The Family of Jesus: Regarding Mary

​Luke 1:26-27 ~ “In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary.”
 
Today we again consider the family of our LORD Jesus Christ, as we listen in on a conversation between the angel, Gabriel, and the mother of our LORD—Mary. Much is made of the person of Mary, and some have venerated her into a type of savior herself. Our LORD, Himself, rebuked this notion in Luke 11:27-28, “As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, ‘Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!’ But he said, ‘Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!’” Let us not distort her life. There is much we can learn if we look upon her life in the light of truth. Take a moment and read Luke 1:26-38.
 
Let us first understand that Mary was chosen by God. As you saw in the opening text of our reading today, the angel Gabriel was not sent randomly to the region to choose among a group of young maidens. God specifically selected Mary to bring forth the LORD Jesus. She was the candidate of God’s choice. She was the instrument of God’s design, chosen to be His vessel to bring forth His Son. And when you ask the question, why, the Apostle Paul may give us a clue to the answer. We read in 1 Corinthians 1:27-28, “But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are.”  Even Mary recognized this when she declared that God had looked upon the humble state of her life (see Luke 1:48). This was and is the sovereign will of God Almighty.
 
Luke 1:28-30 ~ “And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, O favored one, the LORD is with you!’ But she was greatly troubled at the saying and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.’”
 
Next, we see that not only was Mary chosen, but she was also covered by grace. This is found in the term, “favor” for it means one who is “full of grace” or, otherwise, a recipient of the grace of God. It is Divine grace that sets anyone apart to the service of the LORD. Mary had no greater quality of personal righteousness that God should choose her. What set her apart was her faith in the Almighty, and as a believer, she was covered with His grace. Paul expresses a similar understanding in 1 Corinthians 15:10,
“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.” Beloved, all who are born-again are that way only by God’s grace. No one ever saved themselves. No one ever makes themselves acceptable to the LORD. We must be saved by grace; we serve by grace and ultimately, we are received by grace.
 
Luke 1:38 ~ “And Mary said, ‘Behold, I am the servant of the LORD; let it be to me according to your word.’ And the angel departed from her.”
 
Finally, we look upon Mary and we understand that she was committed in faith to the will of God. Though there was curiosity concerning the means by which such a purpose through her could be accomplished, there was no doubt to her concerning the ability of the LORD to do what He had spoken (see Luke 1:34-37). Mary responded to the angel with a determined faith. She placed herself in the hand of God and yielded herself to the will of the Father. With a single word: servant, she declared her position and surrendered her life to the full measure of God’s plan. Consider what David said in Psalm 37:5, “Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.” What a tremendous statement all believers ought to make when stepping through life in this world: I am the LORD’s servant. It is an act of worship to the LORD have such a committed faith to the will of God. Consider Romans 12:1, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”
 
As the day nears for the celebration of the birth of our LORD, let us consider all things pertaining to His arrival. With Mary, let us not distort her role... but let us also not dismiss it. She was the submissive servant to be used by God to bring Jesus into the world. Let us also be submissive servants, that the LORD God can use us today to uphold the name of Jesus in the world.
 
In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

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