Mary, the Christian
By Monse Santiago
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Every Christmas, I find myself reminiscing about one of my favorite childhood memories: the “Posadas,” or “Inns.” Posadas are a series of Roman Catholic celebrations held during the nine days leading up to Christmas. Communities come together to re-enact the biblical story of Mary and Joseph’s pilgrimage as they searched for shelter anticipating Jesus’ birth. 

I attended these celebrations as a child, not just for the food and dancing, but also for the joy of participating in the communal procession. We knocked on people’s doors and recited chants, pleading to host the Sacred Family. 

As a young participant in the Posadas, I really didn’t question the titles or attributes given to the virgin Mary. However, now as a born-again Christian reflecting on these things, I am startled that Mary is called the “Queen of Heaven,” by virtue of her role as the mother of the Divine Word. While it is biblical to believe that Mary was favored by God to be the human agent through which Jesus became incarnate, my shock comes from the Roman Catholic doctrines that elevate Mary to such a glorious position, interceding in the work of salvation as if she were the fourth person of the Trinity. 

In this article I want to reflect on what the Bible says about Mary’s role and faith in Jesus Christ, and what we learn about her own need for grace as she followed the Christ to whom she gave birth. This reflection will focus on her life as a Christian -from her humble and obedient faith in accepting the call to be the mother of Jesus, to her struggle to fully grasp Jesus’ identity and mission, and ultimately, to her acceptance of her own Son as her personal Savior and Lord.   

Mary’s Humble Submission 

To understand Mary’s role and faith in God’s plan of salvation, we need to look at the gospels. Matthew and Luke record the most detailed narratives about Mary’s role in the incarnation. In their accounts, Mary is portrayed as a young virgin betrothed to Joseph, chosen by God to conceive and bear in her womb the Son of the Most High by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

The announcement of this miracle leaves Mary “greatly troubled” (Luke 1:29). After questioning the angel about how that miracle was going to be possible, her answer is exemplary: “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). Mary’s response is one of a humble, yet deliberate, faith. Although she does not fully understand why she was chosen, she knows that her obedience to this calling could bring her fatal consequences, from social ostracism to death by stoning. Still, she is willing to risk her reputation, her engagement, and her own safety in submission to God’s will for her life.

Mary’s quiet submission to God’s will is highlighted during her visit to her cousin Elizabeth, who was also experiencing a miraculous pregnancy. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby in her womb leaped with joy, and filled with the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth rejoiced, calling the baby in Mary’s womb “my Lord” and her cousin “blessed,” for she believed that “there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord” (Luke 1:45). 

Just as Mary was called “blessed” because she believed in the promised Son of God growing in her womb, conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, we too are also called “blessed” because we believe in the perfect person and work of Jesus Christ on our behalf, by the power of the Holy Spirit. As Jesus said, “blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29). 

Mary expressed her joy in a song of praise to God. The Magnificat provides a window into her own heart: “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.” (Luke 1:46-48). By praising God as her Savior, Mary recognizes her own need of salvation from sin, as well as her humble, undeserving estate as servant of the Lord. She responds in faith to his will for her life, magnifying the Lord for the great things He has done for her (Luke 1:49). 

Likewise, the Lord has done great things for us. He has looked on our humble, miserable estate and by his rich mercy, made Christ dwell in our hearts through faith (Ephesians 3:17). If this is a reality in your life, Mary’s Magnificat should stir your soul to sing of the salvation that the Lord provides, for His “mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation” (Luke 1:50).

Mary’s Struggle to Believe 

Throughout Jesus’ childhood, Mary was sometimes perplexed by the things she heard about her son’s divinity, treasuring and pondering them in her heart (Lk. 2:19, 51). Despite the angelic message, prophecies, and other tangible evidence of Jesus’ heavenly kingship and divinity, she still struggled to understand the identity and mission of the son she carried in her womb. 

Luke describes how Jesus’ parents took him to Jerusalem for the Passover feast when Jesus was 12. But as they were returning, Jesus stayed behind. After three days of searching, they found him sitting in the temple among the teachers asking them questions. Mary reproached him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress” (Luke 2:48). 

Jesus’ answer left them perplexed, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be at my Father’s house?” (Luke 2:49). Neither of his parents understood his words or actions, yet Jesus remained submissive to them. 

The gospels say little of Mary during Jesus’ ministry years, only reappearing at the time of his crucifixion. This silence, however, does not imply she was absent from his life. Although she is not mentioned by name, Mary was present in a few instances that demonstrate her struggle to believe in her son as her personal Savior. 

In John 2:1-11, Jesus and his disciples attended a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and Mary came with them. When the wine ran out, Mary informed Jesus “they have no wine” (John 2:3). By this remark, Mary is not just passing along information about the couples’ predicament. She is asking her son to act. 

Jesus replied with a question, difficult to translate, that expresses his reluctance because his time hasn’t come. The time (or hour) that Jesus is referring to points forward to the shedding of his own blood (what wine symbolizes) on the cross for the remission of sins so that his people may take part in the eschatological wedding, the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9). 

But Mary does not understand this. She is concerned for the shame and social scorn the newlyweds may experience, and for that reason, she boldly asks Jesus to intervene, knowing his power to perform miracles. She commands the servants to “do whatever he tells you” (John 2:5). Although Mary’s words and actions can be interpreted as “faith” in Jesus’ power, they did not communicate a personal trust in Jesus as her own Savior. Mary had yet to contemplate the weight of her sin that crushed her son on the cross to fully understand and believe in Jesus as her Savior.  

Maybe the best example of Mary’s struggle to believe in Jesus’ identity and mission comes from the time when she and her other children went to seek him (Matthew 12:46-50; Mark 3:31-35). While Matthew does not give any indication about the reason why they go seek him or why they need to speak to him, Mark includes this account in the context of his family trying to seize him for they consider that Jesus was “out of his mind” (Mark 3:21). 

Both accounts describe Jesus’ mother and brothers “standing outside” of where Jesus was teaching his disciples, which implies that his own family did not believe in him! In response to their request, Jesus rhetorically asked, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother” (Mark 3:34-35).

As Christians, there may be times in our lives when we struggle to believe and trust in Jesus’ divine identity and salvific mission. Mary, his own mother, struggled too! But despite our lack of understanding, Jesus invites us to obey God’s will in faith, even when we may not fully grasp his purposes in our lives.

 Mary’s Pierced Heart

The only mention of Mary included in all four gospels was at Jesus’ crucifixion (Matthew 27:56,61; Mark 15:40, 47; Luke 23:49, 55; John 19:25-27). We have no record of anything she said at the crucifixion. Having followed from Galilee with the other women, Mary stood at a distance watching Jesus’ crucifixion. Though Mary remained silent, Jesus made provisions for her to be received as a mother by his so-called beloved disciple (John 19:26-27).  

But as Mary witnessed the soldiers piercing her son’s side with a spear, Simeon’s prophecy came to fruition in her life: she felt like a sword was piercing her own soul also. Jesus’ death and resurrection revealed with utmost clarity what Simeon had prophesied: Jesus was the One appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, “so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed,” (Luke 2:35) including Mary’s own heart. 

But it is through this heartbreaking experience of witnessing the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus that Mary understood all that she had treasured and pondered in her heart throughout the years: the son she carried in her womb was the promised Son of the Most High who came to save his people from their sins (Matt. 1:21). Christ, her Lord and Savior. 

The last place Mary is mentioned in the New Testament is in Acts 1:14 where she is mentioned as one of those gathered with the disciples in the upper room, devoting themselves to prayer. No longer standing outside, Mary is now an insider, gathering with the other disciples, finally receiving Jesus by faith as her personal Lord and Savior, and comprehending her son’s identity and mission as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).  

Though we often think of Mary’s privileged role as the mother of Christ, she was also a follower of Christ, like us. Her discipleship involved joy, sorrow, and doubt. She ultimately lived out her days as a member of the new community created by Christ. We are called to emulate Mary’s faith and commitment to the church. God gave her a unique calling in the history of redemption but she was aware of her own need of the covenant blessings secured by her son’s life, death, and resurrection. 


Monse Santiago serves as campus staff for Reformed University Fellowship (RUF) at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

Read the other articles in our Blessed Among Women series here:

Mary, the Bereaved

Mary, the Servant

Mary, the Songwriter

Mary, the Virgin

Blessed Among Women: A New Series Celebrating the Witness of Mary

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