Day 12, Read Luke 1:26-30

What kind of woman was Jesus’ mother?  How are we to think about Mary?

·        She was from Nazareth, a city of Galilee, of little significance historically except in its connection to the Messiah.  It was not highly thought of by the Jews down south (around Jerusalem).

·        She was betrothed to Joseph.  After the bride had been selected, usually by the kin or a friend of the groom, the couple entered an “espousal” period.  This involved oaths and presents for the bride, who then often went to live with friends.  Communication between the two was carried out by the friend of the groom.  While not marriage, this relationship was legal.  Unfaithfulness by the bride was punishable by death, though the groom could opt for putting away (divorce).  Mary was in this situation when Gabriel came to her, and when she became pregnant.

·        She was a virgin.  Simply, she had not engaged in an intimate relationship with a man.  Catholicism teaches that Mary was perpetually a virgin (i.e. all her life).  This is false, denying the sense of such passages as Matt. 1:25 (Joseph did not know her until Jesus was born) and Mark 6:3 (speaks of Jesus’ brothers and sisters).  It is a position that falsely assumes that marital intimacy between husband and wife is less than pure or less than total devotion to God.  Undeniably this woman, likely in her mid to late teens, was a godly woman.

·        She was blessed.  The words used by Gabriel, “highly favored”, indicate that she was truly special as the mother of our Lord.  It either means she was given great grace for the special task, or that God showered her in a special way.  Mary herself acknowledged this in the song later in this chapter.  Further we are told God was with her, something said often of those He used in Scripture.

Again, we must note the excesses of Catholicism in their view of Mary.  Their doctrines go far beyond Scripture when they hold to “the immaculate conception” (that Mary herself was sinless, so proclaimed in 1854 by Pope Pius IX), “the assumption of Mary” (that she ascended into heaven, body and soul, at the end of her life; so proclaimed in 1950 by Pope Pius XII), “the intercession of Mary” (that her prayers are special) and “Mary, first among Christians” (that she is the model Christian).  Scripture never speaks of her in these ways.  The effect of these views is to lead to a “cult of Mary” that results in worship of her that belongs only to God.  In fact Christ alone was sinless (1 Pt. 2:22), and was the holy Lamb of God who took away the sins of the world, including those of His mother (Luke 11:27).  Christ is ascended (Ac. 1:9-11).  Christ intercedes for us (Rom. 8:34).  Christ is the model Christian (Rom. 8:29; 2 Cor. 3:18; 1 Pt. 2:21).

We will see that the greatest quality of this great woman is her humble faith.  She was chosen by God and thus to glorify God we must recognize why He made that choice.  But let us not lose sight of why she was blessed.  It all has to do with the Child she would bear, the Lamb of God, God’s only begotten Son!