Mary: The Mother of Jesus

“Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word…” (Luke 1:38). Such is the humble reply of a young virgin woman from the insignificant town of Nazareth. A woman who had just been met by an angel, Gabriel, and had been told of her inclusion in the plan of God. It was a plan that followed many of the promises of God: the eternal heir of David (1 Chron 17), the everlasting ruler of Judah (Gen 49:10), the Messiah to be born of a virgin (Is 7:14). It was a plan that she found inclusion in because she had found favor in the eyes of the Lord (Luke 1:30). She would be the earthly mother of the Son of God (Luke 1:35). How could it be that a young, poor, betrothed virgin of Nazareth would bring the Savior of the world into the world? What does this say concerning the person of Mary? 

Mary found favor in the eyes of the Lord because of her spiritual strength. This is a remark about who she was as a woman of faith. For God to choose Mary, what great faithfulness would she have to display? Think about it. Would God have entrusted this great honor, to raise His Son, to just anyone? Would he entrust it to the Israelite woman who did not walk uprightly, but instead lived in moral decay? Of course not. Mary was found favorable because of her faithfulness to God - we get a glimpse of this in our opening statement, she was ready to make herself a servant of God.

Mary received an incredible honor, but that honor came with scorn from men. We see this scorn magnified in Jesus’ exchange with the Pharisees in John 8, accusing Him of being a child born of fornication (John 8:41). Mary received an incredible honor. Still, it came with its seasons of doubt and failed understanding. We see Mary and Jesus’ siblings going to seize Him (Mark 3:21) because they believe He is out of His mind. Mary and Joseph were confused when Jesus infamously asserted that He was to be about His Father’s business (Luke 2:49-50). 

Mary was human; she enjoyed great blessings from God, but also did not always quite grasp those blessings. She was human, a remarkable one.