Mother Mary

The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

(Luke 1:30-33 NIV)

Imagine Mary’s joy when, as an expectant, new mother, she’s told that her firstborn would be 1) a Son – a big deal in almost every culture since the son carries the family name and 2) that her Son would be great. In fact, He would be given a title – Son of the Most High – because He would be King! Just imagine! What woman wouldn’t be excited to give birth to royalty and not just any royalty, but to an heir to the throne, reigning over a never ending kingdom?! 

As thrilled as I’m sure Mary was to give birth to the Saviour of the world, she was also first and foremost, a mother. And as such, she witnessed many joys as well as sorrows, as she watched her beloved Son grow into a man, establish a successful ministry and…eventually die. Not a natural death, but a predetermined one through which this King would establish His everlasting kingdom with redeemed sons and daughters of God. And she knew it all along, maybe not in detail, but she was prepared from the beginning. When Mary and Joseph went to the Temple to present the Child Jesus, “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” (Luke 2:34-35). 

And as I think about Mary, I’m reminded of every mother who has had to walk down a similar path, with hopeful expectations of what her newborn son or daughter would become only to discover down the road that things would take a different turn. But like Mary, who found favour with God, every mother like her has been empowered to live up to God’s calling on her life. So do not be afraid. The Lord will see you through and your children will be mighty sons and daughters of God!