“Of all the extraordinary women inScripture, one stands out above all others as the most blessed, most highly favored by Gd and most universally admired by women.” ~John MacArthur

And the virgin’s name was Mary.  And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” ~Luke 1:27-28

To be the one chosen. To be the one to give birth to the long-awaited, highly anticipated Savior of the World. Is this the desire of every female heart, to participate in this glorious birthing of spiritual, eternal life?

John MacArthur shows us that the anticipation of “WHO would be the mother of the coming Messiah” was something that permeated the hearts of faithful women in the Old Testament.

I’d never thought of that specific ‘anticipation’ as being a part of the longing for sons in the hearts of women.

Of course someone in history would become the mother of the babe promised back in the beginning. The promise woven into the curse.

Even in pronouncing a curse, in His cursing of the serpent, before addressing Eve and then Adam, we find God displaying His lavish mercy to humanity with the promise of a man who would crush the serpent’s head. One would be born of a woman to destroy the dominance of the evil one.  Bruise. His. Head. Amen. (Genesis 3:15; Colossians 2:15)

The God of Mercy and Hope, Who always goes before us. The God of restoration makes a way for deliverance before ever a curse is pronounced.

And those who cling to the hope of His mercy, keep their faces set toward Him. So it makes sense that the longing to be a mother would include the question, “Might it be through me that Messiah comes?”

And I think ever since Mary birthed the Messiah, the hunger within the soul of the woman of faith is to bear spiritual children. Yes, we too, who have turned from our own way upon seeing the glory of our redemption through seeing Jesus, we have answered the call, “Come follow me.” We who have surrendered our lives to His Lordship, we too desire deep within to have eternal significance, to bear fruit for the Kingdom of God. 1 Timothy 2:15

And similar to Mary, the earthly mother of Jesus, we are chosen by God, blessed and favored women, because we carry the Messiah in our hearts (John 15:5), and His word spills out through our lives, through our lips. Luke 6:45 NLT

The message of the gospel that has power to redeem and deliver from the curse. Romans 1:16 We carry that message (carry HIM) in our souls like a mother carries a baby in her womb. We attend to Him, we live our lives around Him. We make decisions based on how best to nurture Him and His life-giving message.

{What about Mary?}

She was from a lowly town. Nazareth was a forlorn community in a poor district of Galilee. Before Mary was visited by the angel Gabriel, she was likely unnoticed. Common. And she may have experienced a life of bitter hardship.

It is said that women were betrothed during that time in history as young as 13 years old. It is guessed that Mary was between 14 and 16 years old when she met the angel that day. She was already betrothed to Joseph.

And her ‘in the moment decision’ to believe and receive the blessing from God to carry Jesus put her entire life in the hands of God. Her reputation, her future with Joseph, her livelihood. All of herself and her future, entrusted to the Loving Hand of God in a moment of “Yes” . . . “Let it be unto me as you have said.” Luke 1:38

“Her betrothal to Joseph was a legal engagement known as kiddushin, which in that culture typically lasted a full year. Kiddushin was a legally as binding as marriage itself. . . . One of the main points of kiddushin was to demonstrate the fidelity of both partners.” ~John MacArthur

We see God’s hand in all things concerning Mary, as he sends an angel to Joseph also, to assure him that God is in this, that Mary has not been unfaithful, and that he is to be the father of Jesus. So Joseph, who had it in mind to divorce her quietly, instead remained and they went on to marry and have other children after Jesus was born. Matthew 12:46

God connects Mary to her cousin Elizabeth who is pregnant with the last Old Testament prophet, John the Baptist who is already filled with the Spirit of God and leaps in Elizabeth’s womb at the presence of Mary and Jesus, and this wonderful prophetic poem is spoken over Mary by Elizabeth that no doubt firmed up Mary’s soul on the days that she might think, “Is this all really real??” 

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” ~Luke 1:41-45

And then the faith in Mary’s heart spills from her lips in her famous song of praise to God:

“My soul glorifies the Lord
     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has been mindful
    of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
     for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
    holy is his name.
His mercy extends to those who fear him,
    from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
    he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones
    but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things
    but has sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
    remembering to be merciful
to Abraham and his descendants forever,
    just as he promised our ancestors.” ~Luke 1:47-55

Many things stand out in my study of Mary, but I’m left with these highlights: The beauty of her humility, her trust in God, her “yes” to God, and then how clearly and carefully God provides everything she needed to carry out the mission He gave her.

I also believe that our life on earth as the betrothed Bride of Christ is as kiddushin. Because I know my faithfulness is being tested on a regular basis. And His faithfulness is being proven. And we look forward to the Wedding Supper of the Lamb. Revelation 19:9

For those of us who desire to have fruitful lives with eternal rewards, this is blessed encouragement indeed.

Linking up at The Loft today