Who Was Mary? The Virtues of a Faithful Servant

What would you say if an angel told you to do something completely crazy?

Probably not, “I’m God’s servant, do what you have said.”

But that’s what Mary, the mother of Jesus, said (Luke 1:38).

Mary is first introduced in the New Testament in Matthew 1:18. The following verses give a peek into her life. She was the typical Jewish girl, engaged to a man named Joseph.

But God used her for extraordinary things—including becoming the mother of His Only Son, the Messiah promised to the generations (Genesis 3:15, Isaiah 9:6).

Do you know anyone with the same faith, courage, and hope in God? Do they have the willingness to carry out God’s plan in whatever counter-cultural way He pleases?

Do you have that willingness?

Mary did. And it changed everything.

Believer

When the angel Gabriel announces Christ’s miraculous birth to Mary, she doesn’t laugh like Sarah did in the Old Testament (Genesis 18:12–14). Instead, Mary announces to Gabriel that she is the Lord’s servant and He may do as He pleases. Mary doesn’t request that the angel return when she and Joseph are fully married. She doesn’t ask Gabriel to wait outside while she thinks, questions, and calls up her best friend to help her decide whether or not she’ll say yes.

Instead, she immediately gives her answer.

With one sentence, she seals her entire future. She gives the question her immediate attention. She consents to be a mother—a lifelong role and an act that could make her lose her fiancé—and chooses to raise a man she might later call Messiah.

If God called you to something that extraordinary, would your answer be yes, despite the possible consequences?

Favored and Faithful

Luke 1:30 says that Mary found favor in God’s eyes. Because of this, she would become the mother of God’s Son.

Imagine that—because Mary had been faithful in everyday life, God gave her an important assignment (Luke 1:48).

What if you were that faithful in everyday things? You can’t even imagine the great things God might do through you. He is working all things together for your good.

Teachable

Mary and Joseph accidentally left Jesus behind in Jerusalem. When they found Him, He said something they didn’t understand (Luke 2:49–50). They certainly weren’t perfect! But Mary kept in mind what Jesus had said.

Considerate

At the wedding in Cana, the hosts ran out of wine (John 2:1–10). Running out of wine likely would have resulted in a major embarrassment. So, Mary goes to the only one who can fix things: Jesus. He hasn’t performed any miracles yet, so it seems strange that she would go to Him.

But she does. And Jesus delivers, performing a miracle in which He turns plain water into the best wine.

Mary wasn’t afraid of the consequences the world would deliver her when she allowed God to use her. She was His servant. And her only priority was giving Him everything she had.