We express our love and appreciation to our mothers, grandmothers, and even great grandmothers today! We hope this day is special to you. For both mothers and fathers, children can be a source of unspeakable joy, as well as untold sorrow. The pain that parents feel is directly proportional to the love and concern that they have. The less the concern and love, the less the sorrow. The greater the concern and love for children, the greater the pain, sorrow and disappointment. On earth, that is just the way it is. To claim the joy, one must be ready to accept the sorrow. In seeking to avoid the pain of parenthood, you also deny yourself the indescribable sense of fulfillment and purpose in raising children.

One of the best ways to see the kinds of traits that mothers should possess is by a good example. There are many such examples in Scripture, but none better than Mary, the mother of our Lord. Yet, we do not often study the wonderful traits of Mary due to the extent of religious controversy that surrounds any mention of her name. There are two extremes that we should avoid concerning Mary. One is an over-statement about who she is and how we should regard her. The opposite extreme is the negative view of Mary which sees her as even opposing her Son and rejecting His claims. Both of these are erroneous concepts, as we shall see.

To avoid the two extremes mentioned above, we should stay carefully within these texts. Though these texts do not completely describe Mary, they give us a good glimpse into her life and heart. We can know some good things about her.

The five biblical texts in which Mary appears are the following: 1) the infancy narratives (Matt. 1 &2), 2) the wedding at Cana of Galilee (John 2:1-11), 3) the incident where his mother and brothers came out to speak to him privately (Matt. 12:46-50), 4) at the foot of the cross (John 19:25-27), and 5) in the upper room waiting for the Pentecost (Acts 1:13-15) where 120 disciples were gathered to pray.

There is precious little said elsewhere about Mary. The material in the apocalyptic literature should be rejected because it is not in harmony with the accepted inspired texts above. We have a few other references to Mary in the Bible, like: "God sent forth his son made of a woman, made under the Law." (Gal. 4:4.) The woman ready to deliver a child better represents the people of God than it does Mary. (Rev. 12:1-6.)

How does the Bible describe Mary in those five biblical texts about her? Here are some important traits that stand out.

In the infancy narratives. In the two texts of Matthew and Luke, Matthew describes the outward, public experiences of Mary, but Luke describes more the inward, personal experiences of becoming the mother of our Lord. Mary is called the mother of Jesus (Acts 1:14) and the young child and his mother (Matt. 2:11-21). But Mary is never called "the mother of God" in Scripture." This says and implies something that is not found in Scripture.

In reading these texts again, I was impressed with how young Mary must have been when she gave birth to Jesus. Though no age is given in Scripture, there is every indication that she was a very young mother. It was not uncommon for a Jewish girl in her early teens, 14-16 years of age, to be betrothed to a man for marriage. In contrast, Elizabeth and Zechariah, the parents of John the Baptist, were much older. They were old and stricken in years. (Luke 1:7, 18, 36 KJV.) Mary had a youthful innocence and purity. She is described as a virgin by both Isaiah and Matthew. This is not to say that she was sinless; such is not true. But she was pure in heart and life or she would not have been chosen as the one to be the mother of our Lord.

We learn much about the character of both Elizabeth and Mary in the infancy narratives. Mary replied to the angel, Gabriel, "May it be to me as you have said." (Luke 1:38.) Elizabeth, now an aged woman, was overjoyed that she was going to give birth to a son. She said to Mary, "Blessed are you among women and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored that the mother of my Lord should come to me." (1:42-43.) Note the words of Mary, called the Song of Mary. (Luke 1:46-56.) This shows the devotional nature of this young maiden. It does not sound at all like one who is with child by fornication. She worships and glorifies the Lord. She expresses humility and submission to God. Mary acknowledges that what is now occurring is according to what God has done in the past. God is remembering Israel and his promises to Abraham.

What does it mean that Mary would be called blessed among women? Gabriel said that Mary is highly favored. Other women in Scripture are also called blessed. For instance, Leah said, Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed. (Gen. 30:13.) Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be. (Judges 5:24.) The same phrase, blessed above women, is used her to describe Jael as was used for Mary. Yet, no one has unduly exalted Jael or worshipped her. We should not make more of these words in reference to Mary than was intended.

Mary and Jesus at Cana. (John 2:1-11.) This is another brief glimpse into the heart and character of Mary. Both Mary and Jesus are together at a wedding in Galilee. This is said to be the beginning of the miracles of our Lord. Some writers have made much-a-do over the actions of Mary and the rebuke of Jesus. When told Jesus that they were out of wine, Jesus said, "Woman, what have I to do with you? My hour is not yet come." (John 2:4.)

Whatever Jesus meant by this, we can conclude the following: 1) In a crisis, Mary turned naturally to Jesus as to the One from whom help could be expected, though he had not done miracles before. But Mary knew how Jesus was born and there was something special about him. 2) She is entirely undisturbed by His reply. 3) She prepares the way for the miracle by her authoritative directions to the servants. 4) Jesus does relieve the situation by an exercise of power.

Mary’s confidence and knowledge of Jesus is evident. She knew that he could do something. There is no disrespect in Jesus’ reply to his mother. "My hour is not yet come" does not refer to his death, but rather to his choice in revealing himself and how it would be done. Mary knew that he was going to do something because she gave directions to prepare for it.

Jesus’ career and his family. (Matt. 12:46-50, Mark 3:31-35.) Some have mistakenly interpreted these words to show harshness toward his unbelieving family. Such is not the case, though it is true that while Jesus was alive his brothers and sisters did not believe in Him. (John 7:5.) But the Bible says that Mary "kept these sayings in her heart." Again, Mary knew the supernatural nature of Jesus’ birth. She knew Jesus better than anyone because she was his mother. It took time for faith to develop and grow in Mary and the other children. But later they did believe and gathered with the saints in Jerusalem waiting for Pentecost.

Horace Bushnell, Sermons on Living Subjects, 30, made this significant point about this incident. Jesus would scarcely make use of the family symbolism to designate the sacred relationships of the kingdom of heaven, while, at the same time, He was depreciating the value and importance of the very relationships which formed the basis of His analogy. Surely, the real reason for the actions of Mary and his brothers and sisters was anxious concern for Jesus’ welfare. It was not control, but concern.

Mary at the cross. (John 19:25-27.) This is a tender scene between Jesus and Mary. It is almost unbearable to think of the anguish that each must have felt. Among the good things we learn about Jesus and Mary are these: a) Jesus behaved as the eldest son in the family after Joseph’s death. He took charge for the care of his mother, committing her to John the apostle. b) The record does not record one word from Mary. Yet her presence speaks volumes concerning a mother’s love for her son.

Luke records for us that Mary kept silence and pondered things in her heart. (Luke 1:19, 51.) These statements occur in regard to the wonderful events of his birth and at the temple when Jesus was twelve. One author said that this quiet dignified reserve found in the character of Mary was also found in Jesus. Before Pilate, he was rebuked for not speaking in his defense. When the Pharisees accused a woman of adultery and wanted to stone her, he ignored them and wrote on the ground. How succinct and powerful were his words to the embarrassed woman. "Where are thine accusers? Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more." How often Jesus was reserved in his speech, just as Mary pondered things in her heart. Though there is obvious power in speech, there is likewise power in silence. We learn a lot about Mary and Jesus at the cross of Calvary.

Mary in the Upper Room. (Acts 1:11-14.) The last scene in Scripture that we find Mary and the brothers of Jesus is with the disciples in the upper room waiting for the Day of Pentecost. Jesus’ family never broke with the circle of disciples who believed and followed Jesus. Two of Jesus’ brothers, James and Jude, wrote two letters of the New Testament. Jesus’ family passed through the same cycle of experiences that characterized the whole body of disciples on their journey of faith.

Mary, the mother of our Lord, is not there in some authoritative role. She is not the center of attention or worship. But rather she is among 120 disciples who are praying and waiting as Jesus told them to do. When we leave Mary praying with others in the Upper Room, she is not about 45 years of age. She has had an unusual life being the mother of Jesus and raising a rather large family of five sons and several daughters. (Matt. 13:55.) Her four sons were James, Joseph, Simon and Jude. The daughters, in number and name, are unknown. We know nothing about the birth or death of Mary. We have only four glimpses into her wonderful life as the mother of our Lord. We should not call Mary "the mother of God." Though, it is true that Jesus is God incarnate. But she did not give birth to God; she gave birth to Jesus, the Son of God.

"The mother of Jesus was a typical Jewish believer of the best sort. She was deeply meditative, but by no means a daring or original thinker. Her inherited Messianic beliefs did not and perhaps could not prepare her for the method of Jesus which involved so much that was new and unexpected. But her heart was true and from the beginning to the Day of Pentecost, she pondered in her heart the meaning of her many puzzling experiences until the light came. The story of her life and of her relationship to Jesus is consistent throughout and touched with manifold unconscious traits of truth. Such a narrative could not have been feigned or fabled." (The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Vol. 3, 2003.)

Mary is an inspiring example to all of us. She is much like the faithful young Jewish boys: Daniel, Shadrack, Meshack, and Abednego. Like Joseph of old, Mary was the right kind of person. She was pure in heart, quiet, obedient to God, ready to be used of God, ready to bare shame for the name of God, enjoyed the good times with her family and suffered heartache and sorrow. All mothers share many things in common.