THE BOOK CORNER

The Real Mary:Why Evangelical Christian Can Embrace The Mother Of Jesus

by Scot McKnight

Scot NcKnight opened his his book with a question. Why is a Protestant writing a book about Mary? McKnight gives several reasons.

"Because the story of the real Mary has never been told."

"Because she was the mother of Jesus and because the mother of Jesus ought to matter to each of us."

"Because the Magnificat, her song in Luke's first chapter, is the Magna Carta of early Christian songs."

"Because the real Mary always leads us to Jesus."

Stop for a moment and consider the society in which Mary lived. She was betrothed to Joseph and thus was legally married except for sexual relations. By saying to the angel Gabriel "may it be" she was allowing herself to become pregnant while remaining a virgin. She would have to

convince her family that she was still a virgin, then Joseph, then the people in her village.

Mary knew Joseph would realize he was not the father, and his first thought would be that she had committed adultery. The Torah was clear about the punishment for adultery, death by stoning. This courageous Jewish woman, perhaps thirteen years old or at most sixteen, had an unfailing faith and trust in God.

When Mary uttered her song, the Magnificat, she expressed the feeling devout Jews had of the Messiah. He "would be like Moses, mentoring everyone to obey the Torah; like a prophet...; like David the King...after conquering the Land and routing the enemies of Israel; and like Solomon, offering wisdom to the people." She gradually come to understand that Jesus was following another course. Upon his crucifixion Mary realized "to reign in this world,... was to give one's life for others as Jesus had given his."

This is a profound book and I highly recommend it.

Review by Floyd Wyche