Day 32 | Mary

Read Luke 1:26-38

Descended from the royal family line of King David, in the tribe of Judah, Mary was a young Jewish peasant girl from Nazareth in the region of Galilee, in modern-day Israel. During Mary’s time, girls were not always trained in the Holy Scriptures, but as evidenced by her praise of God in her “Magnificat” in Luke 1:47-55, Mary was well versed in the Scriptures and had hidden portions of it in her heart.

The message the angel Gabriel brought must have been a complete shock to young Mary, especially considering she was a virgin, only just engaged to be married to Joseph. Mary’s response, “See, I am the Lord’s servant, may it happen to me as you have said,” is not only a beautiful example of humble submission to God’s will, but it also secures her position as the instrument of God’s earthly presence. As much as Eve’s exercise of free will in Genesis cooperated with the fall of man, Mary’s exercise of free will, here in Luke, cooperated with the redemption of mankind. She made it possible for God to come to earth as a fully human man, experience everything humans experience, and ultimately be crucified, buried, and resurrected to redeem and save the entire human race. She illustrates for us a model of Christian virtue, faith, and obedience.

We may not be asked to be the earthly mother of Jesus Christ; however, we are asked to follow His Word, take up our crosses daily, and make disciples of Christ. Just as Mary likely did not understand everything she was being asked to do or the ramifications of it all, we will not always understand every detail of what God asks of us. Sometimes we may not understand it all, and that is okay. God did not give us the ability to understand everything he does or says. What we can do is follow Mary’s example of knowing and loving God enough to humbly submit our own will to His will. The more time we spend with Him, the easier this becomes.

Pray for 10 minutes