Mary, the mother of Jesus, is one of the most revered women in Scripture, not because of any divinity in herself, but because of her faithfulness and obedience to God. She was chosen by the Lord to carry the Messiah into the world, fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14:
“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”
Luke 1:26-38 gives us the account of the angel Gabriel appearing to Mary, announcing that she had found favor with God. Mary, a young woman from Nazareth, was betrothed to Joseph, but she was still a virgin when she was told that she would conceive by the power of the Holy Spirit. Her response in Luke 1:38 is a testament to her humble faith:
“Then Mary said, ‘Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.’ And the angel departed from her.”
Despite the uncertainty, despite the cultural risks she would face as an unmarried pregnant woman, she fully submitted to God’s will. Mary was not without fear or questions (Luke 1:34), but she trusted in the Lord’s plan. Her faithfulness to God’s calling is an example of obedience to all believers.
Mary’s Acknowledgment of Her Need for a Savior
Mary herself understood that she needed salvation. When she visited her relative Elizabeth, she broke out in a song of praise known as the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55). In Luke 1:47, she declares:
“And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.”
If Mary were sinless, as some claim, she would not have needed a Savior. But she knew that she, like all mankind, was in need of redemption. Her faith in the Lord’s salvation was deeply personal, and she recognized that the child she bore was not only her Son but her Redeemer.
Mary’s Relationship with Jesus
Mary was present throughout much of Jesus’ earthly ministry, though she did not always understand His mission. In Luke 2:41-50, when Jesus was twelve years old, He remained in the temple discussing Scripture with the teachers. Mary and Joseph, not knowing where He was, searched for Him. When they found Him, He said in Luke 2:49:
“Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”
This moment reveals that while Mary loved Jesus deeply as His mother, there were aspects of His divine mission that she did not yet fully grasp. However, she continued to treasure these things in her heart (Luke 2:51).
At the wedding in Cana (John 2:1-11), Mary approaches Jesus when the wine runs out. She tells the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it” (John 2:5). This statement reveals her growing understanding of His authority. Though Jesus responds that His hour has not yet come (John 2:4), He performs His first miracle at her prompting.
Later, in Mark 3:31-35, we see Jesus teaching when His mother and brothers come looking for Him. Jesus responds,
“Who is My mother, or My brothers?” And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.”
This passage does not indicate any rejection of Mary but rather a shift—Jesus’ mission was now focused on the spiritual family of God. Mary, while still His mother, would have to understand that His ministry was for the whole world.
Mary Had Other Children
Contrary to the teaching that Mary remained a perpetual virgin, the Bible is clear that she had other children after Jesus. Matthew 1:24-25 states that Joseph “did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son.” The word till (Greek: heōs) implies that their marital union was consummated after Jesus’ birth.
Additionally, the names of Jesus’ brothers are listed in Matthew 13:55-56:
“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?”
Jesus’ siblings are also mentioned in Mark 6:3 and John 7:3-5. While some argue that these were cousins, the Greek word used (adelphoi) specifically refers to biological brothers. One of them, James, later became a leader in the early church (Acts 15:13) and authored the Epistle of James.
Mary at the Crucifixion
Despite witnessing the miracles of Jesus, Mary also had to endure the agony of seeing Him suffer and die. Simeon had prophesied in Luke 2:34-35 that a “sword will pierce through your own soul also,” foreshadowing the grief she would experience at the cross.
John 19:25-27 records one of Jesus’ final acts before His death:
“Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, ‘Woman, behold your son!’ Then He said to the disciple, ‘Behold your mother!’ And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.”
This moment shows Jesus’ love and care for Mary, entrusting her to John. This also signifies that Jesus’ siblings were likely not believers at this time, which is why He entrusted His mother to John rather than to His own brothers.
Mary After the Resurrection
Mary is last mentioned in Scripture in Acts 1:14, where she is gathered with the disciples in the upper room after Jesus’ ascension:
“These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.”
This confirms that Jesus’ brothers had come to faith after His resurrection, likely following His appearance to James (1 Corinthians 15:7). Mary, like the other disciples, waited in expectation for the coming of the Holy Spirit.
My Final Thoughts
Mary’s life was marked by faith, humility, and obedience. She was highly favored but not divine. She was a servant of the Lord, a mother to the Savior, and a disciple of Christ. Her life exemplifies what it means to trust God fully, even in uncertainty and sorrow.
While she was given an extraordinary role in redemptive history, her own words testify that she, too, needed a Savior. She did not remain a perpetual virgin, nor did she hold an exalted position in the early church, but she was a faithful follower of her Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Mary’s life is one of devotion, sorrow, and ultimate joy in the resurrection of Christ. May we learn from her example to trust God’s plan, submit to His will, and treasure His Word in our hearts.
