Mary: Servant “...The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14 NIV) Mary, mother of Jesus, brings to mind several commonly connected words - “blessed, chosen, glorified.” Yet what we don’t often think of is that, in her time, hers was probably one of the hardest lives in the Bible to lead. From the angel appearing to Jesus dying, Mary was assigned a tough role in God’s Kingdom. At a young age, Mary was told she’d be the virgin that would carry the Christ child. “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus.” (Luke 1:31 NKJV) Like most Jewish girls, she knew the Old Testament scriptures and promise of the Messiah. Mary must have known what consequences she might face being a betrothed woman of an esteemed family line claiming to carry the Messiah. A credit to her faith and trust in God even at an early age, she never once brings this up to the angel. We never hear her say anything about it at all; she remains steadfast in fulfilling the prophecies and what she has been chosen to do. The only question she asks is, “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” (Luke 1:34 NIV) And then: “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” (Luke 1:38 NIV) In the original text of the scripture, Mary chooses the term “servant” carefully. The definition of the word in Greek is “doule” and is the feminine version of “doulos”, meaning “slave”, and is usually translated "handmaid" or handmaiden.” In this translation of Mary’s words, she calls herself a servant of the Lord - one that even if allowed to be set free after a certain period of time would continue to be in service for Him. What a woman to have chosen for this sacred role. No argument, no hesitation, no worry about her own (now very uncertain) future. Simply faith and trust for her role in the biggest single event in history. “For no word from God will ever fail.” (Luke 1:37 NIV) May we have such a faith and life devotion as this girl who brought forth the biggest event in the world, all with a few words of commitment.
Posted on: Fri, 02 Aug 2013 10:43:17 +0000
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