Heroes of Christmas: Mary
It is easy into the trap of familiarity during the Christmas season. As we hear the Christmas story read from the Gospels, we hear about the same characters and events surrounding the birth of Jesus. Mary, Joseph, shepherds, Magi, animals in a stable, and shining stars can easily begin to lose significance.
In part, this might happen because our eyes are fixed on Jesus and his birth, which is a good thing since He is the main point. But is it possible that we are missing important aspects of Jesus’s story by overlooking the surrounding characters?
In this series, we’re looking a little closer at some of the people who are sometimes overlooked or misunderstood, showing why they matter for our proper understanding of the Christmas story. The first character is Jesus’s mother, Mary.
Who Is Mary?
We’re given a few key details about Mary in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. She is a virgin who is betrothed to a man named Joseph (Matt. 1:18, Luke 1:27). Mary and Joseph are from Nazareth (Luke 1:26), and travel to Bethlehem for a census while she’s pregnant (Luke 2:4). Mary became pregnant with Jesus through the Holy Spirit (Matt. 1:18), and when the angel Gabriel tells her this will happen she responds with humble acceptance of God’s will (Luke 1:38).
With the details we have of Mary, it can be tempting to elevate or overemphasize only one aspect of who she was, missing the deeper significance of her role in the story. For example, I recently attended a wedding of a Catholic relative, and the focus on Mary’s “perpetual” virginity was held up as of the utmost importance, even though that fails to hold up to the witness of Scripture that Mary and Joseph had other children (Mark 6:3).
I’ve also heard others emphasize how Mary must have been young when God called her to the task ahead, as virgins betrothed to be married were often younger than in our present-day culture. Therefore, Mary is an example of a young person accepting God’s call to do something big for him (the youth talk almost writes itself). While it’s possible Mary was in her early teens when she had Jesus, the text doesn’t specify, and there are plenty of other details we can highlight from her story instead of delving into speculation.
How is Mary a “Hero” of Christmas?
As the title of this series suggests, this is the question we’re asking of each character. How is Mary a hero? Why does she matter to the Christmas story? There are a few key ways Mary matters, even if she isn’t the one who matters most:
Verifying Jesus’s Humanity
One of the purposes of Luke’s gospel is to present eyewitness accounts of Jesus’ birth, life, death, and resurrection (Luke 1:1-4). As Luke describes the birth of Jesus, he roots it in details about his mother, who Luke identifies as Mary. He also describes that Mary had a cousin, who Luke identifies as Elizabeth, the wife of Zechariah the priest. He describes where Mary was from, where she and Joseph went, and even ties their travel to Bethlehem to a historically verifiable census (Luke 2:2). If anyone at the time Luke wrote his gospel wanted to debate whether Jesus was actually Mary’s child who was born in Bethlehem, they could have.
It’s crucially important that Jesus’ birth was and is verifiable for two reasons. First, Jesus’ followers did not view him as a mythological figure whose birth was shrouded in mystery. People were shocked at the miracles he performed because they knew his family of origin (John 6:42). Second, throughout the past 2,000 years, some have tried to deny or minimize the humanity of Jesus, saying He simply appeared to be human or was only partially human. It matters a great deal that Mary carried Jesus to term, gave birth to him, and raised him like any mother raises a child. If we weren’t introduced to Mary in these Christmas accounts we wouldn’t have as much confidence in the humanity of Jesus.
Illustrating the Purpose of Jesus’s Birth
When Mary is first greeted by the angel Gabriel, she is “greatly troubled” at his greeting (Luke 1:29). After the angel assures her that she has found favor by describing the forthcoming conception and birth of Jesus, Mary questions how these things will happen (Luke 1:34). And yet, she ultimately responds, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). Her cousin Elizabeth describes her as “she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord” (Luke 1:45). Mary’s example of faith can help us see the place for joyful obedience in the midst of uneasiness and questions, trusting that God is good to His word.
Mary’s example of faith points beyond the conversation with Gabriel itself and to the bigger picture of Jesus’ birth as a monumental event in history. God demonstrated His faithfulness to His promise all the way back in Genesis 3:15, that the “seed of the woman” would crush the serpent’s head. Jesus was born to fulfill God’s promise to send a Messiah, and Mary’s faith encourages us to respond with the same faith, trusting in the God who keeps His promises.
Magnifying the Lord
Mary also sings a song proclaiming God’s greatness and might. Luke 1:46-55 is known as the Magnificat, where Mary describes God’s character, work, and the many reasons to rejoice in him. This song is perhaps the greatest way Mary points us away from herself and directly to God, the true focal point of the Christmas story. However, in my experience, this passage is often left out of our Christmas services and sermons, possibly because it doesn’t fit the Nativity-looking Christmas image that first comes to mind when we think about the birth of Jesus. Or maybe it’s because Protestants are so weary of venerating Mary that we rush through these passages to get to Jesus. But may we not neglect Mary’s song. It’s an incredible opportunity to look more to God’s greatness and faithfulness and be encouraged to magnify and praise Him.
How Can We Refocus on Christmas?
As you read this article, you’re likely looking forward to the next few weeks of Christmas messages, parties, and songs. Perhaps you’re a youth pastor planning a few weeks of Christmas-centered youth group teachings, or you’re a parent considering how you can lead your kids to see Jesus more in the Christmas season this year. The busyness of the planning, details, and travel that surround Christmas can often overwhelm us. In light of these things, how might you emphasize Mary’s story as a heroic piece of Christmas this year?
First, spend some time reflecting on the truths Mary declares about God. Read Luke 1:46-55 and look at the greatness of God, His faithfulness to his people in the past, and His faithfulness to you. Before jumping forward to how you can lead your students or family toward Jesus, allow Mary to lead you to Jesus. See his greatness. See the fulfillment of God’s promises. Allow these beautiful truths to drive you to magnify the Lord yourself.
Second, be mindful that you are talking about Jesus’ birth as a real, historical event. All of the cutesy religious elements, feel-good stories that come with the holiday, and miraculous elements can easily lead us to talk about the birth of Jesus as just a good story. But remember to emphasize the place Jesus’ birth has in redemption history, as an event that took place in space and time.
Finally, consider what you lead students and family towards at Christmastime. In all that you do around Christmas, are they being pointed to focus on themselves, on the material things they’re getting, or even on you and the traditions you want to implement? Or are they being pointed to look first and foremost on the Almighty God who took on flesh and drew near to them by becoming like them?
May we allow Mary to lead us and those we are teaching to receive this God who has revealed himself most fully in Jesus Christ.