Mary, Part 2: Willing

Mary fascinates me. Partly, it’s because of her disposition to do whatever God wanted. I can’t even imagine how she assimilated all that Gabriel told her would happen. Mary, as we know, was a young virgin. She was probably a teenager, and she had been promised to Joseph. Can you guess what must have been going through her mind?

Gabriel, one of God’s special messengers, goes to Nazareth, and pays Mary a visit. This is his greeting: Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women (Luke 1:28b). The Bible tells us she was troubled and wondered what kind of a salutation this was.

Gabriel continues, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 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 for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end (Luke 1:30-33).

Now, Mary understands that God wants her to be the mother of the promised Messiah. She asks the logical question, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God (Luke 1:34-35).

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

When Gabriel left, what was Mary thinking? Did she realize all this would entail? I would guess not. But, look at her willingness to be used—even though it would mean so much loss, so much misunderstanding. I wonder if she feared losing Joseph. I wonder if she knew how much blessing was in store for her, as well.

What a beautiful attitude: Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.

This story’s lessons for us:

• Be willing to be used of God, no matter what the cost.
• See ourselves as “handmaids of the Lord.” (humility, willingness to serve)
• Be willing to follow God’s Word.
• Understand that God’s blessing follows obedience.

Behold the handmaid of the Lord ____________________________________ . (your name here)