My Reflection on the Legacy of Mary the Earthly Mother of Jesus This Mother's Day

While I may not be a Roman Catholic, I don't believe Mary is the spiritual mother of all Christians but she still deserves honor like every good child of God. She herself is an example of what every mother should be with these words, "Behold the handmaid of the LORD, be it done according to your Word." So how do I think of Mary as a good example as a mother? Mary herself had the special privilege of becoming the mother of Jesus in His humanity. She also came form a special line that according to Luke 3:23-38 we read the lineage of Mary. Heli is the father-in-law of Joseph. Joseph came from the line of Solomon. Mary on the other hand came from the line of Nathan, another son of David and Bathsheba.

I remembered the sermon of Pastor Kent Jesalva on Bathsheba: A Mother to Model. While Bathsheba started out as a bad mother because of her affair with David, the repentance led to turn the tables around. Bathsheba's firstborn with David died soon after as a result of the affair. Then a child was named Solomon. Then after Solomon, we have Nathan who became the ancestor of Mary. Mary came from the line of Nathan. While David's family was not perfect and remember their ancestor Judah had an incestuous affair with his daughter-in-law Tamar from where came Phares, from Phares down we realize there are many other good mothers.

Mary had some important ancestors too. Rahab the former Canaanite harlot married Salmon. From Salmon came Boaz. Boaz married the Moabitess Ruth and bore Obed. From Obed came Jesse and from Jesse came David. The Canaanites and Moabites were a doomed and accursed race as well. The Moabites were born out of a father/daughter incest between Lot and one of his two daughters. The Canaanites were cursed for Ham's misdeed. But God's grace can uplift any of those curses. Mary followed her godly predecessors.

One of the best examples Mary ever made as a good mother was that she really acknowledged her sinfulness and her need for a Savior. In Luke 2:21-24 we read that Mary offered a sin offering. Roman Catholics tend to say I insult Mary when I say that she's a sinner who needed a Savior. Nowhere in the Bible does it teach that Mary was ever sinless. Just because Mary was full of God's grace doesn't mean she didn't need a Savior. By doing her duty of offering that sin offering, she has shown the duty of every Christian mother is to provide a good example to their children.

Mary put God's will above hers no matter how much it hurts her. She knew that her firstborn son was also the Creator of the Universe, the Lord Jesus Christ. When she said in John 2:5 to only do what Jesus tells us to do, she set another example that mothers should emphasize. Mothers should instruct their children in godliness. When Mary and Joseph were faithful to attend the Passover, it also showed this one that every mother plays an important role in bringing their children to the LORD. When Jesus did what He did, she accepted the will of God that Jesus would die for the atonement of sin including her very own. She knew she was a sinner, she received salvation by grace through faith and she became a good example for mothers everywhere to follow.