Mary: More than a Mother
- Elaine R Kelly
- May 21, 2023
- 6 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
Mary is honoured as the Mother of Jesus. Was she more than a mother? This is part 1 of 7, where I look at what calling God may have given to Mary after Jesus's resurrection.
When a woman called out from the crowd to bless the womb that carried Jesus and the breasts at which he nursed, Jesus corrected the woman, teaching her that God values a woman for more than the sons she may bear. On the contrary, blessed is the woman who hears God’s word and puts it into practice. Jesus didn't want his mother praised for her breast and womb, but for hearing God's word and putting it into practice. Mother Mary was blessed for being more than a mother.
Mary as a Mother
In Forgotten Followers from Broken to Bold, you can imagine yourself as the mother of Jesus, honoured that God chose you from among many women to give birth to Jesus.
Mary was young, maybe fifteen, yet she questioned the angel, asking how that could happen since she had never been with a man. The angel gave evidence that God could do such a thing, citing that Mary's cousin was pregnant even though she was old and had never before been able to have children.
The predicted pregnancy would risk Mary's betrothal to Joseph, would ruin her reputation and could risk her life if the community thought she was an adulterer. It is very possible that her family and neighbours did not believe Mary, did not listen to her voice. It appears that Joseph did not believe Mary, and so God sent an angel to tell Joseph.
Mary agreed to be the Lord's servant, consented to be used by the Lord, and prepared to do God's will and let the plan go forward. Giving birth to God's Son was huge. But Mary had a lot of living after giving birth. What else did God plan for this virtuous woman?
Mary as a Disciple
Mary had pondered the miraculous birth and likely seen private miracles before she directed Jesus to do a public miracle at the wedding in Cana. She believed in Jesus.
Yet Jesus's brothers did not believe in him (John 7:5), and it appears they convinced Mary that Jesus was endangering his life and safety by breaking the laws and that they should take him home and keep him quiet (Matt. 12:46-50, Mark 3:31-35, Lk 8:19-21).
Jesus refused to go with them and said that only those who heard God's word and obeyed it were his true mother, brother, or sister. Jesus has elevated other followers to the same level as his mother. Did this mean he lowered her from her honoured place? If you were the mother of Jesus, would you feel as if he had rejected you?
In Forgotten Followers from Broken to Bold, Mara of Clopas comforts Maria (Mary of Nazareth) and reassures her that Jesus loves her and wants her to stay in his life. He did not give Mary less honour when he gave others more. Favouring those who have been brought low is not reverse discrimination. Jesus did not put Mary out of God's family when he brought others into the family. God seeks out all people, without preference.
In the same way, if those in privileged positions today share their leadership, they lose nothing but show their acceptance of the teaching that God gives all men and women believers the privilege of being adopted with the full rights of sons (Galatians 4:4-7). Jesus showed he valued Maria for more than her womb and breasts. Since Maria is a woman who hears God's word and obeys it, God blesses her - with more than giving birth to Jesus. Maybe God will give her a new calling, following his example of lifting up others. In the same way, women today who are past the age of childbearing may find God calls them to a new direction, purpose, or calling.
Mary, and the Purpose of Women
Is bearing children a woman's highest purpose and calling? Jesus says a woman is most blessed for hearing God's word and following it.
When God blesses Adam and Eve with being fruitful and multiplying, some may think it is a command to have children (Genesis 1:27-28). However, Genesis says that it is God's blessing, and it being blessed with children applies equally to men and women. It is not an exclusive blessing for women.
Also, God blesses both Adam and Eve with managing the earth, co-ruling over and taking care of all creation. God authorizes both with this responsibility. It's not an exclusive role for men.
Jesus explained that our fruit is the result of our character and work (Matthew 7:17). Paul talks about the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Even once women are past the age of childbearing, they can bear spiritual fruit. "The righteous... will still bear fruit in old age" (Psalms 92:12-14). After giving birth to Jesus and mentoring him as he grew, Mary will continue to bear spiritual fruit.
Please click here for more details on Mary and other woman disciples who appear in my novel, Forgotten Followers from Broken to Bold.
God as Father
When Jesus was on the cross, it appeared that God had abandoned his Son. But God did not abandon Jesus; God opened the way to adopt others into the family.
Jesus's new kingdom was not yet visible to everyone, but his mother, Mary, and other women stood by Jesus, faithful and brave. After the risen Jesus appeared to many, Mary was with the disciples and the other women and Jesus's brothers as they saw Jesus rise into the clouds, and then they returned to Jerusalem (Acts 1:1-14).
After the resurrection, Mary was able to confidently teach others about God's faithfulness and the call to follow the words of Jesus. Mary heard God's word and put it into practice when she was young, and again when she was middle-aged. We can honour Mary for more than being the mother of Jesus.
What did Mary do besides bearing Jesus?
In the following posts, I will provide summaries and insights from the book, Mary and Early Christian Women: Hidden Leadership. It shows ancient evidence that Mary was an apostle who baptized new believers and presided over the Eucharist/Communion. She was a priest or bishop who spoke, taught, blessed and strengthened other followers of Jesus.
Mary and Early Christian Women: Hidden Leadership, by Dr. Ally Kateusz, reveals Mary as a leader in the early church. Published by Palgrave Macmillan in 2019.
It is available at no cost, licensed under Creative Commons Open Access:
In post 1 of 7, I introduce Mary as more than a Mother of Jesus.
In post 2 of 7, I review how ancient art preserves the memory of Mary as a liturgical leader.
In post 3 of 7, we look at how ancient manuscripts have edited out the markers of Mary's liturgical leadership.
In post 4 of 7, we looked at stories of four early women liturgical leaders and saw disputes between communities for and against gender equality in church leadership.
In this post 5 of 7, we saw Mary portrayed as a high priest, a bishop, and a Eucharist officiant.
In post 6 of 7, we saw how Mary and Jesus were paired in art, women and men co-led worship, and Mary in leadership after the resurrection.
In post 7, we look at evidence of Mary and other women leading at the altar.
Elaine Ricker Kelly Author is empowering women with historical fiction about women in the Bible and early church and Christian blogs about women in leadership, church history and doctrine. Her books include:
Forgotten Followers from Broken to Bold, Book 1, A Novel (2022)
The Sword: A Fun Way to Engage in Healthy Debate on What the Bible Says About a Woman's Role (2023)
Because She Was Called from Broken to Bold, Book 2, A Novel of the Early Church (2024)
Walk with Mara on Her Healing Journey: 21 Steps to Emotional Resilience (2024)
Finding Her Voice from Broken to Bold, Book 3, Acts of Early Female Apostles: A Novel (2025)
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