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The Verse:
Then Mary said, "Behold, the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her. Luke 1:38
The Story:
Elizabeth was now six months pregnant while her cousin, Mary, was busy making her own plans to marry Joseph, her betrothed. He may have been a middle-class carpenter from the city of Nazareth, but Joseph was also of the house of David. Do you remember King David of Israel? The man after God's heart? Heavenly royalty ran through Joseph's veins. Mary loved him. For he was an honorable man.
Then out of heaven, Gabriel, the angel of the Lord, appeared to Mary. And he said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!"
Mary raised her eyebrows and withdrew.
"Don't be afraid," said Gabriel. "Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end."
"But how?" asked Mary. "I do not know a man."
Gabriel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God."
Gabriel assured Mary that with God nothing is impossible.
Mary had a song on her lips, and a humble heart. She went to Judea to visit her cousin, Elizabeth, and share the news.
As time when on, Joseph found out Mary was pregnant. Though the child was not his, he loved Mary, and he didn't want to shame her publicly. So he decided he would end their engagement secretly.
That night, when Joseph fell asleep, an angel of the Lord appeared in his dream. He told Joseph, son of David, not to be afraid and to take Mary to be his wife. And the angel said, "For that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins."
Joseph, being a just and honorable man, did as the angel said and took Mary for his wife.
Joseph and Mary received word that Caesar Augustus had decreed a census for the world. Everyone was ordered to travel to their own city to register. Joseph and Mary packed for their weeks' journey over steep hills and through low valleys to the city of David, Bethlehem, to register there.
But Mary was about to give birth to Jesus! Still, they had no choice but to make the journey.
Once in Bethlehem, Joseph hurried to the inn to rent a room for the night. But the inn was full.
"Aghhhh!" Mary held her stomach. The birth pangs were increasing.
Joseph had to think quick on his feet. He found a dry stable where Mary brought forth her firstborn Son. She wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger. She treasured all these things in her heart.
This is not the end of Mary's story. For Mary was with her Son, Jesus, throughout His life, from His birth in a manger to His death on a cross and at the empty tomb after His resurrection.
Mary was available to God. She knew and applied Old Testament Scriptures. Blessed among women, she was chosen to be the mother of Jesus, the Messiah. And she was the only human who was with Jesus from His birth to His death.
God uses ordinary people like you and me to accomplish extraordinary things. Be available to God. Study the Scripture and apply it to your life. It will help build your character for when the unexpected happens.
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