by 
In reading different blogs over the Christmas Season, I’ve been struck by two different perspectives on the person of Mary, and wondered where you are in who she is.
Dan Phillips states some good things about Mary, but leads off his What did Jesus (not) say about… His mother, Mary post this way:
I’ve often had two thoughts about Mary:
- I dearly hope that her heavenly bliss has not been spoiled by the knowledge of how monstrously men came to pervert her significance and place in relation to her Son. And…
- In that view, I’ve thought that my article on Mary in a Bible dictionary might read, “The mother of Jesus. A pivotal yet minor figure in the New Testament, mentioned by name in only four books.”
Though Mary plays a pivotal role, and is portrayed in the Scripture differently than in some modern movies, by the end of the story—the last time we hear about her—she’s practically “Just another disciple.” We don’t find her enduring the hardships of the Apostles, or doing great things in the book of Acts. We see that she’s present (as are some of Jesus’ brother’s).
In How Mary Brought Me Back to Jesus, Elizabeth Esther talks in depth about being able to empathize with Mary, and to be able to feel what it must have been like for her. In Part 2 she stands in contrast to Phillips, above. She believes that Jesus would prefer that Christians treat Mary with disrespect, and that we can see Jesus looking through of for Mary.
Both views are worth of a read and pondering this season.
