Blessed Among Women

Luke 1:26–38 NKJV

Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And 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.” Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” And the angel answered and said to her, “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. Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.” Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

What the Passage Teaches Us About Mary

What she was

She was a “nobody”

Poor--as the birth narrative, especially the sacrifice she makes (Luke 2:24, c.f. Lev 12:8)

She possessed qualities worth imitating

She was calm

She was thoughtful

She was full of obedient faith

Compared with Zachariah

Contrasted with Zachariah

She was highly blessed by God (Luke 1:28)

She was submissive to the revealed Word of God (Luke 1:38)

Her response to he impossible

The response of others

She was willing to pay the price of obedience

What she is not

A word of explanation

Mary was not a repository of meritorious grace, rather she was a recipient of sovereign grace (Luk 1:28)

Mary was not endowed with heavenly authority, rather she was one with heaven-sent humility

What the Passage Teaches Us About Ourselves

Negatively

We should not think more highly of Mary than she deserves

We should not think less of Mary than she deserves

Positively (Luk 1:37)

We can trust God

We should follow Mary’s example