The book I'm reading.

It's entitled "The Real Mary" by Scot McKnight who happens to be a professor at our Covenant Seminary in Chicago - North Park. He talks about the mother of Jesus.

I enjoy how he writes. He speaks in lay terms for folks like me, who haven't had any formal Bible training.

The book, for the first half, talks about what Mary must have really been like, in terms of most likely NOT being the sedate, sweet, gentle person we identify with in Christmas card pictures and famous paintings and Hollywood movies - and why. It was difficult for any woman to be pregnant BEFORE marriage in those days. The Law said she should have been stoned to death. BUT the angel Gabriel came to Mary announcing her pregnancy by the Holy Spirit, and telling Joseph to keep her as his wife, not to mention the glorious announcement to the shepherds to go to Bethlehem to see the new king. Angels. I believe they play roles in our own lives, more often than we know!

He talks too, about Mary's relationship with her first born Son, the One who was wrapped in swaddling clothes; the One who, as a child, had important people come a very long way to give him gifts; the One who had his parents come searching for him in Jerusalem at 12 years old, only to find him teaching with wisdom in the synagogue. I do believe, as the Bible says, that Mary pondered a great many things in her heart, as Jesus was growing up.

The one strange thing that McKnight speaks of is how Mary, naturally, was identified as Jesus mother and how their relationship had to change because Jesus was more than just her son, He was the Son of God. She had to, as Jesus grew up and began his ministry, put her faith and trust in Him - like all of us must do. I had never really thought of that aspect before - how she had to change her thinking of Jesus as her son in their family, to Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God.

That would have been tough.

Anyway, lots to think about and ponder. I'm looking forward to the second half. It would be a great book for a discussion group.

So thanks, Linea, for sharing your book with me!