A person of Mary’s character, devotion, and servitude wasn’t often encountered. She was a rare jewel of a high price.
What other women like her were widely found or known?
Mary, clothed with a meek and mild spirit, was a devout and willing vessel that found favor with God.
Even today, Christians call her blessed as the mother of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
How many young maidens received a visit—not in a dream—but a personal visit from God’s angel and messenger, Gabriel?
Only one would have God’s only begotten son. Mary was the chosen one!
We can use various flattering words to describe Mary, but let’s consider one word Gabriel used.
Gabriel said Mary was a ‘favored’ person of God.
He told Mary, “You are favored by the Lord! The Lord is with you (GW).”
Most of us would be startled like Mary by Gabriel’s presence and greeting, but would probably require a
double take. I can see myself asking, what did you say again?
Mary didn’t interrupt or try to ask a question but silently pondered what the angel’s words meant.
The angel repeated that God found favor with her and proceeded to tell Mary amazing things about her and her son’s future.
Gabriel said she would become pregnant, have a son, and name him Jesus.
Maybe Mary’s jar dropped, and her eyes widened, but she continued to listen and didn’t object or offer any buts.
Gabriel said, “He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom, there shall be no end (KJV).”
Mary couldn’t get past the ordinary, usual, and widely known fact: a pregnancy comes before childbirth.
Mary didn’t stress about who the child would become. She knew God was all-powerful.
First things first: Mary couldn’t wrap her head around the word, pregnant.
She was a young virgin, but she wasn’t ignorant about how one gets pregnant.
Mary asked Gabriel, “How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?”
She didn’t ask, “How can, but how shall this be?”
She wanted to know how the pregnancy would come about, and Gabriel told her.
Gabriel told Mary that her pregnancy would be on this wise, “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore, also that holy thing shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God (KJV).”
Mary found favor with God. Who can find favor with God?
Psalm 5:12 says, “For you bless the righteous, O LORD; you surround them with your favor as with a shield (ESV).”
I hope you are happy and well this celebratory season of Jesus’ birth.