His Ambassador Blog

Mary, most famously known as the mother of Jesus. She’s revered as blessed among women, looked up to by many all around the world. Reading about her in the gospels allows us to realize why God chose her to carry the baby Jesus. This was no small task, to carry the Savior of the World, in her time period, as a virgin… I could see how much of the story didn’t make sense to Mary at first, but nevertheless she was a remarkable woman and we ought to know more about the women who so carefully carried our Savior in her womb.

Mary was of the tribe of Judah and in the lineage of King David. She lived in Nazareth and was espoused to marry Joseph who was also from the lineage of David. At the time Mary was living in Nazareth, she was visited by an angel who declared that she would bear a child, while still being a virgin, and He would be the Son of God, the Savior of the world. Now this would have caused quite a lot of controversy, Mary and Joseph were not yet married, espousal was the between stages of engagement and marriage. So, for Mary to be pregnant would be a disgrace and likely to be stoned. Also, how would she explain that she conceived a child by the Holy Spirit? Everyone would think she was crazy! But Mary agreed to carry Jesus and to be His mother. Now that we’ve had that recap, let’s take a look at the important qualities and characteristics about Mary that make her so special.

Mary has a character of love and devotion to God

The first thing that the angel said when he appeared to Mary was that she was highly favored, God is with her, and that she is blessed among women. Mary was a woman who devoted all of herself to the Lord, so much so that she found favor with Him. With this love and devotion to God came a unique privilege that only Mary would get to experience.

To be highly favored with God is to follow His commands with a genuine and faithful heart. It is loving Him with all of your heart, mind, soul, and strength. It is loving your neighbor as yourself. We know from reading that Mary was faithful to God and His will in her life. We also know how she cared for those around her, such as her cousin Elizabeth and eventually her children. She was a faithful woman all around who set God as a priority.

Because of her devotion to God, He was with her. When we draw near to God and seek His presence, He will draw near to us and reveal Himself. Mary saw this firsthand. She dedicated everything to Him and He invited Mary to be a part of something incredibly special and intimate, something that no one else will every be able to experience. That is to carry the Savior of the world in her womb and to have the opportunity to be His mother and watch Him grow up. When we are following God’s will, He invites us to participate in His plan for the world, in the mission to spread the good news and make disciples.

Mary opened herself up to be used by God

What I think we often don’t pay enough attention to is that truth that Mary could have told the angel, “No.” And that would have been that. But Mary didn’t say, “No,” she enthusiastically and faithfully says, “Yes.” Mary describes herself as a handmaiden of the Lord, in Luke 1:38. A handmaiden is a female servant. The use of this name for herself indicates Mary’s complete willingness to be a servant of the Lord. To give her whole being for His purposes. Mary was ready to say yes to the plan that God had in mind for her. This was likely because of her love for the Lord and devotion to His will in saving the world. Mary didn’t hesitate to open herself up to be used by God. And not in the way that she expected Him to use her, but in the way that He saw fit. Mary had a choice and she chose to bear a child who would grow up to be her Lord and Savior. She did not care about who would talk about her or about what the consequences would be. She didn’t ask for the terms and conditions of this agreement. She simply asked how this would be and said, “Let it be so.” Imagine the things God could do through us if we opened ourselves up to be used by Him, trusting that everything will work according to His plan.

Mary didn’t doubt God or His plan

Verse 45 of Luke chapter 1 says, “And blessed is she that believed…” It could have been so easy for Mary to question, doubt, and worry over this entire situation. How was a virgin going to get pregnant? How was she going to tell Joseph? How would they explain this to family and friends? How would she and Joseph raise the Messiah? Why her? She could have asked so many questions, she could have had so many doubts, and likely could have felt a little insecure at times, wondering if she was fit for the position she had been given. But the scripture says that Mary believed in the Lord. She trusted His plan and it didn’t matter what happened, His will was going to be done.

It’s so easy for us to doubt. Maybe because we think we need to be in control and if we aren’t then things might go wrong. Maybe because we don’t believe that God is who He says He is or that He won’t do what He says He is going to do. But Mary is a great model to look to. Like her, we should seek to believe in and trust God, with the big things that seem terrifying and confusing, and the little things which can be equally terrifying and confusing.

Mary was a woman with scripture on her heart

An incredibly popular song written in the same chapter of Luke is often called, “Mary’s Song.” It reads as follows:

 My soul doth magnify the Lord, (1 Samuel 2:1)

And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior, (Habakkuk 3:18)

For He hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, form henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. (Psalm 72:17)

For He that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.

And His mercy is on them that fear Him from generation to generation.

He hath showed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. (Exodus 18:11)

He hath put down the mighty from their seats and exalted them of low degree. (Job 5:11)

He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

He hath holpen His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy; (Psalm 98:3)

As He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed forever. (Genesis 17:7)

To the side of almost all of the verses form Mary’s song is a scripture reference to some place in the old testament. Her song is covered in scripture. This goes to show us that Mary was a woman who knew the word of God. His scripture was not just words on a page to Mary. She studied it intentionally and wrote these words on her heart, memorized them, and believed every single one. This is the mark of a believer dedicated to her love for the Lord and intentional about growing in relationship with Him. How often do we take His word for granted when we should be writing it on our hearts?

A remarkable woman of God

While Mary was favored by God, she was still just a woman. While she messed up at times and certainly wasn’t sinless as none of us are, it is a comforting and encouraging thing to know that she was still just a human. God used a woman from the town of Nazareth, which was not a town of superior reputation, to fulfill a piece of His ultimate mission. He chose a young girl, though the stakes were high. He chose someone faithful to His works and His will, someone who loved Him and devoted her life to Him, even before she was given such a beautiful privilege. We can all be used in remarkable ways when seeking to please Him in everything and being open to His will in our own lives.