Mary: Who She Was (And Who She Wasn't)

Introduction

As we come to this portion of the Birth Narrative in Luke, I think it is important to point out a couple of things. First, this portion of Scripture deserved much more attention than just during Christmas. We need time to also view things critically and apart from all the nostalgia and traditions around Christmas. Secondly, I felt it necessary to address an area of doctrinal confusion in the church, especially those who come from Catholicism. May I also insert here it is dangerous to paint a broad stroke of the people in the Catholic Church verses the unbiblical traditions formed in the Catholic Church over many centuries.

It seems whenever there is a discrepancy in doctrinal issues within the Church, we do one of two things:

First we run from it and never get close to addressing the issue as if we are afraid to wrestle with the truth. The Bereans in Acts 17 were commended for being courageous enough to pause and Scripturally examine as Paul shared the gospel with them.

To the other extreme, we attack unorthodoxy with zeal and passion. Decisive correction and rebuke of heresy is warranted, but we must be careful not to leave a wake of destruction in our path. People who unwittingly embrace false doctrine can become causalities of our zeal for the truth. We must always remember to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). So false teachings and their teachers like that the come from the prosperity gospel, Catholicism, and others should be correctly with precision. As Jesus would tell his disciples:

Matthew 13:29–30 ESV

But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ”

So today we are going to take a look at Mary the Mother of Jesus. It is important for me to take a moment and clarify the difference between church tradition and biblical doctrine. Tradition is something that a church believes or practices based on sources or beliefs outside of the Bible. For instance, there are traditions among some regarding clothing or food. We have traditions here, don’t we? The type of music we play or the manner in which we celebrate holidays like Christmas and Easter. These arose outside of the Bible. They are not necessarily wrong, but they are extra-biblical. They can become a problem if their value becomes equal or even supersedes the authority of the Bible. Such is the case with Mary, who was an extraordinary young girl, but who’s honor is taken too far in some cases.

Luke 1:26–38 ESV

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Who Mary Was

We should make no mistake, nor minimize the significance of Mary. Of all the woman in Scripture and of all the women that ever lived, Mary was above all other woman as being one who was highly favored by God. There is great reason to regard Mary this was as she was chosen by God to be the mother of God’s son, Jesus. She and she alone was the sole vessel that would at last bring to Israel - and the whole world - their redemption, the Messiah.

It is quite likely, given the detail of Gabriel’s annunciation to Mary, that Luke spoke with Mary personally about her role as the birth mother of Jesus. Here is what we know for sure about Mary and her background. She was an average young girl of common upbringing from a poor village in Israel (v.26).

Nazareth bears not significance. It was in the middle of no where. I’ve been there and it’s a fascinating place today. It’s known as “The Detroit of Israel” because they made cars there. The Sussita was one brand, but the manufacturing is all but gone today. You can go and see the traditional location of Mary and Joseph’s home, but there is little evidence to prove this was the case.

Mary is betrothed to Jospeh, a working class carpenter. Betrothal is not the same as an engagement. It is a legal, binding contract where parents agreed that their children would marry and it occurred soon after puberty.  Probably was planned for in the community. Part of that contract was that guarantee of her virginity. Betrothal lasted about a year.  And during that year the girl would prove her faithfulness. And during that same year the boy would prepare a home for her, a place for her, usually with an addition to his father's house.

So given the culture of that day, her identity as a virgin, and her betrothal, Mary was likely around 13 years old. As a young girl she would be betrothed early into her puberty. The fact that Luke identifies her as a virgin is important. Some want to discredit the virgin birth and say that Luke’s use of the word virgin is better translated “young woman.” That is not the case. Nor would sexual liberty be like it is today. We’ll get into the virgin birth next week, but for now know that Luke using the word “Virgin” is the word parthenos. It means "one who has had no sexual relation."  That's exactly what it means, one who has had no sexual relation.  This word is never used of a married woman.

All this accounts to why Mary is so confused when Gabriel announces she will give birth to a son. She’s not questioning the message, as with Zechariah. She’s confused about how she could be pregnant when she knows her own integrity. (v34). It is here that Gabriel provides clarity to her conception, which we will cover next week.

There is little else seen of Mary outside of the birth narrative. She is mentioned when Jesus is teaching as a boy in the temple (Luke 2:48). Incidentally, she tries to correct Jesus here, but he actually corrects her. She is mentioned in passing a couple of other times, and it present at the crucifixion (John 19:25-27). Many people, including Catholics are surprised how little Mary is mentioned in the Bible (MacArthur). The focus of Mary is never Mary. It is always Jesus.

Who Mary Wasn’t

Which brings me to some clarifying points on who Mary was not. Over the centuries, some churches have adopted extra-biblical traditions regarding the identity of Mary. In many instances, these were attempts to try to explain the miraculous circumstances surrounding the conception and birth of the Christ child. We find in 431 AD, at the First Council of Ephesus, the naming of Mary as “Mother of God.” I think this was an earthly definition of her role and ultimately a misstep in the church. Mary certainly is the greatest of woman, but by her own testimony in Luke calls herself a slave to God (v. 38). That word there in verse 38, the ESV translates servant is δούλη, “zoulay,” literally mean a slave or bondservant. It is used by one when addressing one of higher rank

By 1854 the tradition of Mary had venerated her to a place of deification and worship. Pope Pius IX would write that Mary herself was conceived without original sin and herself sinless. “And since she has been appointed by God to be the Queen of heaven and earth, and is exalted above all the choirs of angels and saints, and even stands at the right hand of her only begotten son, Jesus Christ our Lord, she present our petitions in a most efficacious manner.”

The words of Pius IX echo a long tradition of the Catholic Church that are far from the teaching and dogma of Scripture. The tradition that places Mary as part of a monarchy in heaven and a co-redeemer with Christ.

Pope Sircius would declare Mary’s perpetual virginity. Even though the gospels are clear she and Joseph conceived other children together after the birth of Jesus (Matt 13:55).

In 1892 Pope Leo the XII issued the Magnae Dei Matris declaring that adherents to the Catholic faith are to pray to Mary and receive help from her treasury of grace.

1 Timothy 2:5 ESV

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

Even Mary herself would repeal these edifications and honor Christ alone as Lord. Yes, Mary was a remarkable person who was bestowed a tremendous gift as a women that would be remembered for all generations. Yes Mary is a person in the Bible that is honorable and should be honored but not worshipped. This is with great and grievous error that the Apostle John realized himself

Revelation 22:8–9 ESV

I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”

Mary was a person full of Grace, not because of her own self-righteousness or by her own worth, but because of God’s sovereign choice for her to be the mother of the Jesus. She was the vessel. She was the servant, even to her own son. Mary herself realized her sin and the need for salvation. As she spoke in the magnificat

Luke 1:46–49 ESV

And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.

Who Mary Gave Us

Mary being the object of worship is nothing new. Even during Jesus’s ministry there were those who wanted to show undue worship toward Mary. Luke even mentions an occasion in Scripture when a woman called out to Jesus:

Luke 11:27–28 ESV

As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”

Mary’s life is a testimony and an example to our own life. She had a purpose from God - a very special purpose, nonetheless. Her purpose was to bring God to this world in the flesh. She will receive eternal honor as the woman mentioned in Genesis:

Genesis 3:15–16 ESV

I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” To the woman he said, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be contrary to your husband, but he shall rule over you.”

Genesis 22:18 ESV

and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.”

Mary’s purpose and our purpose is to be God’s servants and point the way to Jesus.

Romans 1:3 ESV

concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh

Galatians 4:4 ESV

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,

Many years before Abraham Lincoln was elected president, he was a store-keeper in Salem, Illinois. Abe had a rifle displayed in his store that was one of the most beautiful rifles ever made. The barrel was made from the finest steel, the stock from the best walnut wood; and a world-famous gunsmith had assembled the gun. The price was extremely reasonable. Displayed next to this attractive gun was a rack of ordinary Kentucky squirrel rifles. These long-barrel rifles were made from ordinary gun steel, and plain wooden stocks. Yet, the price was higher.

A customer entered the store looking for a new rifle. He was impressed by the fine-looking gun, but was confused as to why it was priced much lower than the less attractive rifles. Abe explained that the good-looking rifle was for show, while the others were for shooting. The pioneer bought the Kentucky squirrel rifle.

A little while later, a rich farmer was decorating a room in his country mansion. He wanted to place a gun over the fireplace mantle with his big game trophies. Abe’s fancy gun was exactly what he needed. The fact that it would not shoot was irrelevant. The purpose of the gun had changed.

God has given each of us a purpose, too. We can choose to work for God’s glory and make disciples for Christ, or we can choose to be decorations in the church. What purpose are you serving in your relationship with Christ?

Take it to the Cross

Close

Pray