A Mother’s Anguish
“What about mid-life Mary?”
John 19:25-27 (NLT)
Standing near the cross were Jesus’ mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home.
Reflection
In the Bible, the bookends of Mary’s story are “favored of God” and being counted among the faithful women in the upper room. Sounds like a smooth life.
In fact, her biggest blunder seems to be acting pesky with Jesus at the wedding in Canaan.
When she was chosen by God, Mary only had a “yes” to give and a promise from the angel Gabriel to accept.
That yes and promise underpinned her entire life.
A majority of what Mary is honored for is her yes to bear a baby.
But what about the rest of that yes?
What about the mid-life yes?
I couldn’t even watch my boys get stitches, much less watch someone put a spear in their side, and I certainly have a struggle with anyone who lies about my boys or abandons them in friendship.
Visualize Mary listening to Peter preach on the day of Pentecost, and wondering where that boldness was when Jesus needed Peter to stand up for Him in the courtyard while a rooster crowed.
She had so much to process, yet we are tempted to perpetually keep her clean and fresh with her blue dress and white veil.
At this moment in our passage, she is inwardly imploding under the weight of that yes she uttered 33 years earlier.
Lovingly, Jesus turns toward her and gives her over to John for care.
It’s very thoughtful, but what comfort would that actually be? Having a place to live in no way absolves trauma.
Her brain was embedded with graphic scenes, her nose triggered by the smells of dust filled death, her eyes squinting with flashbacks, and her ears static with loathing chants. Her heart clenched myriads of loss, and she was forced to reside among citizens who had yelled “crucify Him!”
Mary survived immeasurable sorrow clinging to a 33-year-old yes and clutching this 33-year-old promise:
The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. (Luke 1:35a, NLT)
Not one layer of her yes was easy, but every vowel and consonant of Gabriel’s promise was fulfilled in power.
Action Step
If you are a person who is moved by music, this song and closing prayer is powerful. It accompanied me through a very long season when yes was extremely hard.
I hope you allow its message a home in your heart.
“I’ll Say Yes.” | Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
Prayer
Jesus…I want to grow in my ability to say yes and stand the test. I love You. Stretch and mold me into Your version of me. Amen.
Standing near the cross were Jesus’ mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home.
Reflection
In the Bible, the bookends of Mary’s story are “favored of God” and being counted among the faithful women in the upper room. Sounds like a smooth life.
In fact, her biggest blunder seems to be acting pesky with Jesus at the wedding in Canaan.
When she was chosen by God, Mary only had a “yes” to give and a promise from the angel Gabriel to accept.
That yes and promise underpinned her entire life.
A majority of what Mary is honored for is her yes to bear a baby.
But what about the rest of that yes?
What about the mid-life yes?
- Living among people who hated her son
- Dealing with the adult resentment from Jesus’ brothers toward Him
- Knowing Jesus’ housing situation
- Hearing Jesus routinely lied about in the press of the day
- Knowing that ALL of Jesus’ friends abandoned Him when He needed them most
- Watching Jesus’ slow, gruesome death
- Having to gather ointments to go to Jesus’ tomb
I couldn’t even watch my boys get stitches, much less watch someone put a spear in their side, and I certainly have a struggle with anyone who lies about my boys or abandons them in friendship.
Visualize Mary listening to Peter preach on the day of Pentecost, and wondering where that boldness was when Jesus needed Peter to stand up for Him in the courtyard while a rooster crowed.
She had so much to process, yet we are tempted to perpetually keep her clean and fresh with her blue dress and white veil.
At this moment in our passage, she is inwardly imploding under the weight of that yes she uttered 33 years earlier.
Lovingly, Jesus turns toward her and gives her over to John for care.
It’s very thoughtful, but what comfort would that actually be? Having a place to live in no way absolves trauma.
Her brain was embedded with graphic scenes, her nose triggered by the smells of dust filled death, her eyes squinting with flashbacks, and her ears static with loathing chants. Her heart clenched myriads of loss, and she was forced to reside among citizens who had yelled “crucify Him!”
Mary survived immeasurable sorrow clinging to a 33-year-old yes and clutching this 33-year-old promise:
The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. (Luke 1:35a, NLT)
Not one layer of her yes was easy, but every vowel and consonant of Gabriel’s promise was fulfilled in power.
Action Step
If you are a person who is moved by music, this song and closing prayer is powerful. It accompanied me through a very long season when yes was extremely hard.
I hope you allow its message a home in your heart.
“I’ll Say Yes.” | Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
Prayer
Jesus…I want to grow in my ability to say yes and stand the test. I love You. Stretch and mold me into Your version of me. Amen.
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