Who was Mary - Mother of Jesus?

She was a young woman from Nazareth in Galilee. Mary would have been approximately 12 or 13 yrs old when the angel of Gabriel came to her and told her that was going to deliver a baby boy and He was going to be the Holy One. Can you even wrap you mind around that thought. I can’t even imagine what it would be like to be the mother of Jesus.  As a mother I know how I love my children. I would do anything to protect them and keep them safe.  Imagine raising your child knowing all the time that He was special, and not just to you, but to the world. You were carrying God’s child and raising Him for the Heavenly Father. This had to be an awesome responsibility that Mary carried with her always. 

Fast forward to the days of Jesus’ teaching. Jesus is a grown man now around 30 and starting His journey spreading God’s word, the Gospel. Mary must have been so proud of Him. I know when I am proud of my children I feel like I could explode and normally do with tears, and telling everyone about them and their accomplishments and how wonderful they are.  But --- Mary, we aren’t told much about how she felt about her son or the days of her raising Him. She was a human mother just as you and I are. Did she have bad days? Did Jesus act up as a child like other little ones do? I don’t know, I guess that will need to wait till I get to Heaven and ask God.

Fast forward to His crucifixion. What was she feeling on that day?  Can we even think or comprehend the depth of her pain as she watched Jesus being beaten. Your child being whipped with straps that had nails or razor like items on the straps to make sure the whipping cut His flesh. She would have seen His beaten body, the look in His eyes, His broken spirit. She would have felt His pain as her own while she watched Him being nailed to the cross. As they ripped His clothes from Him, as they laid Him on the cross and spread His arms to drive long ragged nails through his writs and feet.  Was Jesus crying? He was human, I believe He did. Did He scream in pain? I believe He did, He was human. Did He understand why this was happening? Yes, he did, He was Christ the Son of God.

But Mary was all female, all human, with all our understanding and feelings as a mother. Was she standing, or had she crumpled to the ground unable to stand on her own feet from grief. Her precious son was dying before her eyes and she could not stop this event from happening. She could not go to Him and hold Him in her arms while He took His last breath. Do you feel her pain? Think about Mary and her emotions, and then go hug your family. God allowed Mary and Christ to go through all this pain and agony for you and for me.

May God Bless!

Lillian Humphries