The Life of Mary

By Lucas Griffin – MARCH 14, 2018

IMPORTANT NOTES:

Mary was a normal human like you and I, but chosen by God to bring Christ into the world. She was not sinless, not divine, and not born by immaculate conception, but there are many lessons we can learn from her life.
Mary is the mother of Jesus, and is NEVER called the Mother of God in Scriptures.
Mary was a virgin at the time of Christ’s conception of the Holy Spirit, and was until after his birth. However, she was NOT a perpetual virgin and had natural children with Joseph after.
She is a woman admired for her bravery and loved for her devotion to God. She walked a difficult path, knowing how costly her submission would be.
God chose Mary for what could be arguably the most important job in history – bringing our Savior Jesus Christ into the world. She was the perfect unlikely choice, which made her story even more remarkable.

KEY VERSE:

Luke 1:38 – “Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.”

LESSONS FROM THE LIFE OF MARY – OUTLINE

Mary knew the Word of God well – but she also knew the God of the Bible
Mary lived a pure, virtuous life – she pleased God in the everyday activities of life
Mary was normal, but God used her – He delights to do the extraordinary with ordinary people
Mary was a humble person – although she was shown divine favour, she gave God the Glory
Mary obeyed God and submitted to His Will – even when it could have cost her EVERYTHING
Mary steadfastly endured God’s plan – even when she didn’t understand the details
Mary was a woman of faith and trusted God unwaveringly – from beginning to end
Mary was a woman of courage and character – “I am the Lord’s servant…”
Mary was a wonderer and a ponderer – she meditated on the Word of God and Ways of God
Mary was an unrelenting follower of Jesus Christ – she was at His birth, death, and Pentecost

LIFE LESSONS – EXPANDED

1. Mary knew the Word of God well – but she also knew the God of the Bible

Mary knew, believed, and applied Old Testament scriptures to her life and God’s promises.
In her prayer of praise in Luke 1:46-55, it is very obvious that Mary knows God and His word.
- Mary shows spiritual insight as she talks about soul, spirit, and physical state in vs 46-48
Isaiah 7:14 – Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.
- Prophetically fulfilled in Matthew 1:23
- Physically impossible from a human perspective. Totally possible with God.
Micah 5:2 – “But you, Bethlehem Ephrata, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me, The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.”
- Prophetically fulfilled in Matthew 2:6
- A promise that an Eternal Being, God Himself, would come into this world as a Ruler in Israel. “Although eternal, Christ entered human history as the man, Jesus of Nazareth.” (Life Application Study Bible)
“Christians who believe and obey speak far more loudly than all the bombast of so-called religious leaders. Who speaks for God? He does quite nicely for Himself. Through His holy and infallible Word – and the quiet obedience of His servants.” (Charles Colson)
The Scriptures are the Word of God. In the account of the Birth of Christ we are reminded that they are accurate and specific. We are not to add to them or take from them.

2. Mary lived a pure, virtuous life – she pleased God in the everyday activities of life

Mary loved God and wanted to serve Him with all her heart.
She was a woman of unquestionable character. It would have to be both shocking and unbelievable for friends, family, and neighbours to hear that she was with child.
Mary found favour with God, due to her character and a short life, lived well. Mary joins the “Ranks of Favour” with: Noah, Enoch, Abraham, Joseph, Samuel, David, and Jesus
In Luke 1:39, we are not told why Mary went to visit Elizabeth at this time. It may have been to avoid the scandal which would inevitably arise in Nazareth when her condition became known.
- Mary may have also gone for moral support.
- She may have left Nazareth before the Child was conceived in her by the Holy Spirit. Her distance from Joseph also proved he was not involved.
- While with Elizabeth, she would have been chaperoned, and Elizabeth could testify that she had remained pure during those three months.
Elizabeth was a godly, older woman. Her prophecy and insight in Luke 1:41-45 before Mary opened her mouth was another stamp of God’s approval, and the legitimacy of this situation.
“A person’s character is revealed by his or her response to the unexpected.” (Life Application Study Bible). Despite the unexpected events in her life, Mary remained calm, obedient, available, and sought to praise God for His Work in her life.

3. Mary was normal, but God used her – He delights to do the extraordinary with ordinary people

“Until Gabriels’s unexpected visit, Mary’s life was quite satisfactory. She had recently become engaged to a carpenter, Joseph, and was anticipating married life. But her life was about to change forever.” (Life Application Study Bible)
In Luke 1:29, we see how NORMAL Mary was. She was so normal, so ordinary, so everyday that the NLT states “Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean.”
- She was not a divine person used to receiving messages from angels.
- She was not an important person who expected people to pay her compliments.
- She was so ordinary that she was shocked to see an angel and didn’t understand what he was saying at first.
“Mary was young, poor, female – all characteristics that, to the people of her day, would make her seem unusual by God for any major task. But God chose Mary for one of the most important acts of obedience he has ever demanded of anyone. You may feel that your ability, experience, or education makes you an unlikely candidate for God’s service. Don’t limit God’s choices. He can use you if you trust him.” (Life Application Study Bible)
Mary was an ordinary person who received extraordinary blessings from God (Luke 1:41-45)
- God has abundantly blessed ordinary people like you and I. He has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 1:3)
“God’s best servants are often ordinary people who make themselves available to him.” (LASB)
Luke 1:37 (NLT) “For nothing is impossible with God”

4. Mary was a humble person – although she was shown divine favour, she gave God the Glory

After the angel had delivered His message to her, in Luke 1:28 Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” She took the lowly place.
Mary was a woman of genuine, godly humility. A great example for us today.
- She could have been proud that she had seen an angel. Very few people have.
- She could have been proud that the angel had given her a message from God.
- She could have been proud that she would conceive a child by the Holy Spirit.
- She could have been SO PROUD that she was the mother of Jesus Christ, the Son of God
- Mary was humble and simply saw herself as a servant that God would use.
- James 4:10 (NKJV) “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”
Mary could have been puffed up with pride because of the favour God had shown her, but she repeatedly gives God the glory in Luke 1:46-55. It is all about Him and what He has done, and what He will do!
Mary exudes humility by calling her estate “low”, referring to herself as a maidservant, and as someone who is lowly.
In Luke 1:47, Mary states “my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.” Mary admitted that she needed a Saviour. She was merely human, a sinner by nature, in need of a Saviour.
- This is a statement of humility and disproves the false teaching that Mary was sinless.
“When Mary said in Luke 1:48, ‘From now on all generations will call me blessed,’ was she being proud? She was recognizing and accepting the gift God had given her. Pride is refusing to accept God’s gifts or taking credit for what God has done; humility is accepting the gifts and using them to praise and serve God. Don’t deny, belittle, or ignore your gifts. Thank God for them and use them to his glory.” (Life Application Study Bible)
Mary really brings out the character of God in this prayer of praise in Luke 1. She states that God is saving, considerate, mindful, mighty, holy, merciful, strong, sovereign, gracious, giving, righteous, helpful, communicative, omniscient, omnipotent.

5. Mary obeyed God and submitted to His Will – even when it could have cost her EVERYTHING

Mary understood the magnitude of her decision to say yes when God chose her. Her knowledge of God’s promise to send a Saviour (Messiah) for His people showed through her worship.
Mary’s apparent unfaithfulness carried a severe social stigma. According to Jewish civil law, Joseph had the right to divorce her; the Jewish authorities could have had her stoned to death.
She likely knew that she would be doubted, disdained, and mocked by the people around her, but Mary was willing to face this in order to carry out God’s will.
In order to obey God, Mary:
- Sacrificed her reputation, humanly speaking. Imagine her telling her parents and friends and those around her.
- Put her marriage at stake. Think about how hard it would have been to tell Joseph. She didn’t know how he would react, or that an angel would visit him as well
- Jeopardized her future. She could have been stoned for her apparent sin. It was very possible that she would have had to resort to a life of begging, or worse.
Mary’s choice to obey God changed the course of her life. She trusted that God was good, loving, gracious, considerate, mindful, mighty, holy, merciful, strong, sovereign, righteous. Mary was confident that even if she was putting her well planned life in God’s hand, He would provide, protect, and bless her despite this difficult path.
Why do we struggle to trust God with this simple, unwavering faith?
“God’s plan encompasses your personality, your talents, and your future. Ask God today to help you be a witness, open to new assignments, and eager to grow in faith” (The Inspirational Study Bible)

6. Mary steadfastly endured God’s plan – even when she didn’t understand the details

This was a tough journey for Mary in every way.
- She had to face humiliation in her pregnancy.
- She had to put her future in jeopardy.
- She had to travel an 8-10 day journey while pregnant, on a donkey
- She had to give birth away from her mother and support network
- She had to give birth surround by animals, hay and manure
- But Mary never complained – what an example of endurance for us today.
  - James 1:12 – Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
  - 2 Timothy 2:12 – If we endure, we will also reign with Him.
- “God did not soften Joseph’s bumpy road, but strengthened him. God did not provide a luxurious inn for Joseph and Mary, but brought his Son into the world in humble surroundings. When we do God’s will, we are not guaranteed comfort and convenience. But we are promised that everything, even discomfort and inconvenience has meaning in God’s plan. He will guide you and provide all you need.” (The Inspirational Study Bible)

7. Mary was a woman of faith and trusted God unwaveringly – from beginning to end

Hebrews 11:1, 6 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
Mary listened to God’s message from the angel with faith.
Mary did not doubt the angel’s message, but rather asked how pregnancy would be possible.
God’s announcement of the birth of a special child was met with various responses throughout Scripture.
- Sarah, Abrahams’ wife, laughed (Genesis 18:9-15).
- Zechariah doubted (Luke 1:18).
- By contrast, Mary graciously submitted. (Luke 1:38)
“Mary believed the angel’s words and agreed to bear the child, even under humanly impossible circumstances. God is able to do the impossible. Our response to his demands should not be laughter or doubt but willing acceptance.” (Life Application Study Bible)
Mary displayed unwavering faith in response to the angel’s message, in her Magnificat, at the Birth of Christ, during the visits of the shepherds and wise men, at the Marriage in Cana, at the Cross, and in the early Church.

8. Mary was a woman of courage and character – “I am the Lord’s servant…”

Matthew 1 gives us the genealogy of our Lord Jesus. Because Mary was a virgin when she became pregnant, Matthew lists Joseph only as the husband of Mary, not the father of Jesus.
“Jesus’ genealogy makes it clear, not that there were a few disreputable people in his family, but that all of them were sinners. God sent his Son as Saviour of all people – Jews, Gentiles, men, and women. No matter what the sins of the people, God’s plan was never thwarted. It continues to unfold. That plan includes you.” (Life Application Study Bible)
Matthew 1:18-25 make it very clear that Mary was a virgin, and Joseph had zero physical involvement in the conception of Jesus Christ. This child was conceived of the Holy Spirit
Mary’s response should be our response to God’s will and word “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” (Luke 1:38)
- She only knew that God was asking her to serve him, and she willingly obeyed. Don’t wait to see the bottom line before offering your life to God. Offer yourself willingly, even when the outcome seems disastrous.
After the Birth of the Lord Jesus Christ, Mary continued to exude courage and character:
- Mary was obedient to the Lord by naming him Jesus
- Mary was obedient to the law regarding circumcision
- Mary was obedient by presenting the child to the Lord and offering the sacrifice after her days of purification
God gave His Son to a woman of character. A woman who was blameless in the community. She was someone that God could trust. She would take care of Jesus and all His needs. She would look after him. But, she would also teach Him the law, and help him to keep the law even before he was physically able. Jesus could truthfully say in Matthew 5:17 “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.” Mary raised him in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, humanly speaking.

9. Mary was a wonderer and ponderer – she meditated on the Word of God and Ways of God.

“Mary had a deeper understanding of what was going on; she treasured all these things, and knowingly pondered them in her heart” (MacDonald 1374)
Mary had so much to ponder, but knew God was at work, and had the faith to let him work. She likely pondered:
- Why has God chosen me for this daunting task?
- Why do we have to go to Bethlehem right when I am pregnant?
- Why isn’t there room for us at the inn?
- Why does God want His Son to be born here?
- How did the Shepherds know to come here? What did the angels tell them?
- How did the wise men find us here, and why these amazing gifts?
- AT HIS CHILDHOOD: How is Jesus so perfect? He is different from my other children.
- AT AGE 12: Where is Jesus in Jerusalem? What is he doing?
- AT AGE 20: What happens next? When will he become King?
- AT AGE 30: Something is happening, I can tell. He has been baptized by John. It is time for His mission to start. He can make wine for this Feast at Cana.
- AT AGE 31: He won’t stop teaching and helping and healing and leading. He is going to burn out. What? Why is denying that I am His mother?
- AT AGE 33 AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS: What’s happening? This is wasn’t what I was expecting. I thought he would have a kingdom by now. I don’t understand and yet I completely understand all at the same time. God is my Saviour. Jesus is God. Jesus is my Saviour. He is dying here for me, for my sin. Thank you God. Thank you Jesus.
When Jesus answered her in the temple, “Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” (Luke 1:49), Mary didn’t fully understand all that Jesus had come to accomplish, but she chose to wait patiently and trust God.
- Mary knew God was at work, even when she didn’t understand how or why.
- We don’t have to understand all the details in order to trust God, see that He is at work, and submit to His sovereign will.
- We need to acknowledge that God is good and loving and kind. We should trust that He is working out His will in us and through us, and we must submit to His plan.

10. Mary was an unrelenting follower of Jesus Christ – she was at His birth, death, and Pentecost

Mary was a follower of Jesus from before His birth until after His death – to the end of her life.
In Luke 8, Mary desired to see Jesus. What a noble desire, and one that should mark our lives.
- Psalm 27:8 “When You said, “Seek My face,” My heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.”
- “Many have looked at Jesus; but few have seen Him. Many have seen His shadow, His people, His story. But only a handful have seen Jesus. Only a few have looked through the fog of religiousity and found him. Only a few have dared to stand eye to eye and heart to heart with Jesus and say, “I believe that you are the Son of God.” (From On the Anvil by Max Lucado)
Mary believed that her Son was no ordinary man – He was the Divine Son of God
- Mary believed in her Son, and believed that He could be trusted and should be obeyed
“Jesus response in John 2 at the Wedding in Cana indicated that in the performance of His divine mission, He was not subject to instructions from His mother, but acted entirely in obedience to the will of His Father in heaven.” (MacDonald 1474)
- Mary’s challenges echoes down through the centuries to us – “Whatever He says to you, do it.”
- “Mary submitted to Jesus’ way of doing things. She recognized that Jesus was more than her human son – He was the Son of God. When we bring our problems to Christ, we may think we know how He should take care of them. But He may have a completely different plan. Like Mary, we need to submit and allow him to deal with the problem as he sees best.” (Life Application Study Bible)
In John 19, the woman who had given birth to Jesus stood at the feet of the cross and watched Him bow His head and die.
- Can you imagine the pain of a mother to see her son tortured and crucified?
- Mary saw Him arrive as her baby son, and she watched Him die as her Saviour
- Mary was at His birth and at His death. The only human to be in both places.
Acts 1:14 – “These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.”
- Mary the mother of Jesus was a saved woman, and was part of the early church
- The early church didn’t give her a special place – she was an equal
- They were praying WITH her, not TO her
- Mary was waiting with them to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit
- This is the last mention of Mary in the New Testment
What a loving mother, and faithful disciple to follow Him right to the end.
- How far are we prepared to follow Jesus? Will we take up His cross and follow Him?

A Growing New Testament Church

The Life of Mary

The Life of Mary

THE LIFE OF MARY

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