Mary’s Submission and Suffering

“And 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).

I recently heard Dr. David Jeremiah speaking of Mary, the mother of Jesus. He reminded his listeners of Mary’s submission and suffering. I don’t think I’d ever thought about her submission. But it’s certainly showing right there in Luke, chapter 1. Mary is troubled by the angel’s appearance and announcement to her, but she does not resist. She asks how this pregnancy was to happen and accepts the angel’s answer with, “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.”

Mary submitted to God’s will and purpose for her life despite the suffering and ridicule she must have endured. I can only imagine how her family and friends must have accepted her news—an unwed Jewish girl, promised to the young man, Joseph, and now pregnant with God’s Son.  Yeah, right!  No wonder Joseph was ready to break the betrothal. In Jewish culture, a betrothed couple was considered as husband and wife but did not live together until their year-long betrothal was over.  What would anyone think? Mary had been unfaithful to Joseph or they didn’t wait for physical relations until marriage. Joseph knew it was not the latter.  It took an angel’s revelation to change his mind about breaking the betrothal. He, too, became submissive to God’s will. He, too, must have suffered ridicule along with Mary.

When Mary and Joseph were required to travel to Bethlehem for the census we see submission to the government authorities We see Mary’s suffering when no room was found for her comfort. She gave birth to Jesus in a stable and used a manger for his bed!

The worst suffering any mother can imagine is to see her own child tortured and killed. Mary was there! At the cross! She saw Jesus’ wounds and heard his cries of anguish. Then she heard Jesus give John the responsibility for her care. What grief! What suffering!

I’m compelled to ask if I am submissive to Almighty God?  Am I willing to suffer for the sake of Jesus? Am I willing to give up comfort and selfish ambitions to be obedient to God?

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus” ( Philippians 2:3-5).