Courage
I saw something in Mary, Jesus’ mother, in a whole new way this past week.
The background is that it was Mother’s Day here in the UK on Sunday and as part of this I took part in a programme (at the TV station where I used to work full time) about motherhood from a Christian perspective.
I didn’t feel particularly qualified to say much as I am not a Mum yet 
but still, I was able to look at motherhood from a biblical point of view. Topics like, what does the Bible say about us women as wives and mothers, and what example can we see in some of the mothers in scripture?
It was really great, and it meant that I was able to study mothers like Hannah in the Old Testament, Lois and Eunice in the New Testament, and the “highly favoured one,” the one who is “blessed among women,” Mary Luke 1:28.
I was reading the account of the angel Gabriel appearing to Mary and speaking to her about God’s will for her. He said to her, “behold you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest … and of His kingdom there will be no end” Luke 1:31-33.
I can’t even begin to imagine how overwhelming this experience would have been for Mary. This archangel, who “stands in the presence of the Lord” Luke 1:19, appearing to her, and then communicating something of that magnitude, that she would bear in her body, and then nurture as His mother, the Son of God. And that all of this would take place by the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit.
Mary’s response to what Gabriel told her was so beautiful, I think. She was full of humility before God, calling herself His “maidservant,” and humbly accepting of His will in her life. She says to Gabriel, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word” Luke 1:38. As I studied this, something else really stood out for me, and I hadn’t really taken it onboard before. It wasn’t just her humble obedience to what God asked of her; it was the potential of what this could mean for her. The greatest possible cost. Her own life.
What would it mean for a young betrothed woman to become pregnant at this time and in this setting? On the face it, it would seem that she had had sex outside of marriage, committing the sin of fornication as the Bible calls it. And if my understanding is right, this would have been punishable by death in that context. Before she gave her response to Gabriel, accepting God’s will, Mary would have known this. And still she said, “Let it be to me according to your word” Luke 1:38.
I found the courage of this response, and her absolute trust in God, not knowing how this would be worked out, so inspiring. It was this same courage that meant that Mary was one of the very few that stayed with Jesus to the end. She is named among four people that remained with Him to His death at the foot of the Cross John 19:25. The Bible says that “all the disciples forsook Him and fled” Matthew 26:56, so we know that Mary’s courage in identifying with Him at this time was, once again, at real possible cost to her.
Mary’s boldness and integrity and faith, both as a woman of God and as a mother, is an example to me. I have a hard enough time submitting to God’s will on the small things, let alone issues of this immense scale, with all the risk that was involved for her. “Blessed is she who believed” Luke 1:45 the Bible says, and her faith really inspires mine.
Hi Birgit, thanks for this reminder of the story of Mary. Her whole life is such an example of faith and sacrifice that we can learn from. Jesus was God in the form of man, and the Saviour of the world, but he was also her son, and like you pointed out she was there at the end and saw her own son crucified. And so while I look at it from the point of a mother losing her son, Mary, even though she must have felt all of the emotions of a mother, also had great faith and an understanding that He really wasn’t hers but a sacrifice for the world and in that sense had to let him go. The significance of it all is such an encouragement for me to allow God’s will in my life and to have faith that His plans are good even when it doesn’t look like any good can come of it:)
So good to hear that you were encouraged by the truth of Mary’s character. You mentioned in passing Lois and Eunice. Those two are my feminine fav’s from the bible. They gave with no assurance of the outcome of their high standards and sacrifice except that given to them by their faith. And it turned out well. It was the same with Mary. I imagine that one of the reasons she was at the foot of that cross was to see that promise made to her over three decades ago come to fruition. The only assurance she had was through her faith as well. Faith is a courageous step in trust.
I needed to hear this. Thank you.
I echo Elizabeth.
Birgit,
Elizabeth and I (a small gift but well timed) were enjoying your blog together, commenting back to back. Somehow her comment posted, but sees to have disappeared (she is my sister – has visited you before but not for a long time as she teaches full time – she enjoys your site in light of your message as well as she lived in Germany for a year as an exchange student so she has a heart for Europe in general).
Blessings,
R
Oh, there it is.
Hi Rain, I really know what you mean, trying to imagine all that Mary would have felt as her Son was tortured and died in that way, it would have been excrutiating for her to see. Also for John and Mary Magdalene who were also present to the end in the biblical account, it must have been heartbreaking. But yes, what faith Mary had, trusting God throughout. She really is an example of faith and obedience to God’s will, even, as you say, when at first glance, it doesn’t look as if anything good can come of it. Thanks for your thoughts Rain, lots of love to you.
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Hi @ngie, another very thoughtful comment, I love reading your thoughts. Yes, Lois and Eunice were really commended by Paul for their faith. On the programme we talked about the significance of a mother’s faith, and the importance of her teaching the things of God to her children. Timothy (Eunice’s son) evidently knew the scriptures from infancy (2 Tim.3:15). Another interesting thing I learnt about this is that Timothy’s father was Greek (Acts 16:1) presumably not knowing a lot about God in the way that Eunice as a Jewish woman would have, so we can infer how diligent she must have been in communicating and modelling faith and the Word to her son. So yeah, I can really understand why they are your favourite women from the Bible, they sound like pretty amazing women of faith!
I also like what you said at the end, “Faith is a courageous step in trust,” love that, so true
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Hi Elizabeth, it’s so lovely to hear from you again. I was really happy to see that this post was good for you to read. I hope you’re well
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Roxx, you make me smile
I love your replies! How lovely that you and Elizabeth are able to spend some time together! Yeah, I remember that Elizabeth lived in Germany for a while, not far from Hannover, is that right? So good to hear from you both, love and blessings xo
Hi Birgit its angie (volunteer @ rev tv remember me!! I love your blog and am starting one myself, actually I desperately need help with it…can you help me my mobile is 07881813550 please call me Angie
Hi angie! It’s great to see you, and it was lovely to chat just now on the phone!
You’ve made such a great start on your blog, I look forward to reading more of what God is putting on your heart to write.
See you soon and lots of blessings to you.