Women of the
New Testament
A study of any
portion of God’s Word is profitable, for, it is breathed upon by the Holy
Spirit, and it is designed to communicate the love, and instructions of God to
mankind.
The goal of these studies is to meet
the individual women mentioned in the Gospels, to learn more about each woman
as a person, so that we might gain insights into our own lives and callings.
Who are the women of the Gospels
we need to visit? Taken in the likely order of their first contact with Jesus,
the women we will consider in this study are:
Study One: Mary
of Nazareth, the mother of Jesus. (Part Three)
Bible readings will be from:
Matthew 1; 2; 12:46–50; 13:55; Mark 3:31–35;
Luke 1; 2; 8:19, 20; John 2:1–11; 7:5; 19:25–27; Acts 1:14, and other readings.
“These all continued with one
accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus,
and with His brothers” Acts 1:14.
H. Early
evidence of Jesus’ uniqueness
(Matthew 1; Luke 1-2).
So many events marked Jesus as
special in Mary’s mind:
1. There
was the angel’s visit.
2. The
miraculous pregnancy.
3. Joseph’s
confirmation of his confidence of her virgin state.
4. When
Jesus was born, shepherds appeared with their tale of angels celebrating in
5. Luke 2:19 states that “Mary kept all these things and pondered
them in her heart.”
Two months later, Mary and Joseph
went to the temple for her purification and Jesus’ presentation to the Lord.
The aged Simeon and the prophetess Anna recognized the infant Jesus as the
promised Messiah. Certainly, Mary and Joseph remembered the angel’s words to
them. Yet the Bible says that “Joseph
and His mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of Him” Luke 2:33.
Some two years later the wise men
found the little family, still in Bethlehem, and not only brought Him gifts but
also worshiped Him. Guided by angels, Joseph took Mary and Jesus first to
I. Mary’s
relationship with the child Jesus (Luke 2:41-51).
The Scriptures draw a curtain
across Jesus’ childhood years. Luke gives us our only glimpse into Christ’s
childhood. Luke relates a visit to
Later, when His parents found
Him, Mary rebuked Jesus: “Son, why have
You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously” Luke
2:48. Jesus responded, “Did you not
know that I must be about My Father’s business?” Luke 2:49. While Jesus was
aware of His identity and mission, Mary seemed unaware.
Luke concluded his remarks by
saying that “then He went down with them
and came to
J. Mary’s
relationship with Jesus changes (John 2:1-5).
Jesus’ baptism by John and His
identification as God’s Son begin a noteworthy change in Jesus’ life. He had
lived in
At some point Joseph had died, and
it was Jesus’ responsibility, along with His brothers, to care for their
widowed mother.
On the way back to Galilee after
His baptism, Jesus and several friends who later became disciples stopped to
share in a wedding celebration in
Jesus’ responded in words that
must have shocked Mary. Jesus addressed her as “woman,” and added the Greek phrase τι εμοι και σοι, that means
literally “what to me and to you.”
This is an uncertain phrase, but one that clearly implies separation. The Victor Bible Background Commentary, New
Testament, comments:
“Jesus is about to perform the
first of His miraculous signs; a sign that will reveal His glory and move His
disciples to “put their faith in Him”
Luke 2:11. Long ago Jesus had insisted that “I had to be in My Father’s house” Luke 2:49. Yet Jesus returned to
But now, at last, He is about to
set out on the Father’s business, even though the final hour of that service
lies far off in the future. Gently Jesus rejects Mary’s importunity: Woman,
what to me and to you? Woman, now no earthly relationship can bind me, for at
last I am setting out on My Father’s business.
Mary bows now to her son, and
says to the servants, “Do whatever He
tells you” John 2:5. Jesus is now subject to the Father alone, and because
of that, all humankind is subject to Christ as Lord.”
K. Mary fails to
understand (Matthew 12:46-50; Mark 3:31-35; Luke
8:19-21).
Each of the Gospels notes that
shortly after Jesus’ opponents have charged him with being either mad or in
league with Satan that “His brothers and
His mother came, and standing outside they sent to Him, calling Him” Mark 3:31.
Clearly this was a family passing on, coming with the intent not of listening
to Jesus but of speaking to
Him.
The context is important, for
they came now when opposition to Jesus was becoming open. It is also important
to remember that long after this time “even
His brothers did not believe in Him” John 7:5.
Why had the family delegation
come? They had come to counsel this Son and Brother who was stirring up the
countryside. They had come to try to calm Jesus, to urge Him to be less
controversial! Jesus’ response clearly fits this interpretation and makes an
important point. Jesus did not go out to meet with His family. Instead He
asked, “Who is My mother, or My
brothers?” Mark 3:33. Looking at those around Him, Jesus then answered His
own question.
“Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of God
is My brother and My sister and mother” Mark 3:34-35. Any human being can
have a family relationship with Jesus, but that relationship can only be
established by putting that trust in the Saviour that God requires.
As sensitive and responsive to
God as Mary was, she was puzzled by Jesus’ ministry and uncertain about what He
was doing. Mary’s confusion was not due to any lack of faith. Mary, like so
many others, simply was waiting to see how God’s purpose in Jesus would unfold.
L. Mary among
the disciples (John 19:25-27; Acts 1:14).
We next meet Mary standing near
the cross with women friends and John the disciple. We cannot imagine Mary’s
pain during those bitter hours. What happened reveals Jesus’ special concern
for His mother?
As He hung on the cross Jesus
took note of Mary and John. Fixing His gaze on Mary, Jesus nodded toward John
and said, “Woman, behold your son” John
19:26. And then gazing at John, he nodded toward Mary, saying, “Behold your mother!” John understood
Jesus’ request, and “from that hour that
disciple took her to his own home” John 19:27. Despite Christ’s earlier
statement about family relationships, Mary held a special place in His heart.
Only after the resurrection shed
its light on Jesus’ mission and His essential nature as God’s Son did Mary
fully and completely believe in her Son. The last mention of Mary in the New
Testament pictures “Mary the mother of
Jesus” with His brothers Acts 1:14 meeting with the disciples, praying to
the One with whom they had been so familiar but never truly known.
The relationship between Mary and
Jesus was complicated by the fact that although Jesus was God the Son He lived
in this world as a true human being. He grew up as a child subject to His
parents. At thirty He set out on a course the direction of which neither Mary
nor Jesus’ brothers could understand.
Only after His death and
resurrection did the family finally understand that the Son and Brother who had
lived among them was indeed God incarnate. Then, and only then, did all become
clear, and Jesus’ earthly family worshiped Him.
End of part three, part four will follow tomorrow.
