Recently in Mary Category

I believe most Protestants know more about what they don't believe about Mary than what they do believe about Mary. In an effort to get us to think about Mary, I wrote The Real Mary. I think we've got to get back to the Bible to see what it says. Themes about Mary are found not only in the Bible; the early churches struggled with how to understand Mary. Was she sinless? the immaculate conception? and what about her death?

When we were in Denmark and I chose to teach one morning on Mary, I was told that some were a bit nervous that I would talk about Mary. Some were worried that I might be "too Roman Catholic." I must say, however, that from what I heard my teaching session about Mary was the talk that they most liked. Since today is the feast of Mary's assumption in the high-church traditions, let me give a bit from a chapter in my Mary book on the assumption of Mary -- which I didn't discuss in Denmark.

Because Roman Catholics believe Mary was immaculately conceived and sinless, and because sin’s consequences are disease, aging, and death, they also concluded that Mary’s end could have been, and indeed was, abnormal. Instead of dying and decaying as other humans, Mary “died” in the presence of others, yet when they checked on her tomb she was gone. This is called the “glorious assumption” of Mary.

What do you think of the dogma of Mary's assumption? What can we as Protestants (who in most cases do not believe in the Assumption of Mary) learn from this? The Gospel of Luke tells us that "from now on all generations [except Protestants!] will call me blessed." How do you do this?

Before I resume my section from the book, let me say this: the first step for all of us is one of understanding what the RCC teaches about the assumption of Mary. Before we interact or criticize, first we must listen. And I think it important, also, to ask why the RCC developed their Marian teachings in this direction. Now, back to what I said in The Real Mary.

John of Damascus, in the 7th Century and a highly-esteemed theologian, pulled together various traditions and stated it like this:

St. Juvenal, Bishop of Jerusalem, at the Council of Chalcedon (451), made known to the Emperor Marcian and Pulcheria, who wished to possess the body of the Mother of God, that Mary died in the presence of all the Apostles, but that her tomb, when opened, upon the request of St. Thomas, was found empty; wherefrom the Apostles concluded that the body was taken up to heaven.

This conviction became official dogma on 1 November 1950 when Pope Pius XII declared it binding and infallible dogma:

By the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and by our own authority, we pronounce, declare, and define it to be a divinely revealed dogma: that the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.

There is, of course, biblical warrant for humans being “assumed” into heaven: In the fifth chapter of Genesis, we read these words: “Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.” About Elijah, the great prophet, the second chapter in 2 Kings says this: “When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind…” and then later, after blessing his successor Elisha, the Bible records this: As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his garment and tore it in two.

And, of Jesus, the first chapter of Acts records a similar event: “After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.” Such things can happen.
The question we need to ask about Mary is this: Was she also taken into the presence of God miraculously? As Protestants we go to the Bible first, but we find nothing like this in the Bible. Does that mean it didn’t happen to Mary? None of us believes that everything was recorded in the Bible, so we are left to examine the evidence and make up our own minds.

We get enough e-mails about our books; rarely do I say much about them, but I have to share this one. Why? Because she's eighteen and because her letter was so delightful for both Kris and me. I've edited it a bit to hide her identity.

Dear Scot,

Hello! My name is Laura and I am 18 years old. I just finished reading
your book, The Real Mary, and loved it! My church has an extremely committed youth group who puts on annual theater productions. Our show this past year was called [N], a little play that
incorporates the annunciation through the flight to Egypt. I played
Mary, the central character of the play. For a long time, I did not
think I had the power or will to play Mary (not to mention the fact I
am an awful singer) and considered quitting. However, I found comfort
in the verse "Nothing is impossible with God" (Luke 1:37). I applied
this to my everyday life and from that point on, I began to look for
parts of my own that I could identify with Mary.

Through all of this, I really looked up to Mary, and her faith that everything would play out the way it was supposed to if you trust in God.

I wish I would have heard about your book sooner however, as the play
had been over for 2 weeks before my Mom came across a recommendation in a magazine. But again, I took this as another sign from God, and ran
out to find The Real Mary. I loved the book so much, and was able to learn so much about who Mary really was, especially since I had only
focused on the early history of Mary.

Some of my favorite parts included your [hey, nice grammar here] mentioning of how Mary struggled with her faith, and how she is not perfect, just as I am not perfect and struggle with my faith. I also liked the line where you said that "No one else can sing the magnificat as she did", because it made me realize it did not matter if my singing of it was good, or not, it will never top that of the real Mary. I highly believe in the part regarding chutzpah, a woman with confidence is truly indestructible!

Thank you, [your book] has affected my life and spiritual journey very much!

Laura

PS....I wore Carolina-Blue (ironic huh?)

I apologize for last week's omission of our development of the characters of Peter and Mary when it comes to a crucified Messiah. We were in Seattle, got home late, and it didn't even cross my mind. But, we're back -- Mary's at the Cross, Peter has skipped away. The rugged reality confronts both of them and the meaning of "Messiah" will never be the same.

Let this be clear first and foremost: no one embraces the cross naturally. Not the mother of Jesus and not the principal apostle.

Peter, whose story is so well known, is interrogated or at least questioned within earshot of Jesus during his ordeal -- and Peter claims he's never heard of Jesus and, in spite of his Galilean accent, he cannot be connected to Jesus. Why? He's afraid of the cross as an instrument of death that could engulf his own life. He knows what it would mean to say, "Yes, I know him; and I happen to love him and follow him." It means that Peter, too, would bear the cross. Peter gets this one opportunity and he fails ... miserably ... sadly ... and the event will mark Peter.

The cross scares because a life of following Jesus can involve dying with Jesus.

Mary is there ... and that's about all we know. Mark 15 tells us that the women who were around her -- Salome (her sister), Mary of Clopas and Mary of Magdala -- were followers of Jesus and that they provided for Jesus. We can assume these are not onlookers, but genuine followers who are close enough to Jesus to see the cross, his pain, and his death. They watch it.

What did Mary think of it all? We don't know, but what we do know is that what she thought would happen -- her son being the Davidic Messianic king who would establish that final dynasty -- just never quite happened as she thought it might. She had to learn that the Messiah would be a sword who would pierce her soul (Simeon), that her Son had a relationship to a Father that transcended his relationship to Mary, that he would do things in God's own time, and that the true "dynasty" was actually a clutch of those who sat with Jesus, encircled him and listened to his teachings -- and then practiced them.

The Gospels leave us wondering about both Peter and Mary -- what would become of them? ... and many are left wondering today about the sense the cross has when they see its utter reality.

The most neglected texts about women in ministry in the entire Bible are texts about Mary, and because our class has been looking at Mary of late, I thought I'd make a few suggestions about Mary and Ministry for women. It won't do to dismiss these points as nothing more than what only the mother of Jesus could do.

I'll suggest that Mary was first in many ways.

1. Mary was the first to know about arrival of the Messiah, the Son of David, the Son of the Most High God (Luke 1:26-38).

2. Mary was the first to surrender to God's new redemptive plan in Jesus (Luke 1:38). One could say she was the "first disciple" from this.

3. Mary became -- however you care to say it -- the first witness to Jesus Christ. Only she was there at the very beginning, so only she was able to tell this story.

4. This leads me to this conclusion: Mary became the first human font of the "Christian hermeneutic." Let's admit up front that the "Christian hermeneutic" -- the grid of learning to read the entire story of God through the story of Jesus -- is revealed to Mary by the Holy Spirit, but that entire grid was passed on from the Holy Spirit through Mary to others. In other words, though not alone, Mary is the first one to know what has become the orthodox Christian view of Jesus: we now believe Jesus as Messiah, as Son of the Most High God, because Mary "passed on that hermeneutic" to others. (She's not alone, but she's first.)

The words we use, the words that shape what we believe, are words that have their human origins in Mary.

5. Mary is the first "follower of Jesus" (while still in her uterus) to declare what that kingdom ministry would look like when it occurred -- even if she had to adjust her thinking, her Magnificat announces what God will do through her Most High God Son (Luke 1:46-55). Both Zechariah and Simeon confirmed this, and then Jesus himself preached it and lived it out (Luke 4:18-19 and Matt 11:5-6).

6. Mary is the first (along with Joseph) to hear that her Son would not only cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, but that the "sword" would pierce her own soul -- surely an indication of the crucifixion at some level (2:33-35).

7. Mary is the first (perhaps along with Joseph) to hear that her Son had a unique and transcending relation to his Father (Luke 2:41-50).

8. Mary, perhaps along with Peter, was the first to struggle with the unique kind of Messianic ministry Jesus would actually carry out -- from the incident in the Temple (#7) to the wedding at Cana (John 2:1-11) to her brush with Jesus' vision of the true family (Mark 3:20-21, 31-35) -- and one of the first to be a witness to the crucifixion as God's saving event (John 19:25-27).

9. Mary, with others, was the first to participate in the Spirit of Pentecost (Acts 1:14).

Put together, we've got Mary as not only a unique person in history but a dynamic woman minister -- she verbally and theologically shaped how you and I understand who Jesus is.

Can anyone tell me why Mary is so often neglected when it comes to talking about women in ministry?

And, if you are interested in helping more churches get women connected to ministry, check out this blog by Ben Dubow at St. Paul's.

Our series intertwines the life of Mary and Peter as two prime examples of how the earliest followers of Jesus struggled to make sense of the scandalous nature of a mission that involved crucifixion. Last Monday we looked at the theme of expectation. Today I'd like to consider how both Mary and Peter participated expectantly in the vision of Jesus.

As readers of The Real Mary know, I'm big on looking at Mary through the clearest lens Scripture gives us -- through the lens of the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55; see at bottom of this post). Two general observations give us our own lenses: Mary expected God to do for Israel precisely what her marvelous Song says God would do. Namely, bring justice to the those who fear God and judgment on those who oppress. And this justice fulfills the Abrahamic promise, and I understand this to be something like God being God for Israel as Israel is God's people. The second observation is this: Mary expected to participate in this kingdom-about-to-come and the arrival of promised justice. Before I get to what Mary was about to learn, I want to sketch Peter's own expected participation.

Peter was called by Jesus to be an apostle and was given a new name and all of this became deeply personal for Peter on the shore of Galilee's sea after Peter caught all those fish on the other side of the boat. Peter confesses his sinfulness and begins to follow Jesus in his kingdom mission. Peter begins to participate in Jesus' vision with great expectation. Not only that, but in Matthew 10, Peter (with 11 others) is sent out to "catch" others for the kingdom of God. They are the special apostles, the special servants of Jesus. They are his authorized ambassadors. But there's more to this story of participating expectantly in Jesus' vision.

Anyone who walks with Mary and Peter who also knows the story of the Gospels knows that both have lots to learn. Both will learn that their expectations, intensified as they were by intimate attachment to Jesus and close participation in his kingdom work, will soon need radical adjustment.

Perhaps we can learn that it is in belonging to the circle of Jesus' followers that we come to see a Lord who will guide us into a way of life that is nothing less than cruciform. Many of us are weekly reminded that for all the expectations we have of what God will do and for all the joy we find in participating in God's redemptive work, the Supper of our Lord reminds us that both expectations and participation need to be seen through the lens of bread and wine.

Here's Mary's Song... it records Mary's expectations and her anticipation of participation in God's redemptive work.

And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
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 powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

Expectations. We all have them. Expectations can control us; they usually shape us. What are our expectations? Lent can transform our expectations. Consider Mary and Peter as their expectations were transformed. Since I was a little guy I've heard that...

I want to spend some time this Lenten season reflecting how we naturally walk with Mary and Peter to the Cross, to Easter and then on to Pentecost. When I wrote The Real Mary, the one theme that came home...

For Lent this year, I want to do a series that weaves together the "story" of Peter with the "story" of Mary. The two of them, so I hope to show, struggle with the Cross and it is that "story"...

Marko has posted on The Real Mary with a very clever twist. The standard theory, which I espouse, is that Mary immediately realized that being pregnant before consummation with Joseph was a No-No that could jeopardize her life, her son's...

A Magnificat kind of Christmas knows that Mary experienced profound release the moment she realized her son would be Messiah. Her release found its way into a marvelous song that extolled the faithfulness of God to his promise. Once again,...

I've gotten enough reminders from folks that I thought I'd post what we are doing on the radio this week. 12.12  WDLM in Quad Cities, "Daybreak" in the Morning. 12.12  WGN-AM: Chicago "Extension 720" with a RC theologian...

The Jesus Creed not only reshaped my perception of spiritual formation, it also reshaped our life. I spent very little time traveling and speaking prior to Jesus Creed, but we can't express the joy it has been for us to...

A Magnificat kind of Christmas, which understands Christmas as about God's acts to redeem through the incarnation, is also about the poor. Here are the words of the Magnificat, and I'd like you to observe words connected to poverty and...

M and W night I was at Reclaiming the Mind for a lecture and discussion about The Real Mary. I suspect I'll be talking about Mary for years because of this research I've done, but I'm beginning to hear some...

Eye on Chicago, with Antonio Mora, interviewed me about the movie and The Real Mary, and this is a link to the website. If you click on the image (to the right) of The Nativity Story picture, you get the...

I was asked to write a review of The Nativity Story for Relevant Magazine....

The first Christmas was a Magnificat kind of Christmas. It wasn't a Dickens kind of Christmas, and it wasn't a Midwestern kind of Christmas, and it wasn't a Tennessee kind of Christmas. It was a Mary kind of Magnificat kind...

John Kasich of "The Heartland" for national FoxNews has contacted our people to invite us to the Chicago studio tonight for an interview about The Real Mary and The Nativity Story. So, if you have time tonight between 8-9pm Central...

For months WBBM-TV and I have been trying to arrange a date for an interview for Eye on Chicago, Antonio Mora's Sunday morning show. Antonio, one of the most professional persons I've ever worked with, has an interest in all...

Here's a good opportunity. I've been invited to chat about Mary online in a unique setting on December 4 and December 6 from 8pm-10pm. The Converse with Scholars program at Reclaiming the Mind is hosting a discussion about The Real...

As Kris said to me last night, "Who would ever have thought that this [your] face would end up in People magazine?" Of course, I'm stretching the truth -- you won't see my face in People, but you just might...

I have been scheduled for a number of interviews about The Real Mary, Mary, and The Nativity Story (I saw it tonight -- am writing a review for Relevant Online) and I want to list them for you should you...

As I was standing talking to a friend at the Paraclete booth in the book exhibits Saturday at the SBL/AAR Annual Meetings, I happened to see my former Dean at Trinity seminary, Walt Kaiser, wander into the booth. He did...

The Real Mary is now out, but the requests for participating in the Street Team are still coming in. The publisher is asking folks to contact them by Monday if you are interested in discussing The Real Mary. PLEASE CONTACT...

VATICAN CITY, Nov. 9 (UPI) -- Vatican City will show a world premiere of a film for the first time when New Line's "The Nativity Story" plays in the Vatican this month. The newest film from "Lords of Dogtown" director...

Mary. Many thanks to Paraclete's heroic efforts to get this book out this Fall. I'm hoping the Street Team participants got their copies this week, too. Did they?...

Here is my piece in Publisher's Weekly Online and then a piece about The Nativity Story for CBN's special. MOVIE COMMENTARY How Do You Solve a Problem Like Mary? By Scot McKnight Author, The Real Mary CBN.com – This Christmas...

Mary. Thanks to Paraclete's heroic speed and efforts, the book is now here. I don't know if street teams have gotten their copies yet. Hope so....

It's November 1, and Paraclete now has copies of The Real Mary ready to ship out. You can order the book from the publisher by clicking here. (I'm grateful that Paraclete is getting the books available well before the publishing...

The Nativity Story. This movie, which I've read as a screenplay, is about as faithful to the Gospels as a movie from Hollywood can be. Yet, I wonder... This Christmas season, viewers of The Nativity Story will once again be...

Extended Offer! There is now a sample chapter available and a special sale discount. Paraclete has had such a good response that they are extending the offer to join the Street Team for The Real Mary until September 18th....

This will be the first in a series of posts on women in ministry -- as long as everyone behaves. Some of these will pertain to specific issues women face who are in ministries, some will be about biblical texts...

This Christmas Hollywood is handing us an opportunity we simply have to seize: for the better part of at least 200 years most Protestants have ignored Mary as if she were an exotic aunt who shows up for the entire...

Five years ago, standing at the blackboard in my Jesus of Nazareth class, I read the Magnificat --the song of Mary, mother of Jesus -- aloud with as much force as I could. I then asked this question: "What kind...

After four days of editing my Mary ms, I'm about to write a brief note to my editor, Lil Copan, to tell her that writing in green instead of red doesn't lessen the pain. Sure, sure, I'll tell her, the...

I sent the ms for The Real Mary: Why Evangelical Christians Can Embrace the Mother of Jesus to the publisher (Paraclete) Friday, and now I await word from my fantastic editor, Lil Copan. The good news is that the book...

Dennis Martin has suggested a few times in previous posts that I am pushing the original sin factor too hard, and he could be right. He suggests we look to the question of Mary's sinlessness. Was she sinless? The Evangelist...

Who believed in the immaculate conception? How early was it? Who didn't believe in Mary's immaculate conception and sinlessness? Again, some of this surprises many of us reared theologically in Protestantism. After this listing, I'll draw my conclusions. No need...

Last week we looked at the perpetual virginity. While we didn't agree on each point, we did behave ourselves and, speaking for myself, worked our way through some issues that we might not think of very often. The immaculate conception,...

This has been a stimulating week for me in looking at this age-old question: Was Mary perpetually virginal? Today I want to look at three pieces of biblical evidence on this question, sorting out what can be known from what...

Tomorrow I'll post my own view of Mary's perpetual virginity. But today we need to look at Jerome, who is perhaps the first major theologian to deal with our question -- was Mary perpetually virgin? He does so in polemics...

Two days ago I observed that there is an early and widespread belief in Mary's perpetual virginity in the Church. Today I want to begin to begin looking more particularly at the debates and actual comments by the early theologians....

Yesterday's post provided a smattering of evidence, and drew some good response (especially from Dennis Martin and Jim Martin -- no relations!) that anticipates where we have to go in this series, but the evidence is clear: there was an...

Now before you click to the next blog, give this question some thought. The traditional viewpoint of the Roman Catholics and the Eastern Orthodox is that Mary was a virgin when she conceived (called the virginal conception) and, after her...

What do you really think of Mary? Most Protestants know far too little about Mary, and often don't even know that the Immaculate Conception (Mary's) is not the same as the virginal conception (Jesus'). I expect to be posting occasionally...