It was a very cold night. The young couple, Mary and Joseph, appeared to be cold. Mary and Joseph were by the manger, eyes focused on the little one who had recently been born.
Meanwhile, we slowly crept ahead. We were in a very nice and warm van. On that Sunday evening, we had joined several families as we drove through this drive-thru nativity scene. Mary and Joseph were at a distance on that cold night. We had time to pause only for a moment as there were many cars waiting to drive by this nativity scene. That was many years ago.
Meanwhile, I continue to learn more about this story. I recently looked at Mary up close rather than settling for a drive-by. This happened after reading Scot McKnight’s new book on Mary entitled The Real Mary: Why Evangelical Christians Can Embrace the Mother of Jesus.
Scot paints a picture of a Mary who is unlike the passive, quiet Mary we often see portrayed. This Mary is a person with a robust faith who in turn serves to point others to Jesus. In the chapters, she is described as:
- A woman of faith.
- A woman of justice.
- A woman of danger.
- A woman of witness.
- A woman of sorrow.
- A woman of wonder.
- A woman of surrender.
- A woman of ambivalence.
- A woman of faithfulness.
- A woman of influence.
Finally, she is described as a woman to be remembered. Perhaps this is one of the greatest values of the book. Scot McKnight reminds those of us who are not Catholics that we have forgotten Mary. For many of us, any talk of Mary invariably focuses on what we do not believe about Mary. In the book, there are two very fine chapters on the Catholic-Protestant controversies about Mary.
This book is not about the veneration of Mary. Nor does it in any way encourage the reader toward traditional Catholic teachings about Mary. However, it does invite the reader to embrace the Mary of the Bible. She is the Mary who once uttered the words, in response to the angel Gabriel, "I am the Lord’s servant, may it be to me as you have said" (1:38).
Anyway, I encourage you to consider reading The Real Mary. I’m glad I did. Yes, I came away impressed with Mary. But even more important, I came away impressed with a wonderful God who would use this young woman to send Jesus to the world.
In the meantime, Sunday is coming and I am preaching on Mary.
I saw that book advertized about a week ago and it immediately went on my list of books to buy. Just waiting about three weeks until I’m on my 2007 book allowance!
Thank you for the book review Jim. I have not read McKnight on this subject but it sounds really good. I have long believed that Mary has been downplayed in reaction to Roman Catholic piety but over the last few years I have seen that Luke portrays her as a model disciple. She was special.
Last year around this time I did a sermon in which I interacted with a Syrian father named Narsi and integrated his reflections on Mary into my sermon. He shows us that the early church did not all make her the fourth member of the Trinity but they certainly held her in very high esteem. Perhaps we can learn a thing or two. Shalom, my brother.
An excellent book. I am using it for our Sunday morning Bible class. If you want know more about the background of the early 1st century, this is a very readable resource.
I will find it and read it!
Didn’t even know about this book… thanks for the tip!
I’ve been reading a lot about Mary this holiday season, certainly more than ever before. Perhaps Christians are realizing this faithful woman is not just in the Catholic Bible! Perhaps Evangelicals compensate for the Roman Catholic Church’s deep admiration and reverence for the Mother Mary by down playing her and tossing her aside. This is obviously a grave mistake. She faith was both recognized and rewarded. She considered herself blessed through God’s promise to Abraham, just as we do.
Thanks Tony, Bobby, John, Johnny, and Greg. This is a very good book. I came away with a renewed respect and appreciation for Mary.
Thanks Tony, Bobby, John, Johnny, and Greg. This is a very good book. I came away with a renewed respect and appreciation for Mary.Thanks Thinker for your comment and for stopping by.