Did You Know?
A very popular song at Christmas time is “Mary, Did You Know?” In a recent study I did of the people who were present at the birth of Jesus, I came across some interesting facts about Mary, the Mother of Jesus and I wonder, Did YOU Know?
- Mary was just a simple, Jewish girl.
- Mary was a mere teen when the angel appeared to her.
- Mary was faithful to God.
- God had great things in store for Mary.
Mary was probably called a lot of names in her young life, but never had Mary ever heard anyone call her “Blessed” or “Favored one”. But yet when the angel appeared to Mary that is exactly what the angel called her…
“Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women.” – Luke 1:28
In the coming days and months, Mary, who was engaged to be married to Joseph would encounter many things and many people that might leave her feeling something other than blessed. Imagine with me the turmoil that she must have encountered as she not only had to tell Joseph that she was carrying a child that was not his but the scorn and wrath that those around her in her community must have given her.
She may have wondered how this could be a blessing?
Mary’s problems did not end there. Circumstances forced Mary to take a long journey in her ninth month of pregnancy with her husband, Joseph. The road was long, and all she had was a donkey to ride upon. When it came time for her baby to be born during their travels, there was no where to be found for her to deliver. They were running out of time, so they finally settled down in a filthy stable with only a feeding trough to lay her newborn son in.
How could this be a blessing?
As if giving birth among straw and animals wasn’t enough, Joseph and Mary had to sneak their baby away during the dark hours of the night to keep Him safe. They were forced to flee to another country just to save Jesus’ life because there were people, important people among them, that were not very pleased that a new King was in town.
How could this be the life of a blessed woman?
Even though the circumstances may have seemed peculiar, Mary knew that God was faithful and she trusted Him for His plan. You see, Mary (or you or I) probably would have picked a different path to bring the Savior of the world into the world but God had a perfect plan and His plan was such a simple one that for many years to come, simple people (like you and I) would be able to understand it. Years later, Mary sat at the foot of a Cross and watched her Son, the Savior of the World, be beaten and crucified.
Surely, this could not be a blessing for a Mother to endure.
Through it all, Mary was favored and blessed among women. You see, she was chosen by God to bring the Savior into the world. Even though at times, Mary may not have felt blessed, she was. Her blessing was not because of who she was or what she did, her blessing was because of Who Jesus was and for what He did. Mary’s blessing came with suffering, not from her own suffering but from the suffering of Jesus.
Through it all, Mary was indeed blessed. The angel who appeared to Mary said to her, “The Lord is with you” and the same message is a Christmas message for all of us to remember…
Did you know that you are blessed? Mary did.
BLESSINGS. Laurie
*for more of my devotions, find my womentakingastand devotion page on facebook.
“Even though at times, Mary may not have felt blessed, she was. Her blessing was not because of who she was or what she did, her blessing was because of Who Jesus was and for what He did. ”
Words to meditate on. Thanks for sharing.
What great words to ponder on.
Yes, sometimes our journey feels not blessed at all. However God can uses our messes for His glory to bless others.