Download the Notes: 04012012WomenOfTheBible-Mary2

Women of The Bible—Mary

Part 2- The later years

  1. John 2:1-12- Miracle at Cana in Galilee
    1. Verses 1-5
      1. Why does Mary go to Jesus in verse 3 with this information?
      2. Why does she direct the servants in verse 5 to do what Jesus says?
      3. What is Marry doing in this passage? She is helping at a friend’s wedding, and she anticipates help from her son, who has at this point has performed no miracle. What type of help was she expecting?
      4. Comments?
      5. Women of influence believe in their children – Whatever else is shown in this passage it demonstrates that Marry believed in the abilities of her son. Though he had not yet performed a miracle he undoubtedly had shown wisdom through his life and his mother had seen his wisdom and believed in his ability to handle difficult situations.
    2. Verses 6-12
  2. Mark 3:20-21, 31-35- Family concern for Jesus
    1. Verses 20-21
      1. “Family” from verse 21 can be translated as “the ones with him.” Most commentators and some translators think this is his family.
      2. If so, what does this passage demonstrate about Mary? She struggled at times with her understanding (Lk 2:46-50. Brothers did not believe (Jn 7:5)
        1. “It seems that Mary and her other children wanted to save Jesus from himself! Did they believe he had lost his balance due to his increasing popularity?” WJ
      3. It also shows a concern for the wellbeing of Jesus.
    2. Verses 31-35
      1. Comments?
  3. John 19:25-27- At the cross of Christ
    1. What does this passage demonstrate about Mary?
      1. She was strong enough to see him to the end
  4. Acts 1:14- with the apostles
    1. This is the last time she is seen in scripture.
    2. What can be learned about Marry from this passage?
      1. Just like so many at that time, her journey with Christ was a journey of faith.
      2. She became a disciple of Christ (Acts 1:12-14)
  5. Lessons from the life of Mary
    1. Mary’s humility in accepting God’s call.
    2. She encouraged her son, believing him capable- Jn 2:5
    3. Mary’s challenge of belief. Do women of influence sometimes struggle with the clarity of God’s call?
    4. Mary’s continual love for her son
      1. Acts 1:14
    5. Mary’s strength and courage in accepting God’s call
      1. Would it have been an easy call? Why or why not?
        1. Pregnant out of wedlock
        2. The great responsibility of raising Jesus Christ
        3. The pain of watching his suffering (Lk 2:35, John 19:25-27 )
  1. False ideas concerning Mary the mother of Jesus. Adapted from Wayne Jackson. 
    1. She, like Jesus was sinless.
      1. Discuss the idea of sinlessness as seen in scripture.
      2. What is the teaching of original sin?
      3. If many groups believe in original sin, what problem does that give them as they view the birth of Mary or Christ?
        1. What is the Immaculate Conception?
        2. “The immaculate conception is the doctrine that our Lady ‘in the first instant of her conception was, by a unique singular grace and privilege of Almighty God in view of the merits of Jesus Christ the Saviour of the human race, preserved exempt from all stain of original’” (Donald Attwater, A Catholic Dictionary, New York: Macmillan, 1961, p. 246).
        3. “This point of doctrine [the Immaculate Conception] is not expressly dealt with anywhere in the Bible, nor was it preached by the Apostles, and for many centuries it was not mentioned at all by the Church. Gradually, however, as the idea of the future dogma began to develop among the faithful, theologians submitted the point to the closest examination, and finally, the view then generally prevailing was formally pronounced as a dogma of the Church by His Holiness Pope Pius IX in 1854” (p. 238).
    2. She was a perpetual virgin
      1. “This theory of Mary’s “perpetual virginity” became official dogma at the Council of Chalcedon in A.D. 451, and thus is binding upon both the Greek and Roman segments of the Church (Pelikan, 14.1000).” WJ
      2. Text to consider
        1. Mt 1:18, 25
        2. Luke 2:7
        3. Mt 12:46ff, 13:55,16; Lk
    3. She is the mediator for man and Christ 
      1. “Catholic doctrine teaches that Mary is a “Mediatrix,” between
        Christians and Christ, and that she is the “dispenser of graces” by the power of the Holy Spirit — based upon the merits of her crucified Son.”         WJ
      2. Invocation of Mary- taken from
        www.catholic.com/magazine/articles/devotion-to-the-blessed-virgin 

“Not only do we honor Mary; we also invoke her or ask her intercession. Some objectors say that we should pray to God alone. Well, Catholics certainly pray directly to God, for they regard the Our Father as the best and most beautiful of all prayers and frequently recite it. But they pray also to Mary, asking her to intercede for them with her divine Son.

Our non-Catholic friends ask one another’s prayers, and in this we praise them. But, if I may say to a sinner on this earth, and he may say to me, another sinner, “Pray for me,” for what reason may we not say to the sinless Mother of God enthroned in heaven, “Pray for us”? If St. Paul asked the Romans to “help him in their prayers for him to God” (Rom. 15:16); if he wrote to the Thessalonians, “Pray for us,” why may we not ask Mary, who is far holier and nearer to God than the Roman and Thessalonian converts, to “pray for us”? In fact, we read in the Old Testament that God positively commanded Eliphaz and his two friends to go to the holy man Job and seek his intercession: “My servant Job shall pray for you; his face I will accept, that folly be not imputed to you” (Job 32:8).

Therefore Catholics act aright when they say: “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.” “

        1. What is the difference in asking a brother in Christ to pray for you with what they are doing here?
          1. First of all, there are biblical examples of asking brothers to pray for you.
          2. Second, there are no biblical examples of asking Mary to intercede.
          3. Third, there are no biblical examples of asking a dead individual to intercede.
          4. Finally, how does I Tim 2:5 deal with this teaching?
    1. “The Roman Church also advocates the notion that Mary is a “co-redeemer” with Christ.”WJ
      1. How does John 14:6 and Acts 4:11-12 contradict this teaching?