Mary, Mother of Jesus:  From Favor to Faith

By Sharon Gauthier

Chicago, USA

Theme Scripture:  John 19:25-27

When my son was a toddler, he fell and hit his chin in such a way that his front teeth cut into the inside of his mouth, just below the bottom lip, going all the way through the skin.  In the realm of childhood accidents, I know that would be considered pretty tame.  However, I remember being an emotional mess at that moment.  It took all the courage within me to clear away the blood and see how much damage had been done.  I felt squeamish and wanted to look away.  I wished it were me in pain rather than my precious son.

It’s unimaginable, then, to consider what Jesus’ mother must have been feeling as she stood near the cross.  There she was, witnessing her firstborn son tortured and beaten beyond recognition (Isaiah 52:14).  The clanging sound of the nails being hammered into his hands and feet must have reverberated through her very soul.  Surely she heard the hateful, odious insults hurled at her “baby” as He was lifted onto His cross above the clamorous crowd.  Her eyes must have been stinging with salty tears as she noticed the soldiers gambling for His clothing as though He were already dead.

I wonder if at some point along her journey of motherhood, Mary started to put the puzzle pieces together in her mind and get some inkling of who her son really was.  Maybe she remembered the long-ago words of the elderly man at the temple when her 8-day-old baby was circumcised (Luke 2:25-35); or the aged widow who also was at the temple that day and spoke of Mary’s child to all who listened (Luke 2:36-40).

Maybe Mary recalled the confusion and concern she had when she heard that her son was serving and caring for others so much that he wasn’t even eating and taking care of himself properly (Mark 3:20-21).

Yet, here she was standing at the foot of the cross, where her son hung dying.  While the scriptures do not make it clear at what point she may have finally been convinced that her son earned and deserved her full trust and faith, you get a glimpse of it at the cross.  When He told her that she would now live in the home of John as his “mother,” she did not argue.  Then, in Acts 1:14-15, we see that she is among the believers who gathered following Jesus’ ascension to heaven.  Mary’s journey had been a circuitous route through faith and fear and ultimately back to faith.  Over the next week, we will focus on that journey and, prayerfully, grow along with her in our own faith and conviction.

Let the voyage begin:

Day 1 - Wednesday, February 24

Read:  Luke 1:26-56

Reflect:  Obviously Mary was not perfect, as only Jesus lived a sinless life (Romans 3:23, Mark 10:18).  However, the Bible says that she “found favor with God.”  In reading through these verses, what qualities of Mary stand out to you as characteristics that would be favorable in God’s sight?  Take a moment to write them down.  (For an extra challenge, for each character quality find a Bible verse that references God’s esteem for that quality.)

Respond:  Pick an aspect of Mary’s character that you want to imitate and grow in.  Spend some time in prayer asking God to help you grow in that area.  Pray to keep your eyes open for opportunities to develop that God-favored character in your life today.

Day 2 - Thursday, February 25

Read:  Luke 2:16-19, 22-40

Reflect:  Within days of Jesus’ birth, Mary encountered several people who unexpectedly approached her and her husband with glorious proclamations and prophecies about her newborn son.  Imagine yourself in her shoes.  Would you find those words difficult to believe?  What questions would you have?  Notice verse 35.  What do you think it means that “a sword will pierce your own soul, too”?

Respond:  Encouraging words can have a life-changing effect on our lives and the lives of those around us.  Consider ways that you can encourage or inspire someone today.  Maybe write a card, send a text, or express a vision for their life.  Pray that God will give you the words.

Day 3 — Friday, February 26

Read:  Luke 2:41-52

Reflect:  Reading carefully through this passage, what positive qualities do you notice about Mary?  Are there any possible weaknesses about her character that stand out to you?  What do you learn about Jesus in this passage?

Historical side-note:  For modern-day, western readers, this scene could appear confusing.  We may wonder what kind of negligent parent Mary must have been not to notice that her 12-year-old was missing!  However, in the culture of the day, the extended family dynamic was tight-knit; so it would have been commonplace for a child to be under the care of another relative while traveling.  Also, a 12-year-old would have been considered on the verge of adulthood; as many westerners would consider a 17-year-old or 18-year-old today.  Another interesting note mentioned by some scholars is that the pilgrimage to Jerusalem was required only for men.  Therefore, Mary’s presence on this journey, as a woman, would imply an especially strong commitment to God.

Respond:  At the end of verse 51, we see that Mary “treasured all these things in her heart.”  Then in verse 52, we see that Jesus “grew in wisdom.”  Growth is a beautiful thing, and it begins in our hearts.  Consider taking a moment and selecting a Bible verse about Jesus that inspires you; one that you can memorize and treasure in your heart.

Day 4 — Saturday, February 27

Read:  John 2:1-12

Reflect:  What character qualities about Mary stand out to you in this passage?  What character qualities about Jesus stand out to you?  What observations can you infer in regard to the relationship between Jesus and Mary?

Historical side-note:  Cana was a small village in Galilee.  It was also the hometown of Nathanael (John 21:2).  Many Biblical scholars suppose that this wedding must have been that of a close family member of Jesus, considering Mary’s involvement in obtaining more wine.  Another interesting historical fact to notice is that running out of wine would have been quite humiliating for a family hosting a wedding.  Therefore, when Mary is asking for more wine, her concern might, most likely, have been to protect the wedding hosts from shame.

Respond:  If we imagine that Jesus’ miracle at Cana helped to protect the wedding hosts from shame and humiliation, consider how Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross protects us, as disciples today, from shame and humiliation because of our sin.  Spend some time in prayer thanking God for the shame that He has erased from your life because of Jesus (1 Peter 2:4-6).  Consider extending Jesus’ compassion to someone today.

Day 5 — Sunday, February 28

Read:  Matthew 13:53-58

Reflect:  Upon returning to Nazareth, Jesus encountered people who were both amazed and offended at His teaching.  Interestingly, when the people “took offense” at Jesus, they cited the fact that Mary was his mother -- as a reason to look down on Him and consider Him to be no one special.  The passage doesn’t clarify whether or not Mary was there to hear those words, but what might she have thought about herself and her son Jesus if she did hear them?  Why do you think knowing Jesus’ parents and family caused the people to take offense at Jesus and not to have faith in Him?

Respond:  God specializes in making the ordinary extraordinary (Acts 4:13).  Think of disciples from the Bible or disciples today whom you have seen God transform from ordinary to extraordinary (it could even be what you’ve seen God do in your own life).  Write the ways in which you have seen Jesus’ power as He transformed your life and the lives of disciples around you. Consider sharing some portion of this good news today in a live conversation or on social media. 

Day 6 — Monday, March 1

Read:  Mark 3:20-35

Reflect:  It’s fascinating to think that Jesus was teaching that, “if a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand,” at the same time that members of His own family were coming to take charge of Him.  Certainly there was a pivotal point in Mary’s life as she went from being a young woman of uncommon faith and “highly favored” by God to a mother who was convinced that her son (the very Son of God) was out of His mind.  Perhaps Mary was like the quintessential “helicopter mom,” wanting to control the situation and control the public’s perception of her son and even herself.

What would you have thought or done if you were in Mary’s place?  Reviewing highlights from the first three chapters of Mark, what do you think may have prompted Jesus’ family to think that “He is out of his mind”?  Have you ever been looked upon as “out of your mind” because of your faith?  If so, how did it make you feel?  How did you respond?  Have you ever been scared by the faith of others?  When is a time you have wanted to control a situation rather than relinquishing control to the Almighty God?

Respond:  Think of a situation in your life in which you are tempted to take control rather than submit to God’s word.  Make a decision to be unified with God’s word and submit to Him in prayer about this. 

Day 7 — Tuesday, March 2

Read:  Luke 8:19-21, Matthew 12:46-50

Reflect:  In Luke’s and Matthew’s account of the event in Mark 3:20-35, the details regarding the reason Jesus’ family wanted to speak to Him are absent.  In these verses we see that Jesus’ mother and brothers “stood outside.”  They wanted to speak to Him, but they did not go into the location where Jesus was teaching His disciples.  Rather than going to Jesus, they wanted Jesus to come to them.

Why might Jesus’ mother and brothers have chosen to stand outside rather than go in to speak to Jesus?  We don’t know whether Jesus’ family heard His words, “For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”  However, if they did, what might they have thought?

Respond:  What an honor to know that when we follow the will of God we have the opportunity to be a part of Jesus’ family!  Try writing a letter to Jesus today.  Share what is on your heart as you would a to a true Brother, one who understands, accepts, is full of wisdom, integrity and good will toward you.

Day 8 — Wednesday, March 3

Read:  John 19:16-27

Reflect:  It’s notable that Mary, her sister and the other women were “near the cross of Jesus” at the end of His earthly life.  Compare this to Luke 8:19 when she was “outside” the place where He was teaching. Imagine the scene.  Imagine the sorrow.  Yet in the midst of His suffering, Jesus takes the time to focus on the needs of His mother.  As Jesus pronounced for John to now step into the role of eldest son in caring for Mary, might Mary have remembered the words that Jesus spoke when He declared, “...whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother”?

It’s equally notable that Mary obeyed her dying son’s direction.  She, in fact, went to live in the home of John from that time on.

What does Mary’s response and John’s response say about their faith and obedience?  What does Jesus’ action say about His love?  What lessons can we learn from this passage?

Respond:  Think of someone who needs your love and concern today.  Take some step or action to help them.

Day 9 — Thursday, March 4

Read:  Acts 1:1-15

Reflect:  From her miraculous pregnancy to the despair of the cross to the exhilarating joy of the resurrection, Mary journeyed to a place of great faith.  How inspiring to see her mentioned among the disciples who “joined together constantly in prayer” in Jerusalem after Jesus’ ascension!  She went from mother to disciple; from teacher to student.  Her journey seems the opposite of the world’s view of growth and advancement.  Yet she serves as an amazing example for all of us to follow.

Looking back over Mary’s life, what lessons do you think she may have learned along the way?  What may have led her to this place of being numbered among the faithful disciples in Acts 1?  From the beginning of Jesus’ ministry to this point in Acts 1, certainly hundreds, maybe even thousands of followers had fallen by the wayside and turned away from their faith.  What may have helped Mary to be faithful?

Respond:  Consider writing a “timeline” of your faith.  Think of the times when you were full of faith and times when you may have encountered major struggles or challenges to your faith.  Is there a scripture that has helped to keep you faithful?  Share it with a friend.  Or, if you are at a low point in your faith at this moment, try reaching out to someone who can share a scripture with you to help you regain your devotion to God.