Author's Note: All previous volumes of this series are here. The first 56 volumes are compiled into the book "Bible Study For Those Who Don't Read The Bible." "Part Two," featuring volumes 57-113, was published in December 2022.
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Happy Mother’s Day to everyone who has a mother. By divine design, we learn how to navigate life from what our mothers taught us when we were young. Later, and sometimes often, decades-old maternal wisdom bursts forth from our mouths or swirls around our brains. Can you hear your mother saying something instructive that you will never forget?
My mother, Gloria Cohen Kahn, was a cliché queen, and many of her oft-repeated phrases, such as “People judge you by the company you keep,” still linger (but I'm not sure if that one is even relevant anymore). But more relevant is decades ago, after my boss called me “Cliché Lorraine,” I vowed to formulate more original thoughts.
Today, we turn to Mary, the mother of Jesus, and review her Bible quotes. She was definitely not a “cliché queen” but the “Queen of Heaven.” Mary’s inspiring words have echoed throughout the centuries although only quoted in four passages — three times in Luke’s gospel and once in John. Due to her brevity, we can include all of Mary’s “speaking parts” in this word-limited study. Interestingly, as we discussed in Vol. 91, her husband Joseph has no direct quotes. (The reason my husband believes that it is biblically based for wives to do all the talking.)
We begin with an event called the “Annunciation” when the angel Gabriel visits a teenage virgin named Mary— “Myriam” is her Hebrew Bible name. He informs Mary that she is “highly favored” and “the Lord is with you” before announcing the miraculous baby news. Mary replies:
"‘How will this be, since I am a virgin?’ And the angel answered her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.’ And Mary said, ‘Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.’ And the angel departed from her” (Luke 1:34-38).
This familiar passage is acknowledged as the supreme example of obedience and trust in the Lord. To learn more, read Vol. 98. Also, Vol.101 relates to those concepts and how Hannah’s Hebrew Bible prayer influenced the “Magnificat”— Mary’s most famous prayer. Read Vol. 19 for more details. While visiting Elizabeth, who was pregnant with “John the Baptist,” Mary prayed the Magnificat:
"‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever’" (Luke 1:46-56).
Named for the Latin word “glorifies,” The Magnificat is a favorite prayer my husband and I recite daily. It demonstrates Mary’s love for God, her knowledge of Scripture (the Hebrew Bible), and why she was chosen to bear His Son.
Next are quotes from when Mary and Joseph experienced parenting challenges associated with raising a unique 12-year-old boy who went missing during an out-of-town trip. (Yes, I realize “unique” is a slight understatement.):
“After three days, they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress." And he said to them, ‘Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?’ And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them” (Luke 2:42-52).
Mary’s final set of quotes is from the wedding at Cana, where Jesus performed his first miracle, turning water into wine. (See Vol. 87 for more insight.):
“On the third day, there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you’" (John 2:1-11).
After that command, Mary dropped her microphone and was never quoted again. However, she is mentioned in all the gospels, at the beginning of Acts, and symbolically in Revelations. Here is a complete list of Marian references.
So, what is your takeaway from our Mother’s Day Bible study? Answer: The first and the last. Let me explain:
Mary’s last quote from her first speaking passage is, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” As previously discussed, her statement demonstrated total obedience and trust in the Lord for what would be an unexplainable crisis pregnancy.
Then, Mary’s final New Testament quote was, "Do whatever he tells you."
Do you see a connection? Mary’s first and last quotes connect the importance of trust and obedience in your relationship with the Lord.
My non-religious Jewish mother never taught me those divine concepts. However, if yours did, hopefully that faith knowledge has served you well. Amen, and Happy Mother’s Day.
Myra Kahn Adams is a conservative political and religious writer with numerous national credits. Her book, "Bible Study For Those Who Don't Read The Bible," reprints the first 56 volumes of this popular study. "Part 2,” with the same title, reprints Vols. 57-113 Order it here.
Myra Kahn Adams is a conservative political and religious writer with numerous national credits. She is also the Executive Director of SignFromGod.org and the National Shroud of Turin Exhibit. Both are educational donor-supported ministries dedicated to building a permanent Shroud of Turin exhibit in Washington, D.C., and promoting the $1 Million Challenge to replicate the Shroud. Contact: <MyraAdams01@gmail.com>