DAY 59 of #100daysofJesus - Mary

 DAY 59 of #100daysofJesus

The angel Gabriel told Mary, "For with God nothing shall be impossible."

And that's how the impossible began about 2020 years ago...

Mary was going about her day as usual when an angel "came in unto her and said, "Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women."

Why was Mary so highly favored and blessed? Unfortunately, the scriptures do not give much backstory, but we can presume she was a righteous woman who was strict in her obedience to God's commandments. I believe she was foreordained to be Jesus' mother, so she was being prepared by God for this moment throughout her life.

The appearance of the angel likely startled her even more than being called "highly favored", and the angel quickly added, "Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God."

Perhaps these words were comforting, but I would guess the next sent a whole new level of shock through her soul. The angel continues:

"And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 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."

Now let that sink in!

After asking some logistical questions, Mary shows her character in her reply to the angel, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word."

Some may think this submission to God's will was easy because she was going to bring the Messiah into the world - what an honor!

But given the questions she asked and the culture in which she lived, I'm sure the excitement was equally matched by worry. Having a baby outside of marriage could shame her and her family, and it could destroy her relationship with Joseph, the man she loved. How would she explain this? Who would believe her?

Despite this, the remarkable Mary chose faith over fear. She certainly did not have all the answers at the time she accepted God's will for her, but she knew God enough to trust Him. That's the type of mother that raised Jesus, our Savior.

(Luke 1:27-38)