I may have mentioned before to you that I, too, am a widow. I do identify with Mary. She was a mother to, not only Jesus, but other adult children. They looked upon Jesus with confusion and, perhaps, hidden envy, manifesting in scorn or ridicule of His ministry. She was a mother torn between her adult children and differing ideas regarding Jesus. Perhaps, Mary had a soft spot for Jesus knowing the things that she had been told about Jesus' future ministry; the good, the bad and the ugly of what was to come. That soft spot might have caused jealousies.
She had hidden these things in her heart but now it was unfolding before her. She no longer had Joseph to share her concerns and wonder with. Her other adult children were likely pressuring her to protect her reputation lest the Romans come after her, all of them, when things started to get heated in Jesus' ministry. It is so hard as a mother to stay balanced when you have more than one child. You've seen them grow up, know their strengths and weaknesses and cannot keep the peace among them all now that they are adults.
She knows what she was told by angel. She knows the Scriptural references to Jesus' end, especially the description in Isaiah. She feels this precarious balance between the miraculous and the harsh realities of living under Roman rule and the Pharisees. It must have been a constant dance between Faith and fear in her heart seeing the prophecies unfold before her.
They are all adults now and, as a woman in that society, she knows she has limited influence on the events...and should she even say anything because God ordained Him for this purpose that was coming to fruition. For whatever reason she likely had not shared the knowledge of Jesus' path with her children, so they reacted as siblings offended by the possible dishonour He was bringing on the family.
I am sure she felt very vulnerable because in her heart she knew that it would not end well for Jesus on this earth and she needed the protection on her remaining children in her older age. The conflict in her heart, the vulnerability, the love she had for Jesus balanced with the love she had for her other children...what a mix and turmoil it must have been for her. Of course, her mothering instincts were to protect Jesus from Himself because she did not want the terrible fate she feared to come upon her first born son. It must have been as much of a walk of Faith for her as it was for Jesus to walk it out. Hiding her fore-knowledge of Jesus' anointing and appointment as the Son of God must have been excruciating for her.
It is also interesting that Jesus gave the responsibility of caring for Mary in the future to John, not His siblings. He knew she would need someone who intimately understood the Love of Jesus/God to care for her going forward. Jesus also knew that John would not be killed for the Faith so would be able to be there for her. She likely walked with the growing group of Jesus followers after Jesus' death so He gave John the job of 'son' to protect her into her old age.
Oh, Judy, this gives me so much to think about and write about! Thank you for sharing it. All women can feel torn among their children; let's face it, we might secret;y have a favorite child. And the knowledge that Mary bore in her heart involving Jesus' ministry and his death would have been made much harder without Jose[h to share it. I had thought about the limits the society put on women, but I had not even considered the Roman rule and how that would have preyed upon her. I wondered, as you did, why the responsility for Mary's care was passed onto John, not a brother. Perhaps you were right that she walked with the disciples and He wanted her to continue in that role.
You have given me more to think about and I am indebted to you for your careful response. As As a widow, my connection with Mary is palpable, as is yours.
After Jesus death on the cross, there was no further mention of Mary
in the King James Bible. In my readings, I haven't come a cross any information on her life as a widow. I am sorry that I am not able to help you. GOD BLESS!
Francyne, thanks for your interest and your input. There is limited information on Mary, so some of my work might be on the general things a woman of the time would have face, especially as a widow. It will be interesting to see how God helps me to develop it.
I may have mentioned before to you that I, too, am a widow. I do identify with Mary. She was a mother to, not only Jesus, but other adult children. They looked upon Jesus with confusion and, perhaps, hidden envy, manifesting in scorn or ridicule of His ministry. She was a mother torn between her adult children and differing ideas regarding Jesus. Perhaps, Mary had a soft spot for Jesus knowing the things that she had been told about Jesus' future ministry; the good, the bad and the ugly of what was to come. That soft spot might have caused jealousies.
She had hidden these things in her heart but now it was unfolding before her. She no longer had Joseph to share her concerns and wonder with. Her other adult children were likely pressuring her to protect her reputation lest the Romans come after her, all of them, when things started to get heated in Jesus' ministry. It is so hard as a mother to stay balanced when you have more than one child. You've seen them grow up, know their strengths and weaknesses and cannot keep the peace among them all now that they are adults.
She knows what she was told by angel. She knows the Scriptural references to Jesus' end, especially the description in Isaiah. She feels this precarious balance between the miraculous and the harsh realities of living under Roman rule and the Pharisees. It must have been a constant dance between Faith and fear in her heart seeing the prophecies unfold before her.
They are all adults now and, as a woman in that society, she knows she has limited influence on the events...and should she even say anything because God ordained Him for this purpose that was coming to fruition. For whatever reason she likely had not shared the knowledge of Jesus' path with her children, so they reacted as siblings offended by the possible dishonour He was bringing on the family.
I am sure she felt very vulnerable because in her heart she knew that it would not end well for Jesus on this earth and she needed the protection on her remaining children in her older age. The conflict in her heart, the vulnerability, the love she had for Jesus balanced with the love she had for her other children...what a mix and turmoil it must have been for her. Of course, her mothering instincts were to protect Jesus from Himself because she did not want the terrible fate she feared to come upon her first born son. It must have been as much of a walk of Faith for her as it was for Jesus to walk it out. Hiding her fore-knowledge of Jesus' anointing and appointment as the Son of God must have been excruciating for her.
It is also interesting that Jesus gave the responsibility of caring for Mary in the future to John, not His siblings. He knew she would need someone who intimately understood the Love of Jesus/God to care for her going forward. Jesus also knew that John would not be killed for the Faith so would be able to be there for her. She likely walked with the growing group of Jesus followers after Jesus' death so He gave John the job of 'son' to protect her into her old age.
Oh, Judy, this gives me so much to think about and write about! Thank you for sharing it. All women can feel torn among their children; let's face it, we might secret;y have a favorite child. And the knowledge that Mary bore in her heart involving Jesus' ministry and his death would have been made much harder without Jose[h to share it. I had thought about the limits the society put on women, but I had not even considered the Roman rule and how that would have preyed upon her. I wondered, as you did, why the responsility for Mary's care was passed onto John, not a brother. Perhaps you were right that she walked with the disciples and He wanted her to continue in that role.
You have given me more to think about and I am indebted to you for your careful response. As As a widow, my connection with Mary is palpable, as is yours.
Judy, Thank you for this commentary. It is so well thought out.
It certainly is!
Good morning,
After Jesus death on the cross, there was no further mention of Mary
in the King James Bible. In my readings, I haven't come a cross any information on her life as a widow. I am sorry that I am not able to help you. GOD BLESS!
Francyne, thanks for your interest and your input. There is limited information on Mary, so some of my work might be on the general things a woman of the time would have face, especially as a widow. It will be interesting to see how God helps me to develop it.
If you pray to GOD in Jesus name, you will receive, if it is his Will. Have a good evening.
Thank you, Francyne. I have no doubt He will help me write it if if it meant to be.