Daily Devotions
Luke
Luke 1:26-38 "WHAT WAS MARY LIKE?"
Day 17 – Luke 1
Text: Luke 1:26-38
WHAT WAS MARY LIKE?
As we read about how Zacharias and Elizabeth lived out their faith, we can well understand why they were specially chosen to be parents of John the Baptizer. They were very suitable parents, for they were both righteous and blameless. They would be able to guide John as he grew up.
As we study the text where the angel Gabriel announced the birth of Baby Jesus to Mary, we cannot help but wonder what she was like that she should be given this high honour of being selected to be the mother of the Messiah. Let us take time to study the Word of the Lord carefully and we will observe that God had chosen well.
“SHE WAS TROUBLED AT HIS SAYING…” Luke 1:29
Was Mary fearful when Gabriel made his presence known to her? Perhaps a little, for the angel Gabriel also said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God” (Luke 1:30).
What catches our attention is this statement, that “she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was” (Luke 1:29). This verse speaks well of Mary.
The greeting from the angel Gabriel must have appeared to Mary as very high and lofty words. How could those words be applied to her? In her opinion, she must have thought herself as an unworthy person. She saw herself as a mere “maidservant of the Lord” (Luke 1:38).
We are not speaking of low self-esteem. She was just a very genuinely humble person who found it hard to reconcile how these lofty words of greetings could have been given to her! Thus she “was troubled at his saying”.
We are introduced to a person with a very humble spirit in Mary. We are also impressed with the fact that Mary was no shallow, superficial person. The words of the angel Gabriel were carefully considered. The text reveals to us that we have a very clear and logically minded person.
She did not just accept the greeting from Gabriel as if she deserved those lofty words. She was trying to reason within her heart what those words meant! She just could not apply those words to herself.
A WONDERFULLY COMFORTING WORD OF EXPLANATION
It is wonderful to know that God understands what we struggle with, deep down in our hearts. The angel Gabriel understood how Mary must have felt. His words without explanation would leave anyone guessing as to the significance of that special greeting.
“Do not be afraid, Mary…” (Luke 1:30). How wonderfully comforting it must have been to Mary, that God’s angel knew her by name, and addressed her tenderly. There was surely no need to fear, if God’s mighty angelic messenger would address her so kindly! To be known by God… by her first name! What a precious thought!
“You have found favour with God…” (Luke 1:30). Tenderness upon tenderness! Words of love and comfort indeed! To have found favour with God! What an overwhelming thought that must have been to Mary!
“GOD OF ALL COMFORT”
The Scriptures describe the Lord as the “God of all comfort” (2 Cor. 1:3). This was the way the Apostle Paul regarded God. He found God to be so real and precious, he turned to Him again and again, and proved for himself that He was indeed a God who could comfort him.
The prophet Isaiah also proclaimed a special message of comfort to hurting Israel.
“Comfort, yes, comfort my people, says your God
Speak comfort to Jerusalem… ” (Isa. 40:1)
How do you relate to God? Do you have a close relationship with God? Can you think of Him as your God of comfort? When you read the Scriptures, do you find that God speaks to you in comforting tones?
As you read this tender passage that records the conversation between the angel Gabriel and Mary, may your heart be deeply touched by God’s tenderness and love.