One of my favorite things to do is to imagine what the life of a Biblical character was like and then try to understand why they thought and acted the way they did. It helps me see them as real people just like you and I, not a character in a story. It helps me to realize that we are given snapshots of their life to help us understand Biblical truth. The one on my mind today is Mary, the mother of Jesus.
We are all familiar with many of the Bible stories. My problem is often too familiar. When Scripture is too familiar I tend to think I understand it and read quickly through it rather than letting God speak to me with new expanded truth.
We have heard the story many times about the wedding where Jesus performed His first miracle by turning water into wine in John 2. This morning however I woke up thinking about it in a different way. I realized this was not something Jesus planned to do. It was Mary’s idea. Even the dialog between Jesus and Mary makes me smile because His humanity shines through.
John 2:3-5
When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to Him, “They have no more wine.” “Dear woman, why do you involve Me?” Jesus replied. “My time has not come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever He tells you.”
As I read through the passage slowly and think about the reality of the situation, I see the wedding feast and lots of people all around. Jesus and Mary are there with family and friends enjoying the festivity. We know this because John 2:1-2 tell us Mary was there and Jesus’ disciples were there. John 2:12 helps us see Jesus’ brothers were also there. Many believe the wedding party was related to Jesus and Mary or she would probably not have been aware of the wine shortage.
The other thing I wonder is how this information found its way into John’s Gospel. To me it seems that either John himself, who many believe was a cousin of Jesus and was probably the other disciple that left John the Baptist to follow Jesus with Andrew (John 1:37), was there with them and was an eye-witness to the interchange, or Mary herself told John. Remember John was given the charge by Jesus, as He was dying, to care for Mary as if she was his own mother. That is interesting by itself because Jesus had brothers that traditionally would have taken that role.
Anyway, as they set and talk with family and friends, the dialog starts. I imagine Mary gets up and is checking on the serving tables when she makes the discovery. Mary sees they are out of wine and mentions it to Jesus. I think His first words are priceless. “Dear woman” He calls her. What a statement of His love for His mom; real people in a real setting.
Then He simply asks, “Why do you involve Me? My time has not come.” He says as He has not yet started His ministry. It is obvious to me that they both know He had the Divine ability to solve the problem. To Jesus it simply was a matter of timing. But Mary doesn’t even respond to His question; a mother in charge. She simply, and in total faith, turns to the servants and says, “Do whatever He tells you.”
Again we see the son (the human son) responding to his mother with honor and obedience and performs His first miracle by changing water into wine. He did not debate with her. He did not respond in a way that showed His earthly mother did not have the right to tell Him when to perform a Kingdom task. He simply obeyed; the creator of everything submitting to His creation. Ponder that for a minute. I am in awe at the thought.
The story itself is worth pondering. However, I am thinking about Mary and how this Jewish mom was given the faith to start into action the first of many miracles her Son would complete to show the world, including you and me, who He was and is and forever will be.
Let’s flash back to Mary’s teenage years. Imagine this young girl, probably around 16, going through the everyday life of a young Jewish maiden. She was undoubtedly very devoted to her faith as witnessed by her response to the angel Gabriel’s message. Most likely she was alone. Imagine yourself in Mary’s situation. You are going about your normal life when an angel appears in front of you and says…
“Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Luke 1:28
The next verse makes it so real to me, “Mary was greatly troubled.” I am not sure troubled would be a strong enough word if it were me. Are you there in your mind? I would be stunned. But the angel goes on.
“Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; His Kingdom will never end.” Luke 1:30-33
We know the story, but can we see the beginning of the faith building God needed her to have to be the woman that helped prepare His Son for the moment He changed water into wine and all that followed? Having never been a 16 year old girl, I can only think about my two girls when they were 16; innocent, naive, full of the excitement of life. How would they have reacted to this scenario? Think about it.
I have come to believe that when God needs us to play an integral part of His plan He prepares us before He calls us. Mary’s response was one of submission and great faith; neither are normal human traits, especially not a normal response from a teenager.
“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left. Luke 1:38
In verse 36 the angel had told Mary her aging relative Elizabeth was going to have a child. Verse 39 says Mary immediately went to see Elizabeth. Verse 41 is another one of those faith building moments.
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed; “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear. But why am I so favored that the mother of the Lord should come to me?” Luke 1:41-3
Remember Mary went immediately to see Elizabeth. She probably was not even showing and yet Elizabeth knew through the power of the Holy Spirit Mary was to be the mother of the Lord. Mary must have been in awe. This scene is amazing to me. The mother of Jesus and the mother of John the Baptist, face to face carrying two children that will change the world; the one like Elijah, a voice in the desert, and the other the Christ. The scene takes my breath away!
As Mary begins to realize she is truly a pregnant virgin and Joseph is visited by Gabriel and given assurance of the situation, Mary’s faith must have been given a large boost. God was with her.
We move forward to the birth of Jesus. I can imagine Satan whispering to Mary that if this was really God’s Son He would not have let Him be born in a stable. Our enemy is always there to bring doubt into our mind. But then came the shepherds telling the story of angels singing and pointing the way to the child; faith again wins over doubt. Later the Wisemen showed up bringing rich gifts to this child of a poor Jewish couple. God showing His chosen teenager He would take care of them all.
A dozen years later we come to the scene in the temple. Think about what has happened since His birth. They have moved a couple times because of visions in Joseph’s dreams. Other children have been born; brothers and sisters. Mary is the mother of a family now and in her late 20’s. The family makes the yearly pilgrimage to the Temple. Here Jesus does a very 12 year old thing. He is very interested in the conversations of the teachers and sets down near them to listen.
I have two 11 year old grandsons. I can imagine them getting totally intrigued by a situation they were interested in and getting side-tract and lost in the crowd. I can almost see the boy Jesus walking by a conversation between teachers and setting down to listen. After all it was His Father’s truth they were discussing. Imagine the questions He might ask them when their understanding was just a little bit off; it’s intriguing.
After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. Luke 2:46-47
Back comes a frantic Mary into the scene. Can you imagine her panic thinking she had lost God’s Son that was entrusted to her and Joseph? She tells Jesus they have been searching for Him for three days and Jesus simply asks, “Why were you searching for me. Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” (Luke 2:49)
As the truly devoted son He was, verse 51 states he was obedient and left with them. Mary’s understanding and faith is shown in verse 51 also, “His mother treasured all these things in her heart.” I love that verse. Have you ever treasured the things your kids have done? Imagine Mary watching the Son of God grow up; watching the only sinless human being raised in a normal family; watching Him learn carpentry from Joseph. She treasured these things; amazing faith building things.
I imagine the conversations in the family home or while Jesus was working as a carpenter with Joseph; conversations about the men of faith in their history. I even think about normal sibling rivalry. Jesus never sinned, but his brothers and sisters did because they were like us. Imagine being the mother of this large family and raising the only perfect child that ever lived. That must have been amazing.
As I take a look at the few snap-shots we get of Mary’s life in Scripture, I can see God building the faith of this devote Jewish mother, now in her late 40’s, when she simply says to the servants, “Do whatever He tells you”. The question that brings to my mind is do I have that type of faith. Am I willing to, “Do whatever He tells you”? Looking back at Mary’s life helps me let go and let God “tell me”.
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