Mary

Mary’s Journey:

Mary was a POOR, ANONYMOUS teen-aged girl.

God sent Gabriel to announce that Mary had a PRIVILEGED CALLING in his plan.

Mary’s Calling:

Give birth to the Messiah—OUT OF WEDLOCK.

Travel to Bethlehem—at 9 MONTHS PREGNANT.

Deliver the baby in someone else’s LIVING ROOM.

Try to PARENT the Son of God.

Luke 2:48–49 NIV

When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.” “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”

Luke 2:34–35 NIV

Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

Watch HER SON suffer torture and death.

Luke 1:42 NIV

In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!

Judges 5:24–26 NIV

“Most blessed of women be Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, most blessed of tent-dwelling women. He asked for water, and she gave him milk; in a bowl fit for nobles she brought him curdled milk. Her hand reached for the tent peg, her right hand for the workman’s hammer. She struck Sisera, she crushed his head, she shattered and pierced his temple.

Genesis 3:15 NIV

And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

STRIKE the first BLOW in the defeat of evil.

Mary’s Qualifications

Mary was not a PERFECT person.

Luke 1:6 NIV

Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly.

Luke 1:26–27 NIV

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.

Mary was not a PERFECT parent.

Luke 1:38 NIV

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

Mary was WILLING to obey God’s plan on FAITH.

The Road to Christmas

We share in Mary’s calling: to BRING Jesus Christ into THE WORLD around us.

We share in the challenges and GRIEFS of Mary’s calling—and the VICTORY.

God doesn’t require PERFECT qualifications—only FAITHFUL obedience.