Today many see Mary as a larger than life superhero who outshines the star of Bethlehem. Truly Mary had a glorious beginning. In response to the angel Gabriel’s astonishing announcement, this young girl’s faith shines: “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word” (Lk 1:38 ESV). Then she praises God in song reminiscent of her father David, the sweet psalmist of Israel.
Yet Mary was a woman with a nature like ours. Thirty years later, Mary had gotten off track. This Mary we are not so familiar with, yet the Scriptures do not shrink back from revealing the blemishes of its major characters. It’s for our instruction.
We have our first inklings that something’s not quite right with Mary at the wedding feast where Jesus turned water into wine. “This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him” (Jn 2:11). Notice who’s conspicuously missing from those believing in Him: Mary and His brothers. Funny, because the very next verse mentions them: “After this he went down to Capernaum, with his mother and his brothers and his disciples…” John informs us later, “Not even his brothers believed in him” (Jn 7:5). So what’s up with Mary? Surely she believed in Jesus, right?
As Jesus’ popularity among the people surged, the jealous religious leaders accused Him of being in league with Satan. Amidst the hoopla and bad press, word had gotten back to Nazareth. “And when his family heard it, they went out to seize [Jesus], for they were saying, ‘He is out of his mind'” (Mk 3:21). The showdown comes soon after, when Mary and sons want to speak with Him but can’t enter the house because of the crowd (Lk 8:19).
While he was yet speaking to the multitudes, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, seeking to speak to him. One said to him, “Behold, your mother and your brothers stand outside, seeking to speak to you.”
Mk 3:32-33 WEB
Think about the contrasts. Jesus’ natural family is outside the house, standing, and the ones doing the talking. Jesus’ disciples are inside the house, sitting (Mk 3:34), and the ones doing the listening. Even Jesus’ response has parallelism to it. To the announcement, “Behold, your mother and your brothers stand outside,” He counters with His own behold: “Behold, my mother and my brothers!” (Mt 12:49). Jesus uses this teachable moment to stress the superiority of spiritual family to natural family:
For whoever does the will of my Father who is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother.
Mt 12:50 WEB
What’s the will of the Father in this setting? Healing the sick? Feeding the poor? No, they were sitting at Jesus’ feet, listening to His words! Jesus’ mother had lost sight of that. Sadly, she’s on the opposite side of the door from her Son. Another Mary who exemplifies the Father’s will of sitting at Jesus’ feet and listening to His words must take the baton. Mary of Bethany soon enters the spotlight as Mary of Nazareth exits. But our patient God is by no means through with her.
Go back thirty years when the shepherds’ visit to Bethlehem is fresh in her mind. At the bustling temple in Jerusalem, Simeon, that aged saint, comes out of nowhere, takes up baby Jesus in his arms, and prophesies amazing things—and a warning for Mary.
Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.
Lk 2:34-35 ESV
Until recently I’d always thought that the sword to pierce Mary’s soul meant the anguish of seeing her Son nailed to the cross. It certainly includes it, but I’d overlooked the context: Jesus is a sign that will be opposed, which will include even Mary herself! (Go back and reread the verse.) Mary joining up with her unbelieving sons to stop Jesus opposed the Father’s will! Jesus knew well His divine calling: “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out” (Mk 1:38).
Mary’s familial affections, however good intentioned, resisted the Father’s will for Jesus. So the sword, the word of God that discerns the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Heb. 4:12), had to pierce her soul with its misguided motherly affection. Mary was not unlike many in Israel whose clinginess to their family tree—”We are children of Abraham!” —was appointed for a fall. The flesh profits nothing. Spiritual relationship to Jesus is everything. The Lord was calling her back to her spiritual beginnings: “Whoever does the will of my Father who is in heaven is my mother!” Christ called her to return to her listening days when she could declare, “Let it be to me according to your word.”
Thankfully Mary’s story ends on a good note. She receives Jesus’ tender care for her from the cross: “Woman, behold your son.” Even better than that, we see Mary no longer standing outside the house but inside with the disciples.
All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
Acts 1:14 ESV
What a great ending to her story!
The three Marys epitomize faith that we may imitate to have more of Jesus. Mary Magdalene demonstrates the watching heart that culminates in, “I have seen the Lord!” Mary of Bethany testifies to the listening heart that enjoys loving fellowship with Jesus. Mary of Nazareth reminds us that a listening heart from beginning to end is the key to Christ’s life birthed in us. “Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith” (Heb. 13:7).
Glory Unveiled: Discovering Jesus 