Mary the Woman of Faith

And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her (Lk. 1:38 KJV).

Mary the mother of Jesus picture nativity scene

Some Christians speak of “Mary mother of Jesus” with great reverence. While she is not a deity, this woman is an astonishingly godly woman and has volumes to teach us about faith in God.

Before his announcement to Mary, the angel Gabriel was sent to Zechariah, a priest, with the good news of the Savior, but Zechariah doubted the Word. The angel responded to his unbelief with “And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season“ (Lk. 1:20 KJV). Maybe part of at the reason Zechariah’s mouth was closed, was so that he could not spread his unbelief!

In contrast, when Gabriel brought the same message to Mary, she asked how it was going to occur, and then responded “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her” (Lk. 1:38 KJV). This act of faith was so powerful and pleasing to the Lord, that the Spirit spoke of it later, through the mouth of Elizabeth, as she prophesied “blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord” (Lk. 1:45 KJV).

Mary was a woman of the Word, and of faith. May the spirit of faith in God’s Word overwhelm you this Christmas.

MEDITATE

What was the difference in response between Zechariah and Mary when the angel announced the message of the Savior to both of them? Why was Zechariah reprimanded while Mary was praised, though both of them asked the angel questions? Compare Luke 1:18-20 and Luke 1:34-38.