When I reflect on Mother Mary, I immediately am brought to her song of praise located in the Gospel of Luke. Referred to as the Magnificat, this is a beautiful and soulful section of poetry, praise, and remembrance of who God is (Luke 1:46-55). It is laced with many allusions to the Old Testament, speaking to Mary’s own spiritual maturity and relationship with God. Yet, I can only imagine what must have gone through her head as a young teenager being visited by an angel from God. Her humble nature recognizes that she is but a lowly servant for the Lord, and that God’s favor has rested upon her (Luke 1:29-30, 48). Unaware of the fate of her baby boy, Mary seeks for God’s will to be done as it has been said (Luke 1:38). This exalting song to the Lord is the summation of Mary’s character, and brings great glory to God.
To raise the Son of God, the Christ, there must have been some tremendous pressure to “get it right”. Pairing that with a very “controversial” pregnancy and birth, some of Mary’s family and neighbors would not have been very warm or welcoming to her. Even as Jesus grew older, in wisdom and favor, his other siblings were not receptive or accepting of His divine nature or title (John 7:5). Mary would have been caught in the middle of these family quarrels and no doubt heard of gossip and rumors from their own friends and neighbors. Considering the Jewish culture of that time, it must have been challenging for Mary and her husband to function in social circles. Even as Jesus grew older, Mary must have received stares from haughty eyes and heard the speculation and disdain over Jesus’ claims. As all eyes were fixed upon Jesus in the Nazarene synagogue, was Mary’s heart racing as He revealed Isaiah’s prophetic fulfillment (Luke 4:21)? Or when He was then driven out to the cliffs because of “blasphemy” (Luke 4:28-29)? Was she aware of what was to come of Jesus and how the plans of God were to unfold?
From Jesus’ birth to his crucifixion, Mary was there. For the multiple hours that Jesus was beaten, mocked, paraded, and nailed to the cross, she remained close to her son (Matthew 27:55-56; Luke 23:49; John 19:25-27). I can’t even begin to imagine what intense sorrow and grief that Mary felt on this day. The horrors she witnessed were intensified by her relationship as a mother. Watching your child endure torturous hours of crucifixion, while everyone around hurled insults and abuse at him, must have been nothing short of a ghastly trauma. I can almost visualize a tear-soaked, shaken, and grief-stricken mother desperately reaching out to hold her son as he was pulled down from the cross after six grueling hours. Given that the crucifixion ends at the start of the Sabbath, Mary and the other women were prolonged from preparing Jesus’ body for burial. They gave their final goodbyes at the tomb of Joseph and returned “on the first day of the week, at early dawn” (Luke 24:1).
As Mary, and the other women, arose to bring oils and spices for Jesus’ body, they encountered the most unbelievable sight. The tomb was empty. Not only was the tomb empty, but angels of the Lord appeared to provide the women with a description of the first gospel message: “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’” (Luke 24:5-7) Her son was living! I can only imagine what song she must have sung to God after this angelic encounter. The group of women, including Mary, must have felt rather odd running to the disciples to tell them this most wonderful news. With incredulous spirits, the men ran to the tomb to confirm (of course) the women’s story, to which they found the same empty tomb.
Our Lord God chose a woman, such as Mary, to give birth to the Prince of Peace. He chose her to raise the Son of God, among her family and friends, in the small, unfavorable town of Nazareth. He chose her to stay near to her son amidst the horrors and the chaos of crucifixion, when many of the other disciples fled. Our Lord also ordained that Mary, and other women, would be the first people on earth to hear the gospel of Christ. Not only would they hear it for themselves, but they would be the first messengers and ministers of the gospel. My prayer for us this Easter season is that we may be formed into women who humble ourselves before the Lord, and find favor in His eyes. I pray that all of us, no matter what comes, can look up to the heavens and declare: “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.” (Luke 1:46-48).
Meet the Author!
Kaitlin loves Jesus and the Word with all her heart and soul. She is wife to Landon Niles and enjoys being part of the Niles Family Crew with Troy, Nolene, and Tate! She is currently attending Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary for a Master of Theological Studies degree, with an emphasis in Biblical Counseling. She also serves in our CRBC Student Ministry and leads 6-9th grade girls. Apart from Jesus, she loves dogs, cooking, reading, and The Chosen!