The Three Faces of Mary: Part 2 – Human Being

Mary’s second face shows her being human. Mary had her son for just a little over 30 years. During this time, she acted as most mothers would.  When He was out of her sight for three days, she wanted to know where He had been (Luke 2:48).  A very motherly type of question.

Now, Mary also knew her son had skills, and she was not afraid to ask him to use them.  The same can be said of us today, right?  Bake a cake for the church coffee hour.  Volunteer to sing that solo in the choir.  Join the debate team.  Go to the Seminary.  We are not too different than Mary, the human being. 

Mary knew Jesus was something else. Why else would she ask him to provide more wine and ask those at the wedding to do exactly what Jesus told them to do (John 2:1-11)?

When we consider ourselves, as time goes by, we learn about our children's abilities.  We know what skills they possess.  We know their gifts and talents.  We also know what they are not so good at.  And, we do not have a problem asking them to hone their skills and use their talents.  I know I am proud when I witness my children using their abilities to further the kingdom of God.  My smile broadens each time I hear them pray aloud.  I got that bubbling from the inside type of thrill the first time I heard each of them say the Lord’s Prayer from memory.  After all, we are only human!

Mary not only knew how to have faith in the unknown.  Mary used her faith to carry her through different phases of being Jesus’ mother.  She continued to love and believe in her son while she watched him move away from her into His unfathomable role as Savior of the World.  Though daily, she must have been shown some new sign of his heavenly self, she could only respond to him in her human self.  On the occasion when she asked Jesus for wine, He reminded her that He did not belong only to her – He was so much more than her son.  I have to remind you that Mary is human.  From the time Jesus is thought up, she is asked to understand heavenly concepts while having to live as a human being.  I need you to begin to feel the complexities and confusion Mary lives. 

Let’s take a closer look at the story of the wine.  When Mary asked Jesus to help at the wedding, you may remember reading that they had run out of wine.  Mary saw a problem that she knew her son could fix.  Here is a question for you?  How did Mary know?  Jesus was a carpenter.  Did he make wine on the side?  Probably not.  For Mary, it did not even enter the equation.  As a mother who knew her child would do, Mary did.  As a human being in the know might do, she went to her son and told him the problem and expected Him to fix it.

I guess we could say that Mary saw a need and was emboldened by her relationship with Jesus and asked him to help.  I don’t think Mary meant any harm when she went to Jesus.  I am not certain why Jesus responded the way he did.  Furthermore, I am not certain Mary expected Jesus to respond with “what have I to do with you?”  Jesus' question does not sway Mary’s determination to get more wine for these wedding guests.  She turns to those standing around, witnessing the exchange, and tells them to do whatever her son asks them to do. 

Today, a mother in all her humanness would put it this way: “Okay I heard what you said, son, and you may be right, but I need you to make wine for this party” She would then turn to those gathered folk and say, “He is going make this wine.  I need you all to do what he asks you to do.”  We know our children.  She did not even have to ask him again; she just turned to those who would help and directed her remarks to them.  Mary knew inside that he would not let her down.  Emboldened by her faith in the relationship they had built with one another, she asked, and he did exceedingly above what the guests could have expected.  Why else would the host be asked why the best wine had been saved for last?  Mary, the human being.  Build a relationship, and you will know too.

Living out her faith in Jesus, she asked, and he answered.  Living out your faith in Jesus, you can ask, and he will answer. 

Hold now, please know that emboldened faith is not arrogant, it is not boastful, it is not using your station in the situation to coerce.  It does not put you up on a pedestal. You see, there is no station in life where a human is above Jesus.  Mary was his mother, but she was still human.  She still knew that he could do what she could not.  Indeed, she had to be reminded that there would be times when even being his mother would not change the course of his life. 

Don’t miss the fact that I said they built a relationship.  If you are afraid to ask Jesus with a right heart to help you, perhaps you can return to the drawing board and seek a relationship with Him even as you are asking.  It is when we, in all our human skin, talk with Christ, walk with Christ, sojourn with Christ, be in pain with Christ, share our joys of thanks with Christ, that we can go to him with emboldened faith, hear his response, and know that he will help us. 

So, my friends, it is okay to be like Mary and sometimes forget that Jesus, our Lord and Savior, does not work for us as a human would.  It’s okay to sometimes ask Him for things that are totally out of the realm of what He promised to give us.  Sometimes it we act like Jesus doesn’t have a heavenly purpose. Look, He is not merely about turning water into fine wine or giving us earthly answers to our human problems. 

Let me say that it is not okay to stay in this frame of mind and only seek Jesus for things that resemble a request for wine.

Try not to hover in that space where you believe Christ is supposed to fulfill your every whim, want, and desire.  Why do we sometimes fall into the trap of thinking we don’t have to do anything but ask, and it will be done? 

And don’t say Rev. Liz, that’s what it says in John 14:13-14 and Matthew 7:7.  Completely read both Chapters and see what Jesus is really saying you need to do to ask anything, and then ask yourself if you're really there.  But that’s an entirely different sermon.

Have you ever known anyone who believed that if Jesus refuses to answer when you call, just stop asking, blame Jesus for your woes, and in a spirit of desperation, you’ll find someone or something else to help.  Big mistake!  You are stuck!!  Don’t get stuck, seek Jesus.

Take a tip from Mary.  She would ask God for something.  With wine, it would be yes.  But there would come a time when Mary would surely ask for something larger than wine. And the answer would initially be no.  You see, they came to take her son, and their goal was to kill him. I am quite certain that Mary prayed for her Son’s life.  I am sure that she prayed until her prayers seemed to have fallen on deaf ears, because He would die.  She would have to be reminded of His ultimate purpose.  Her prayers would need to change from asking that his life be spared to prayers asking why He had to die, and couldn’t you bring Him back? 

Prayers may change, but Mary never gave up on Jesus.  She did not allow her human tendencies and desires, and sorrows to sidetrack her from knowing deep inside that she had an intimate relationship with Jesus that could not die.  She continued to faithfully walk with her son to the cross and beyond.  Mary loved Jesus as a mother loves her son.

Jesus knew His mother was human, he watched her human tears roll down her face.  He knew that she would need human care and told Mary to behold John as son and John to treat Mary as His mother.  Jesus provides through the agony of the cross. 

Jesus knows we are human. 

With her human face shining brightly, Mary sought Jesus.  It does not matter whether the answer is yes or no.  While we have time on this earth, while we are still human, we, like Mary, should seek and ask Jesus.  Being able to seek Jesus is the best thing about being a faithful human.

Mary’s first face: Faith.  Mary’s second face: Human Being.