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"The argument that Mary could not have had other children can only make sense in a worldly way.
From a spiritual perspective, this event has nothing to do with Mary's other children and
everything to do with the undefiled truth Jesus spoke."
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Mary In The Bible Part Three: Behold Thy Mother
Brian Culliton
In previous articles I briefly touched on the infancy narrative, expounded on the wedding
feast in Cana and explained the common arguments of the brothers of the Lord. This article
will focus on the remaining accounts of Mary in the Bible.
The Woman in the Crowd
The first account is one in which the Catholic apologist rarely like to mention. It's the
account in Luke's Gospel, chapter 11, of a woman in a crowd of people who were listening to
Jesus. The woman said:
"Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which nursed You!"
To which Jesus responded:
"More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!"
When Catholic apologists do deal with this text (they have to at some point), they always
focus on the first portion of Jesus' response - "More than that..." The Catholic argument
here is as follows: because Jesus responded affirmatively to the woman's remark, He was
indeed verifying the fact that Mary was blessed. But that's about all they can say. For
the most part, most Catholic apologists sweep this Gospel event under the rug.
But Catholics should be very interested in this story because it's an opportunity to
understand the true relationship between Christ and His followers. When Jesus answered the
woman, He clearly was making a contrasting statement. He was not saying that Mary wasn't
blessed and those who do the will of the Father are. He was comparing the manner of blessing
Mary received verses the blessings received by those who believe and follow Him.
Mary was blessed because she believed what God told her through the angel Gabriel.
(Luke 1:45) Mary was obedient to the will of God and chosen for a marvelous work. She
was truly blessed, but Jesus tells us that the blessing she received doesn't even compare
to the blessing one receives for knowing and doing the will of God, which is to learn of
Him and believe in Christ. Mary was blessed but not redeemed until the price for her sins
was paid. Then and only then could she receive the greater blessing from God, the same
blessing
that everyone receives who comes to the Father through Christ.
Behold Thy Mother
In John's account of the crucifixion of Christ we read how Jesus while suffering on the
cross makes an attempt to comfort His grieving mother. Both Mary and John were at the
cross for at least part of the time Jesus was on it. When Jesus saw them, He said to
John, "Woman, behold thy son." And to John He said, "Behold thy mother." From that hour
John took Mary to his own home.
Catholic apologists say Jesus committed His mother to John's care because Mary had no
other sons but Him. If they're right and Mary never had any other children, than certainly
this makes sense. But this would only make sense in a worldly way. If Mary never had other
children, why didn't He put His mother in the care of a close relative? Why John?
If we go back to when Jesus was preaching in His hometown area, we read about the incident
where the Jews marveled at His teaching. The account can be read in all three synoptic
Gospels: Matthew Chapter 12, Mark Chapter 3, and Luke Chapter 11.
Mark's Gospel gives the most complete account of this particular incident. A very large
crowd had gathered around Jesus to hear His words. Jesus was saying things about the
religious
leaders that no one else would dare to say. Not only that, He was also calling that
generation evil and wicked. In verse 21 Mark tells us that those who were close to Him
were seeking Him because they thought He was beside Himself (lost His mind). There would
likely be debate over who these people were if it weren't for Mark divulging that
information to us just a few verses later.
In verse 31 Mark tells us that Jesus' mother and brethren were outside the crowd that had
gathered to hear Jesus, and they sent someone to get Him. Here we can clearly see that
the ones who were seeking Him and thought he lost His mind was His own family. No one can
precisely say, however, what Mary herself was thinking, but I believe she was probably
pretty confused and worried. But Jesus' brothers definitely thought He was crazy. In the
seventh chapter of his Gospel, the Apostle John makes it a point to tell us that Jesus'
brothers didn't believe in Him.
So when people from the crowd informed Jesus that His family was seeking Him, He answered,
"Who is My mother, or My brothers?" Jesus looked at those who were sitting with Him (the
twelve) and said, "Here are My mother and My brothers." He went on to say, "For whoever
does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother."
Jesus was at no time ever carnal-minded. He always had the mind of the Father. He
declared that His words were not His own, but rather the Father had given Him the words to
say. By this we know that Jesus' mind was never set on temporal things - including His
family according to the flesh.
Having been enlightened by Mark's Gospel, how can we question Jesus' actions on the cross?
Jesus didn't give His mother to John because Mary had no other sons; He gave her to John
because His brothers didn't believe in Him.
Putting Mary in John's care would be of some comfort to her because John and Jesus were very
close. Jesus' brothers, on the other hand, seemed to despise Him - at least until the
resurrection! We are not left in suspense, however, concerning Jesus' brothers. The book of
Acts tells us that both Mary and His brothers were there at Pentecost. His brothers were
believers at last! Amen!
The argument that Mary could not have had other children can only make sense in a worldly way.
From a spiritual perspective, this event has nothing to do with Mary's other children and
everything to do with the undefiled truth Jesus spoke.
Catholic tradition exalts Mary to a dangerous level leading many to worship what they believe
to be the mother of the church. Nothing in the Bible can justify such tradition yet Catholic
apologists work very hard to convince those whom they know to be weak in biblical knowledge.
They themselves have only a worldly understanding of God's word, and they propagate that
understanding with absolute boldness and audacity. The only way to know God and understand
His word is to honestly seek Him through His word. Though one may plant and another water,
only God can give the increase.
Read part One of this article: The Wedding Feast in Cana
Read part Two of this article: The Three Scenarios of The Brethren of The Lord
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