"Did Mary Know?"

“Did Mary Know?”

 

…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 favored!  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 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 1:26-32

 

Mary, a young lady, possibly a teenager, was betrothed or promised to a man named Joseph, who was from the lineage of King David.  It was NOT unusual for teenage girls to marry at such a young age, at that time and in that culture.  A betrothal was MORE than an engagement, it was more like a marriage, with the exception  of the two people living a part and the marriage was NOT consummated, until AFTER the WEDDING took place.  To break off the engagement, was like getting a divorce, it was a very serious action to take.  So it was with Mary and Joseph.  Thus, Mary was a virgin, pure and untouched by a human being. 

 

Did Mary KNOW that she was FAVORED or GRACED by God for such a monumental and earth-shattering event?  I don’t believe she did know.  Verse 29, says that Mary was GREATLY TROUBLED at the angel’s words and WONDERED what they meant.   The angel, Gabriel, could see the fear in Mary, and told her to NOT BE AFRAID; because she had found FAVOR with God.  Even though she was a godly woman, it was not necessarily her character that brought God’s FAVOR, but God’s GRACE.  Mary was HIGHLY FAVORED AMONG women, not ABOVE them.  It was God’s choice.

 

Did Mary KNOW that she was CHOSEN by God to give birth to His Only Begotten Son, by a MIRACULOUS BIRTH?  The angel told her that the Holy Spirit would come on her, and the POWER of the Most High would overshadow her, and she would conceive and give birth to a Son, and was to name Him Jesus.  He would be brought into the world WITHOUT a SINFUL nature, unlike mankind, who is born with a SINFUL NATURE. 

 

Did Mary KNOW that this Child she would give birth to, would be GREAT, and would be KING of kings, and LORD of lords, that He would ONE DAY take the throne of David, and rule Israel and the world , that His Kingdom would be forever, without end?  If she KNEW, the angel would NOT have to tell her. Did Mary KNOW the SACRIFICE, her tiny Baby Boy would have to make, GIVING His life for ALL the SINS of ALL mankind, to die a HORRIBLE, SHAMEFUL DEATH, to SHED His OWN BLOOD to SAVE MANKIND from their sins?  I think NOT, not until the angel told her to name Him JESUS, for He will save His people from their SINS, and still I doubt that she knew how He would do it, but just that He would be not only their SAVIOR, but hers too.

 

What was Mary’s response to Gabriel?   Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant, may your word to me be FULFILLED.”  Mary was a WILLING SERVANT, are you willing to SERVE GOD even when you don’t KNOW what He will want you to do?”  Do you trust Him?

 

He GAVE His LIFE for you, are you LIVING for Him?   If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to Him, then you have NOT received Him and you are headed for Hell for ALL of ETERNITY, with NO WAY of ESCAPE, and you will suffer ALL the HORRORS of that UNGODLY PLACE, unless you TURN AWAY  FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO God, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, CONFESSING your sins to Him, and asking Him for His FORGIVENESS, BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE, in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God, then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and become a WILLING SERVANT, with an ETERNITY in HEAVEN.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!