We were asked an interesting question: Please tell us how does your group feel about the Virgin Mary? Do you respect her? And if so, how?
The Virgin Mary received the greatest honor in history by becoming the Mother of Jesus Christ.That’s what the Bible says about her. Can we call her Mother of God? No, since Mary did not give birth to God in the sense that there was no God Jesus, and now He appeared for the first time from non-existence.
God is eternal. Jesus came into this world in the Spirit only by being incarnated through his earthly Mother Mary. After death, the Lord ascended to heaven already in the flesh. The concept of “Mother of God” in the Bible does not exist at all.
“And unquestioningly — a great piety mystery: God appeared in the flesh, justified Himself in the Spirit, showed Himself to the Angels, was preached among the nations, accepted by faith in the world, ascended in glory.” 1 Timothy 3:16
The evolving role of religious icons
Often on the icons of some denominations we see the baby Jesus in the arms of Mary. And another intermediary appears in the person of Mary. But we need to understand that the baby has long grown up and He is the only mediator between God the Father and people.
This means that we can turn to Him in prayers as an intercessor and in no way can we pray to Mary, since she is also a person.
“And as it is appointed for men to die one day…” Hebrews 9:27
Mary, having gone through her life path, like everyone else, died and is waiting for her part and reward “in the bosom of Abraham”. It cannot be an intermediary and there is no point in this.
“Jesus said to him: I am the way and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6
So can we honor this great woman? Can we pray to this great woman?
“And My spirit rejoiced in God, My Savior, that He looked upon the humility of His Servant, for from now on all generations will please Me;” Luke 1:47-48
These are the words of Mary herself. What does “please” mean. To appease means to venerate blessed, i.e. consider Mary happy (in a modern translation). Nowhere in the Bible is there anyone praying to her (as well as to any other righteous person). Nowhere is there even a hint of such a teaching. You can only pray to God or the Son of God Jesus Christ.
“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all.” 1 Timothy 2:5-6
