We are looking at the top ten characters in the New Testament ignoring Jesus and the disciples. At number 2 is Mary the mother of Jesus.
Mary in the Bible
The Boy Jesus at the Temple – Luke 2:41-52
Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”
“Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he was saying to them.
Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
The Crucifixion of Jesus – John 19:25-27
Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.
Mary is a central character in the Gospels, especially at the birth of Jesus. Later we hear little about her.
Two scenes stand out – when Jesus as a boy gets “lost” at the temple and at the crucifixion.
The picture of Mary in the gospels is one of a concerned and loving mother who doesn’t fully understand her son at times, but supports him to the end, even painfully witnessing his execution at the foot of the cross.
Mary’s life illustrates how God uses ordinary, everyday people to accomplish his will and often does extraordinary things through them.