The Three Faces of Mary: Part 3 – Courage

Mary’s third face is one of courage. Why courage? Faithful human beings still need courage. Consider this… Mary’s determination not to turn from Jesus, her son, her Savior, took courage. Her courage earned her a place at the foot of Jesus as he took His last breath. Her courage led her to seek Jesus in the tomb. Her courage gave her the right to be with the disciples when Jesus appeared to them in the Upper Room.

You surely must know about courage. You must have had a moment when you felt weak but had to be strong. Some injustice you’ve endured: the untimely death of a loved one; recent loss of a job; end of a long, troubled marriage; a child gone wrong; an illness that can’t be cured. What did you do as a result of your stressful situation? Did you leave Jesus’ side? Did you push Him away? Did you turn elsewhere, thinking you might find peace?

Or did you like Mary look to the cross and see and know that He would see you through? Did you, like Mary, keep your hand on the plow, stay the course, and wait for what is promised? Could you stand on your faith, push your human nature aside, and call on courage?

Well, that is just what Mary did. From the very beginning, Mary would need to be courageous. Courage keeps her moving on when her child is born in a stable. A mother’s courage is great the first time she sees her son (scripture). A mother worries, but courage sustains her when she thinks her son is lost, even when he is about his father’s business. A mother’s faith has matured when she asks her son to make wine (scripture). A mother stays when her son’s enemies put him on trial (scripture). That’s courage. A mother sits at his son’s feet and does not care that the world knows he is her son (scripture), because she has loving courage. A mother who remains when others deny is courageous (scripture). Peter could not do it, but Mary stood up for Jesus in the face of all that chaotic adversity and that shambles of a trial. Mary had courage.

Think for a moment: when all the human mind seemed able to comprehend was the danger involved in following Jesus, Mary showed courage and sat where others could witness her mourning her Son. When others were running and hiding and denying, Mary showed courage. It is said that Mary was on the street watching Jesus carry that cross, heading to the place where He would be crucified. Mary’s identity was not a secret.

I want you to understand the courage that propelled Mary to go to the foot of that cross and witness what they were doing to her Son. Tears of loss mixed with tears of courage. When so many of His followers could not go that last mile of the way, Mary dared to be at Jesus’ feet, mourn her loss, and endure His death, the crucifixion, the injustice of it all.

Where are you when Jesus calls on you and asks that you stand up for Him? Where is your courage when everyone else is running away? Will it be easy for you to say yes when others tell you to say no?

Mary, knowing that she was coming face to face with His end, stood by the side of the road as Christ walked by with that cross. We see Mary at the foot of the cross, crying as her Son hung there and died.

Mary may have cried, but she did not get caught in a rut of worry and despair that prevented her from moving. Courage can help us even when we mourn. For three days, Mary waited to see what the end would truly be. Three days and courage took her to the tomb. He wasn’t there. So, she cried and asked questions and then called on courage. He appeared to her and the other women and gave them instructions. Propelled by His words and girded by courage, Mary then made her way to the Upper Room where Jesus once again appeared.

Despite all she had endured, from birth to arrest to resurrection, Mary still received her reward. Courage gave her the strength to travel a road that began with joy, went through despair, and came back to joy.

Mary’s third face was courage.

Christ had risen, and Mary knew it.

Mary has a message for us. She wants us to know that we, too, can make it to the end, but we must continue on the path to victory. We must continue to strive for righteousness. We must continue despite anything satan might send our way. We are human. So, when we get pulled off the path, allow faith and courage to pull us back.

Yes, Mary was human, and yes, we are human. But in all our humanity, we must have courage, and we must live by faith!

From the day Mary gave birth until the day she closed her eyes, she carried Jesus in her heart. From holding Him in her arms, to worrying that she had lost him when he was 12. Being courageous enough to ask Him to make wine. Seeing Him found guilty when he was innocent. Agonizingly watching Him crucified. She felt the victory when she witnessed the risen Savior. She is Human! She is Courageous!!! But this all was possible because she was Faithful!!!

Because I know He lives in me, though I am a human, I will be courageous, and I will continue to have faith.

Because He will let you see a brand-new day, and He will repeatedly open your eyes and show you marvelous things every day, you too can be courageous. You see, sin tried to take Jesus from Mary, and as a human, she grieved that loss. But courage helped her go on. Her faith in her Son helped her past that war and led her over the finish line. Imagine knowing that you know that you know your Savior lives!

One last thing. How can you look upon the face of Jesus... How can you walk and talk and hold Jesus in your heart… How can you be in a relationship with the Son and not be fortified with courage?

Thank God that, like Mary, all the possibilities are there for us too. Never give up! Never give in. Keep your eye on the prize. Let us pray that we will feel His touch all the while we are on this human journey! Let us pray that we will be courageous as we go!! And let us pray that our faith will continue to grow!!! Faith, Being Human, Courage! Now, what do you think about Mary? Amen