The nativity story fascinates me so much and I’ve been reading and meditating on it for a few weeks.
What is it about Mary, a young teenager engaged to be married but was to incubate the Saviour and see Him safely delivered into the world He would deliver? What a mind-blowing mystery that the mortal and immortal would converge in humble circumstances to create a new destiny for mankind!
Background of ancient Israel in Mary’s time
Israel was under Roman occupation at the time of Mary and the birth of Jesus. The Romans governed them, although they kept autonomy over their faith under Jewish law and religious practice without interference.
Social status
Within their own communities, a hierarchical structure governed the Jews, and a man’s status depended on his economic condition, occupation, and religious affiliation.
Society eventually pushed shepherds, once held in high regard, to the margins, viewing them as lowly. Agriculture supported most people and was once elevated, had since been relegated to a lower class. carpentry, despite its superiority to shepherding, was also considered by the elite to be a lower-class occupation, thought it required more skill and was higher paid.
The wealthy class were lands owners, priests and tax collectors. The priests were unpopular, seen as corrupt, and frequently formed alliances with the Romans. People despised tax collectors because they overcharged.
Society marginalised the poor and treated them unfairly.
So, who was Mary?
The Bible does not give us an indication of her age. But from the social norms of that time, young women tended to marry between the ages of 14 and late teens.
Mary was still engaged to Joseph and she would have been a teenager on the verge of starting her life and nuclear family with her husband.
But that dream was about to be shaken and replaced with a dream a lot bigger than she had previously imagined!
Divine visitation
While Mary was minding her own business and going about her day, a divine being visited her.
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. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you.”
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favour 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 1:26-33, (NIV)
It wasn’t common in that period of Israel’s history for people to be visited by an angel, as it sometimes happened in the old Testament. In the time of Mary’s visitation, the Romans occupied Israel, and though they were in their own territory, they were far away from God in their hearts and not at all prepared for this visitation. Luke 19:41-44 (NLT)
Mary’s selfless Yes to God
Most young girls during courtship would have been excited about getting married to their betrothed.
Though perhaps in those days, families forged alliances with those of the same clan through arranged marriages to strengthen their dynasty.
This will mean that teenage girls married to fulfil a duty to their families and communities at large rather than their own personal desires.
Which ever way the pendulum swings, a teenage girl in a betrothal period, which usually lasted a year, would be eager to preserve her virginity for her wedding night in honour to her husband and her family name.
Two destines
Here was Mary, standing on the brink of two destinies and had to make a choice on the spot whether she would seek her own personal desire to prove her virtual worth to her husband or say yes to God’s divine plan to conceive and give birth to His Son and risk the end of her marriage before it had begun. That was a tall order for Mary.
An unshakable conviction
It would have taken a strong conviction that came out of experiencing a divine encounter with an angelic being who stands in the presence of the Almighty God, and being filled with the aroma of God, to not walk away from this mystery.
This can be a very transformative experience for anyone.
For Mary, it was a conviction that was unshakable and solid enough to make her stand strong in her decision to say yes to God at the risk of being rejected by her husband, which might negatively impact her ability to marry again.
Why did Mary have a strong conviction?
Mary was a woman that was deeply devoted to God. Although the Bible doesn’t explicitly state this, we can create a profile of her based on her words in the Bible. Let’s look at some qualities of her character.
Humility
When the angel told her she will conceive and give birth to a son, whom she should call Jesus, the questioned she asked was
“But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”
Luke 1:34, (NLT).
Had she focused on herself, she would have asked, “But what about my fiancé?” What do I tell him and his family?
To the angel’s response, she replied, “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.”
Luke 1:38. (NIV)
Wise steward
Mary carefully guarded the word given to her. Some people might have bragged to relatives and friends about the visitation from this angel who stands before God, and their high favour in God’s eyes. Instead, Mary visited Elizabeth, her relative, to confirm that part of the prophecy.
Co-laboured with God
Her maternal instinct was to co-labour with God to see this word fulfilled. She did this by avoiding environments where raised eyebrows and gossip from people who might not understand what was going on could negatively impact her and her child’s wellbeing.
She understood that the first three months of pregnancy are crucial to the development of her child and so she went on a retreat to Elizabeth, her relative’s house.
Mental resilience
Mary’s stay with Elizabeth during the first three months was essential for her to process the mystery revealed to both of them.
They both had visitations from the same angel. It was their first pregnancies and their sons had parallel purposes. They needed each other for strength and encouragement.
The weight of glory Mary was carrying was far too much for her, as a teenager, to process alone.
Mary’s Song of praise
This is the song Mary sang after she had visited Elizabeth and Elizabeth’s baby had leaped in her womb at Mary’s arrival. Mary’s song known as the magnificat reveals that this young teenager was eagerly awaiting the fulfilment of the promise of God for the salvation of Israel, promised to their forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
The song starts with Mary magnifying God that He by passed the King’s palace and sought a person despised by the affluent because of their economic status.
She counted it a tremendous privilege to be chosen by God for this mission, which she knew would be bitter sweet.
Knowledge of God’s word
She knew God regards the humble and views the proud from afar.
Though the Lord is on high, Yet He regards the lowly; But the proud He knows from afar.
Psalm 138:6, (NKJV), so she would not feel inadequate for the task.
She knows God as God who provides for His people who continue in covenant relationship with Him, keeping the promise He made to their forefathers.
Therefore, know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments;
Deuteronomy 7:9, (NKJV).
Faith in Jesus before He manifested His glory
During the Wedding at Cana, they had run out of wine. Mary believed Jesus was the answer to the dilemma. She simply said to the servant,
“Whatever He says to you, do it.”
John 2:5, (NKJV)
Jesus hadn’t yet performed a single miracle, as it wasn’t yet His time for ministry, but he honoured His mother.
Mary had other children and was still noted around Jesus during His childhood, ministry, and during his suffering and death on the cross. Mary witnessed it all.
So, what can we learn about Mary?
We can learn about the faith of a young teenager just starting out her life, who found out under mysterious circumstances that she had a destiny much greater than what she could ever have dreamed or imagined!
She was to be the channel by which God incarnate would enter the world to redeem mankind.
She found herself in a pivotal moment in history that needed the cooperation of a human being. Mary assessed the situation and went with what the angel said without hesitation.
Sometimes, destiny can come knocking at your door at a time that may seem both inconvenient and intrusive.
But it may be inviting you to take part in a period in history that brings transformation to multitudes in a way that transcends your goals and dreams, and you get to play a part in it!
Joanne Sojinu, author, A Mother’s Prayers, Week By Week Devotional For Your Unborn Child
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