What is the greatest lesson we can learn from Mother Mary? Faith. Mary, the mother of Jesus, taught faith like no one else in the Bible.
As a virgin, an angel of the Lord visited Mary and gave her news that she would conceive a son by the power of the Holy Spirit. Even though the angel told her that she was "highly favored" and that "the Lord was with [her]" (Luke 1:28), Mary struggled with the angel's words (Luke 1:29). But, she persevered and held tightly to her faith.
The angel explained to her that she found favor with God and told her of the Son she would deliver. Mary's last words to the departing angel were: "I am the Lord's servant...May your word to me be fulfilled." (Luke 1:38) She had faith.
Mary was not unaware of the good things God was doing in her life. While speaking with Elizabeth, Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me -- holy is his name" (Luke 1:46-49).
Mary had to have faith during her pregnancy because she was not yet married to Joseph. What would people say? Would she be shunned from society? But her faith kept her strong.
After giving birth to Jesus, and watching the shepherds praising Him, Mary "treasured up all [those] things and pondered them in her heart" (Luke 2:19). Mary didn't need another explanation about what her Son's purpose was -- she knew He was the Savior of the World. But not once did the Bible say she tried to stop his destiny or protect Him in any way -- she continued on and kept her faith.
When Jesus was twelve-years-old, he stayed behind in the temple courts while his parents left the village, thinking He was with them. After a day of traveling, they realized he wasn't among them and they returned to the village they had just left. They found Jesus sitting in the temple among the elders and talking. His mother asked him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you" (Luke 2:48). Jesus explained that He was doing His Father's business, and even then, the Bible says that Mary and Joseph did not understand what He was saying to them. But even though they did not understand Jesus' words -- the bible says again: Mary treasured all these things in her heart (Luke 2:51). She persevered and held tightly to her faith.
When Jesus and his mother, Mary, attended a wedding, Mary noticed that there was no more wine at the celebration. So she told Jesus (John 2:3). Jesus responded: "'Woman, why do you involve me? My hour has not yet come.'" It was then that Mary turned to the servants and said: "'Do whatever he tells you'" (John 2:5). She believed that Jesus was the answer and told others to listen to him.
But it was at Calvary that Mary's faith was probably tested the most. She watched the son she conceived, carried, delivered, raised, and loved, be beaten, mocked and tortured -- and yet did nothing but persevere and hold tightly to her faith.
The Bible says that "...near the cross of Jesus stood his mother...When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, 'Woman, here is your son,' and to the disciple, 'Here is your mother.' From that time on, this disciple took her into his home" (John 19:25-27). Even from the cross, Jesus saw to it that His mother be cared for -- and all because of Mary's faith, evident before Jesus was even born and probably just as evident after His death.
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