What evidence from God's Word proves this? Once Jesus' public ministry began, she was treated certainly no better than any other woman. Compare Jesus' praise for the Syrophoenician mother - Matthew 15:28 - Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And the anointing at Simon the leper's house - Matthew 26:10-13 - Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.
Contrast Jesus' praise of the above two with his correction of Mary and his brethren.
Mark 3:31-35 (KJV) - 31 There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him. 32 And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee. 33 And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren? 34 And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! 35 For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.
If Mary was such a bigwig in the Apostolic Age, why does she disappear from the New Testament after Acts 1, where she is simply listed among the Believers waiting for the Holy Spirit? And why, in Paul's letters to the Church, the foundation of God's Revelation to the Body of Christ, is she never even mentioned? She is not even listed in Hebrews 11, a chapter recounting the great faith heroes of the Bible! At the very least, that's worthy of careful consideration. Surely, if God wants us to worship, adore, or honor Mary in any substantive way, she would have a prominent place there! Heck, even Rahab the harlot gets a mention in Hebrews 11 AND James.
If she died and was buried, why doesn't anyone know where?
It would take me an afternoon to locate my grandparents graves and I was at their funeral! Imagine several hundreds of years, multiple wars, as well as the dispersion of the Jews in Israel, and its not so hard to imagine that a lot of graves were lost, robbed, or forgotten. The Jews and Roman subjects who remained would have little interest in the grave of the mother of a crucified criminal. Is it really so hard to believe that she died, was buried, and over time people simply forgot? Could it be possible that the immense attention Rome pays Mary is the result of centuries of compounded religious tradition, and as shown in Scripture, Mary was simply not placed on the pedestal by 1st Century Believers the same way the religious do today? Perhaps she always remained the humble, self-proclaimed "handmaid of the Lord" and lived out her life as God directed?
Why would BELIEVERS, people made alive in Christ and seated in Heavenly places, care where her body was buried? ITS NOT ABOUT HER anymore than it is about Peter, Paul, John, or any OT prophet or king. We don't worship the dead, but a risen Savior, who alone is worthy of praise. The entirety of Scripture has one clear purpose - Jesus. And while many kings, prophets, apostles, servants, men, and women, played their parts, the ONLY star of the Book is JESUS. He deserves ALL the attention because Believers are COMPLETE IN HIM. Introducing fables, religious speculation, and the reasoning of men, diminishes the simplicity and Glory of God's Truth. Paul warns of this very thing - Colossians 2:8 (KJV) - 8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Believers should keep their focus on Jesus, expecting His coming appearance, and not be distracted by religion.
Excellent.
AMEN!!!!!!
PREACH IT, BROTHER!!!!!!!