Mary's Story
What would you do if an angel came to visit you? What would you say if an angel announced you were selected by God for one of the most important jobs in the world? Mary, the mother of Jesus, was able to answer these questions many years ago.
Mary was a young Jewish girl living in Nazareth, a town in Galilee. God sent the angel, Gabriel to visit Mary. He proclaimed Mary had found favor with God, (Luke 1:30). She would become the mother of Jesus who would be called the Son of God.
Read the words from Mary’s prayer to consider her response to God’s purpose for her life.
Luke 1:46-55
My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed: for He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generations. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts: he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped his servant Isreal, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.
At the time of Mary’s visit from Gabriel, she was pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendent of David. Joseph was a righteous man, (Matthew 1:49). After hearing Mary was going to have a baby, he did not want to hurt or harm her by making a public example of her, but instead decided to end their engagement quietly. God’s perfect plan unfolded as he sent another angel to visit Joseph in a dream telling him to take Mary as his wife. Joseph obeyed God and he and Mary were married.
Jesus was born in Bethlehem. On the night of his birth, the angels proclaimed to shepherds in the field, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men,” (Luke 2:14). The shepherds hurried to find the baby lying in a manger. As the shepherds rejoiced and spread the good news about Jesus, “Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart,” (Luke 2:19).
What would you do if an angel came to visit you? What would you say if an angel announced you were selected by God for one of the most important jobs in the world? Mary, the mother of Jesus, was able to answer these questions many years ago.
Mary was a young Jewish girl living in Nazareth, a town in Galilee. God sent the angel, Gabriel to visit Mary. He proclaimed Mary had found favor with God, (Luke 1:30). She would become the mother of Jesus who would be called the Son of God.
Read the words from Mary’s prayer to consider her response to God’s purpose for her life.
Luke 1:46-55
My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed: for He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generations. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts: he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped his servant Isreal, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.
At the time of Mary’s visit from Gabriel, she was pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendent of David. Joseph was a righteous man, (Matthew 1:49). After hearing Mary was going to have a baby, he did not want to hurt or harm her by making a public example of her, but instead decided to end their engagement quietly. God’s perfect plan unfolded as he sent another angel to visit Joseph in a dream telling him to take Mary as his wife. Joseph obeyed God and he and Mary were married.
Jesus was born in Bethlehem. On the night of his birth, the angels proclaimed to shepherds in the field, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men,” (Luke 2:14). The shepherds hurried to find the baby lying in a manger. As the shepherds rejoiced and spread the good news about Jesus, “Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart,” (Luke 2:19).
His Story
Isn’t it amazing how God used a young girl to fulfill his promise? Mary was not qualified and had no experience to prepare her for the role of Jesus’s mother. In Mary, God used the most unlikely candidate to fulfill His purpose just as he continues to do today.
Your Story
Talk about a time when you have asked God, “Why me?” Did you feel unprepared or unable to do something important?
What are some examples in your life of how God has shown you that with Him, nothing is impossible?
Why does Mary feel blessed (Luke 1:48) as the mother of Jesus?
Isn’t it amazing how God used a young girl to fulfill his promise? Mary was not qualified and had no experience to prepare her for the role of Jesus’s mother. In Mary, God used the most unlikely candidate to fulfill His purpose just as he continues to do today.
Your Story
Talk about a time when you have asked God, “Why me?” Did you feel unprepared or unable to do something important?
What are some examples in your life of how God has shown you that with Him, nothing is impossible?
Why does Mary feel blessed (Luke 1:48) as the mother of Jesus?
