A life that points to Christ
Mary, the Mother of Jesus
From Mary we learn humble surrender to God's will even when it is costly and confusing, faith that treasures and ponders what it cannot yet understand, and quiet trust that points others to obey Jesus. Her life teaches yielded, worshipful faith, and it points to her Son and Savior.
“And 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
“And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,”Luke 1:46
“But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.”Luke 2:19
“His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.”John 2:5
Their story, honestly
Mary was a young woman in Nazareth, engaged to Joseph, when the angel Gabriel told her she would bear the Son of God. Though it would bring scandal and risk, she answered, behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it unto me according to thy word, and sang a song magnifying God who lifts the lowly. She bore Jesus in Bethlehem, and Scripture says she kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. She followed her Son through His ministry, and at the wedding in Cana she simply told the servants, whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. She stood at the foot of the cross and watched Him die, and was among the believers after His resurrection.
What their life teaches us
First, Mary teaches surrender; faced with a calling that would upend her life and reputation, she yielded to God with trust rather than demanding to understand first. Second, she teaches a reflective faith that treasures and ponders God's works, holding mysteries in patient wonder rather than resolving them quickly. Third, she teaches the essence of discipleship in her words at Cana, whatsoever he saith unto you, do it, pointing others not to herself but to obedience to Jesus. She was blessed, as Scripture says, but she was blessed as one who believed and obeyed, a model for every follower of Christ.
How their life points to Christ
Mary's own song rejoices in God my Saviour, for she knew that the child she carried was her Redeemer too. She points us wholly to Jesus, and her finest counsel, do whatever He tells you, is the counsel every believer needs. The Son she bore is the one who saves her and us, the greater Deliverer promised across the ages. Mary treasured the mystery of the incarnation, that God had come near in her own child, and she teaches us to receive Him with the same faith, humility, and worship, always looking to her Son, never past Him.
Questions people ask
What can we learn from Mary's response to the angel?
Humble surrender. Told she would bear the Messiah, at real cost to her reputation and plans, she answered, be it unto me according to thy word. She teaches us to yield to God's will with trust even when it is confusing and costly, believing His word before we understand it fully.
Does honoring Mary take away from Jesus?
Mary herself directs all attention to her Son. She called God her Saviour and told others to do whatever Jesus said. The best way to honor her is to follow her example of faith and obedience toward Christ. She is blessed as a believer who points us always to Jesus, never to herself.