Mary: A Faithful Servant and Recipient of Grace
Introduction
A. The Angelic Greeting Over two thousand years ago, in the humble town of Nazareth, a young woman’s life was forever changed by a divine encounter. The angel Gabriel appeared to her with an extraordinary greeting: 📖 Luke 1:28 — "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."
B. The Historical Dilemma Throughout church history, two extreme views regarding Mary have emerged:
1. Exaltation: Some elevate her to a level nearly equal to Christ, attributing to her roles like "Co-Redemptrix" or "Mediatrix."
2. Dismissal: Others, in reaction to the first extreme, minimize her role and fail to give her the respect due to a woman of such profound faith.
C. The Biblical Balance Both extremes are incorrect. The Holy Scriptures provide a clear, balanced portrait: Mary was an essential instrument in God’s plan of redemption, a model of piety, and the mother of our Lord according to the flesh—but she was never intended to be an object of worship.
I. A Chosen Woman, but Subject to the Human Condition
While Mary was uniquely selected by God, the Bible maintains the consistency of human nature regarding her person.
A. The Universality of Sin Romans 5:12 — "Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned." As a descendant of Adam, Mary shared in the fallen condition of humanity. She was a daughter of the Fall who, like all of us, required the grace of God.
B. The Human Perception of Joseph Mateo 1:18-20 When Joseph discovered Mary was pregnant, his first thought was to divorce her quietly. This indicates that there was no "visible halo" or supernatural perfection that made her pregnancy self-explanatory. She lived a real, human life subject to human misunderstanding.
C. Her Own Surprise Luke 1:29, 38 Mary was "greatly troubled" by the angel’s words. She did not expect a special mission. Her response, "I am the Lord’s servant," demonstrates her humility, not an inherent divinity.
Doctrinal Principle: Mary was a faithful and godly woman, but she remained human—a recipient of grace, not the source of it.
II. Favored Among Women, Not Above Them
The Bible uses specific language to describe Mary’s privilege, which must be understood through the lens of original Greek and context.
A. "Highly Favored" (Charitoo) The Greek term used in Luke 1:28 is related to the word for "grace." It indicates that she was "endowed with grace" or "the object of grace." Just as believers are "accepted in the Beloved" (Ephesians 1:6), Mary was a recipient of God's unmerited favor.
B. Blessed Among Generations 📖 Luke 1:48 — "From now on all generations will call me blessed." We rightfully call her "blessed" because of her unique privilege: being the Theotokos (the God-bearer) in the mystery of the Incarnation.
C. The Foundation of True Blessedness Jesus provided a crucial clarification on what makes someone truly "blessed" in God's eyes:
• Luke 11:27-28: When a woman shouted, "Blessed is the mother who gave you birth," Jesus replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it."
• Matthew 12:47-50: Jesus taught that anyone who does the will of the Father is His "brother and sister and mother."
Doctrinal Principle: Jesus did not dishonor His mother, but He taught that spiritual greatness is found in obedience to God’s Word—a path available to every believer.
III. The New Testament Focus: Christ, Not Mary
One of the strongest arguments for the biblical role of Mary is the "divine silence" found in the later books of the New Testament.
A. Limited Presence After the birth narratives, Mary appears only a few times:
• The Wedding at Cana: Where she tells the servants, "Do whatever he tells you" (John 2:5).
• The Cross: Where Jesus entrusts her to the care of the Apostle John (John 19:27).
• Upper Room: She is seen praying with the 120 disciples before Pentecost (Acts 1:14).
B. The Apostolic Silence It is telling that in all the Epistles of Paul, Peter, and James, Mary is never mentioned by name. Even John, who lived with her and cared for her, does not exalt her in his three letters or the book of Revelation.
• Doctrinal Principle: The focus of the Apostles was the Exalted Christ. Worship (latria) belongs solely to God. Matthew 4:10 — "Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only."
IV. Mary Required a Savior
The most definitive proof that Mary was a redeemed sinner like the rest of the church comes from her own lips in the Magnificat.
A. Her Personal Testimony Luke 1:46-47 — "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior." The very fact that Mary calls God "my Savior" is a confession of her need for redemption. One does not need a "Savior" unless one is lost or subject to the consequences of sin.
B. The Necessity of the Mediator The doctrine of salvation teaches that there is a vast gulf between God and man that only one Person can bridge. 1 Timothy 2:5 — "For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus." Mary was the mother of the Savior according to His humanity, but she was saved by Him according to His divinity.
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Conclusion
What was Mary's role in the Bible?
1. She was a Chosen Vessel used by God to bring the Messiah into the world.
2. She was a Model of Obedience and humility for all believers.
3. She was a Saved Sinner who recognized her own need for Christ.
We honor Mary best when we follow her own advice given at Cana: "Do whatever He tells you." She does not point us to herself; she points us to her Son, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
