Mary, the mother of Jesus is rarely brought up in conversation outside of the month of December when we gather to celebrate the birth of Jesus, but we can learn a lot about the courage of a woman called to be a mother at such an early age.? We must look at Mary?s ability to raise the Son of God and her strength to watch the child she bore, die on a cross.
It has been speculated that Mary was only between the age of twelve and fourteen years old when the Angel of God came to her and told her that she would be carrying the Messiah of the world.? We would consider her to be a pre-teen at this age, but in biblical times, this was the age that most women were engaged to be married.? It was strange for a woman older then fourteen to be unspoken for.? Mary was engaged to a man named Joseph. ?They had not had any relations and yet Mary was pregnant.
Can you imagine how scary it would be for her to have to tell Joseph she was pregnant?? She must have been fearful that she would lose Joseph and it was so taboo for a woman to be pregnant and unmarried in those days.? Can you imagine how she felt knowing that she would be showing soon and would have to give an explanation to her family, friends, neighbors and even Joseph?s family?? She knew that her explanation would not go over well.? Mary knew that majority of the people she told that she was carrying the Messiah, would not believe her.? This struck me because God called her to this mission, but it would not be carried out without tribulation.? To be called is not to go without sacrifice.? You would think that a woman that agrees to carry the Savior of the World would get superstar treatment, but she traveled on a donkey in her third trimester of pregnancy and went into labor in a stable.? Accepting the call of God on your life does not look pretty.? While it may not be a trip down easy street it comes with honor and the warmth of knowing you have given God your all.? You just have to trust the word of the Lord concerning your life.? Mary?s faith in God superseded her fear and allowed her to carry the Savior of the World within her womb.
When the Angel of the Lord presented her with this request, Mary?s response was, ?Behold!, the slave-maid of the Lord may it be to me according to your word.? Luke 1:38b.? She considered herself a slave of the Lord; not the kind that has no choice but a servant that willingly gives her life for her master.? She was humble and willing to endure all things for the Lord.? Mary visited her cousin, Elizabeth, for the first three months of her pregnancy but when those months were over, she traveled back home and confronted her family.? By this time, news had spread and everyone knew that Mary was pregnant.? She endured a great deal of ridicule.
She was a woman of self-control.? When she and Joseph were married, they could not consummate the marriage because if they had there would be skepticism that Mary was actually carrying the Son of God. ??She was a woman of understanding, as she gave her son to the people at the age of twelve to do His Father?s work.? She was a woman on strength as she watched her son die for people that crucified him.? Mary teaches us how to be women of faith and to put aside our comfort, allowing our bodies to be vessels for the Lord.
Source: http://westangeleschurch.org/mary-a-great-woman-of-faith/
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