Luke 1:26-38
With Christmas just around the corner, and many Christians celebrating it as the time of Christ’s birth, I chose Mary, the mother of Jesus, to be our featured woman in the Bible for this month.
Mary was from the tribe of Judah and the line of David. Mary was selected by divine wisdom. Centuries before Mary became the mother of Jesus, our Savior, it was prophesied that it would be so (Isaiah 7:14-16, 9:6-7).
In the 6th month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, the angel, Gabriel, was sent from God into a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, and the virgin’s name was Mary. It was said that the city was so insignificant that no good thing could come out of it, but out of it came the greatest man the world has ever known. (Vs 26-27)
The angel came to Mary and said, “Hail thou that are highly favoured, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women.” (Vs 28)
Mary was troubled at his saying, and wondered what this salutation meant for her. (Vs 29)
Gabriel told her to not be afraid, that she had found favour with God. (Vs 30)
He told her she would conceive, in her womb and deliver a son, and she shall call Him Jesus. (Vs 31)
He informed her that Jesus would be great and would be called the Son of the Highest: (Vs 32)
And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end (Vs 33)
Mary asked Gabriel how it could be since she hasn’t known a man. (Vs 34)
Gabriel told her that the Holy Ghost would come upon her and the power of the Highest would overshadow her. Therefore, the holy thing that will be born of her shall be called the Son of God. (Vs 35)
He told her that Elizabeth, her relative, has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now her sixth month, who was called barren. (Vs 36)
For with God, nothing is impossible. (Vs 37)
Then Mary said, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word”.
Mary believed, trusted, was willing, and obedient. I ask myself, could I have such trust and willingness to obey without question? We are given opportunities many times in our lives to show our trust and obedience, but do we in all instances? I doubt if any of us can be that loyal to our Savior in all trials and temptations.
There is much more to say about Mary and her trials, such as giving her Son, Jesus, to do His Father’s will and the torture she must have felt at His death. Perhaps we’ll touch on that at a later time.
With Christmas just around the corner, and many Christians celebrating it as the time of Christ’s birth, I chose Mary, the mother of Jesus, to be our featured woman in the Bible for this month.
Mary was from the tribe of Judah and the line of David. Mary was selected by divine wisdom. Centuries before Mary became the mother of Jesus, our Savior, it was prophesied that it would be so (Isaiah 7:14-16, 9:6-7).
In the 6th month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, the angel, Gabriel, was sent from God into a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, and the virgin’s name was Mary. It was said that the city was so insignificant that no good thing could come out of it, but out of it came the greatest man the world has ever known. (Vs 26-27)
The angel came to Mary and said, “Hail thou that are highly favoured, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women.” (Vs 28)
Mary was troubled at his saying, and wondered what this salutation meant for her. (Vs 29)
Gabriel told her to not be afraid, that she had found favour with God. (Vs 30)
He told her she would conceive, in her womb and deliver a son, and she shall call Him Jesus. (Vs 31)
He informed her that Jesus would be great and would be called the Son of the Highest: (Vs 32)
And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end (Vs 33)
Mary asked Gabriel how it could be since she hasn’t known a man. (Vs 34)
Gabriel told her that the Holy Ghost would come upon her and the power of the Highest would overshadow her. Therefore, the holy thing that will be born of her shall be called the Son of God. (Vs 35)
He told her that Elizabeth, her relative, has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now her sixth month, who was called barren. (Vs 36)
For with God, nothing is impossible. (Vs 37)
Then Mary said, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word”.
Mary believed, trusted, was willing, and obedient. I ask myself, could I have such trust and willingness to obey without question? We are given opportunities many times in our lives to show our trust and obedience, but do we in all instances? I doubt if any of us can be that loyal to our Savior in all trials and temptations.
There is much more to say about Mary and her trials, such as giving her Son, Jesus, to do His Father’s will and the torture she must have felt at His death. Perhaps we’ll touch on that at a later time.