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According to Dr. Cohick, Mary’s identity in the Gospels centers around three primary roles: mother, prophet, and disciple. Which of these elements tend to get left out, why is that, and what difference does it make?
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Prophet and Disciple is generally left out. Why, patriarchal hierarchy. Very sad, however, I feel there is a shift for truth.
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I had never considered the fact that Mary was a prophet. A prophet was God’s messenger and in her Magnificat she praises God and communicates His message to her world. She tells of the work that Jesus will be doing in His time on earth.
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Mary being a prophet and a disciple is usually left out. The way her life is usually analyzed is that of being a mother but now I can see Mary from a different perspective which is amazing.
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For me, the element in Mary’s identify that is left out is her role as a prophet. I don’t ever, ever recall Mary being referred to as a prophet. That she was a mother goes without saying, and in Acts she is with the disciples as they await the coming of the promised Holy Spirit, so I have previously made associations of Mary as a disciple. In comments/Bible notes I’ve read, when compared to the words Zechariah speaks later in Luke 1, Mary’s words are designated a song, whereas Zechariah’s words are designated a prophecy. And yet, as Dr Cohick points out, there is prophecy in her words.
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The elements that are the least discussed are that of Mary as a prophet and a disciple. The whole world knows of Mary as Jesus’ mother and we often look at her experiences as a mother. Mary is most often portrayed as a scared, yet strong, young woman. How many times have we heard sermons of how courageous she had to be at such a young age, but how few we have heard talking about her as a prophet or as Jesus’ disciple. How humbling it must have been to have to sit at the feet of your own son and follow him, not as your child, but as your Savior. I also think it makes a difference when considering the context of some of these stories and how Jesus is addressing her, whether as his mother or as his disciple. It can change how you interpret the narrrative.
