived the life of a Nazarene woman. It was certainly not the life of convenience that we have today. While each of the Gospel writer’s treat Mary a bit differently, as mother’s know, much of her daily life was mundane and much like that of every other woman of her time, and yet, in her midst was our Savior.

Mary lived and felt the same feelings that all mothers feel. She worried when he was not among the caravan home from Jerusalem. Her heart likely broke when Jesus returned home (Mark 6: 1-5) and was mocked by those in the village. Mary, as any mother would, must have felt a betrayal by these people, but her son was off on His own, doing God’s will. She knew that and had to accept it, but it couldn’t have been easy.

It didn’t get any easier either. Mary knew that people were talking about Jesus. He was a rebel and many people believed that he was threatening to their power. We have no idea what Mary prayed or said to Jesus in those intimate times, but we know that she was above all, a mother.

And then, as she has from the beginning, she surrenders it all. She watches her son die. Her son, the one who she raised and taught; The one that she laughed with, cried with, disciplined as a child. She watches in complete surrender, the culmination of her initial “yes,” her son be put to death on a cross. The grief and the pain must have been all consuming.

Mary’s story is one of the most familiar in the Bible. It’s the story of a Savior’s mother. It’s a life of faithful obedience. It’s a life of saying “yes” to God and never wavering.

Reflections from the walk:

With each woman that we study, I’ll have some thoughts and ideas for reflection, meditation and journaling that will be called “Reflections from the Walk.” It’s in Walking Among Them that we can learn lessons that we can take with us on our daily walks.

Often we do not understand the lives of those who walked before us historically. Spend some time trying to understand what life was like for Mary in the town that she grew up in. Look into how she would have dressed and what the customs of the Jewish people were. It helps to draw us closer to understanding Mary. A wonderful website that may help us to understand the culture that Mary lived in is here at Women in the Bible.

Take some time to look at how the Gospel writers regard Mary. They each come from a different perspective and it’s interesting to see how they include Mary in Jesus’ story.

Mary is Jesus’ mother. If you are a mother, reflect on your duties as a mother. Make a list of what you do in a day. As mother’s we often become frazzled and focused on all the things around us. Mary did not do that. Mary was in touch with God. Mary, while startled to see an angel visit her, did not hesitate in obedience. We need to look at the duties that we do daily and see if we possibly need and “attitude adjustment.” It would serve us all well to try to have a “Mary Tude.”

Look to Luke 1: 46-55, Mary’s song. Read it and meditate on the words. What would your song sound like?

Finally, in Luke 2:51, we read, “But His mother treasured all these things in her heart.” What do you treasure in your heart in regards to your children? Spend some time looking at baby books and reflecting on those “treasured memories” that sometimes get lost in the busyness of life. Just as Mary had treasured memories, each of us do as well, tap into them and cherish those that are only yours, and never cease to make new ones, for those are the ones that will carry us in the difficult times.

A   A PDF version of this study is HERE.

Lori is a 5th year homeschool mom to 3. Currently she homeschools an 9th grader, a 7th grader and a 5th grader. Lori hopes to impart peace and inspiration amidst the daily chaos. It’s in the daily details of life that she is continually inspired! Be sure to visit her blog at All You Have to Give and at Internet Cafe Devotions.

Tags: Bible study, Devotional Study, Lori MacMath, Mary Mother of Jesus, Mary of Nazareth, Walking Among Them

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