“Then Mary said, Behold, I am the handmaiden of the Lord; let it be done to me according to what you have said. And the angel left “Luke 1:38.
“And blessed (happy, to be envied) is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of the things that were spoken to her from the Lord” Luke 1:45.
During Christmas Celebration, I love to ponder the life of Mary, the chosen mother of Jesus. She was the handmaiden of the Lord who was favored above all women, and chosen to give birth to the Son of the Most High God- our Savior and Messiah. As we look at Mary’s surrendered life to the Father’s will, we admire how she totally abandoned her pre-made plans of having a traditional Jewish marriage, and all her future plans to give all- including her reputation for the mercy of God’s plan and purpose for her life.
Mary was such a young woman, how did she develop this awe-inspiring courage to step forward and obey God? First, she was favored by God. The angel said, “Hail, O favored one [endued with grace]! The Lord is with you! Blessed (favored of God) are you before all other women! Do not be afraid! Mary, you have found grace (free, spontaneous, absolute favor and loving-kindness) with God”. Secondly, Mary absolutely knew who she was – “I am the handmaiden of the Lord; let it be done to me according to what you have said.” She said, “This is amazing! I will be a mother for the Lord! As his servant, I accept whatever he has for me”. Her true identity was not determined by people’s opinions, being understood, or even being accepted. Mary’s identity had been ordained by God before the world began, and she found her destiny in His truth, as she surrendered to God’s higher plan. She would bring forth the Son of Man into the world!
In Hebrews 11:6 the scripture states, “But without faith it is impossible to please God”. Mary believed! She believed the scriptures….She believed the angel…..She believed in God’s ability to fulfill what He had spoken to her. Her relative Elizabeth prophesied-“Blessed (happy, to be envied) is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of the things that were spoken to her from the Lord”. She believed that not one promise from God was empty of power, because with God there is no such thing as impossibility! Throughout Jesus’ life- beginning at His birth in a stable, fleeing King Herod, going to the temple at twelve, changing the water to wine at the wedding feast, His earthly ministry of teaching and healing, then finally on a hill called Calvary where she watched her Son suffer and die, only to be raised again three days later for mankind’s redemption……she was close to Him in person, heart, and spirit. She stood by her Son, and believed through happy times, hard times, and horrible times…..”Blessed is she who believed”.
Mary offered all she was to God, and that was enough….enough to fulfill God’s plan to bring salvation to a lost and dying world through the birth, life, death, and resurrection of her beloved Son, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the Messiah and Savior of the world. Mary pondered many things in her pure heart, and through grace, believing faith, and surrender, she found the freedom and power to overcome opposition, while accomplishing her God given destiny to be the beloved mother of God.
