Mary: The Servant of the Lord

A Humble Girl God Chose

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Mary was not a queen or a rich lady. She was a young woman in a small town. Yet God chose her for one of the biggest jobs any mother has ever had.

Nazareth. Gabriel was sent “to a city of Galilee named Nazareth” (Luke 1:26). It was a small, ordinary village far from Jerusalem and its temple. Many people thought nothing important could ever happen there.

Engaged to Joseph. Mary was “betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David” (Luke 1:27). Betrothed means promised in marriage.

Not rich. After Jesus was born, Mary and Joseph offered “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons” (Luke 2:24). God's law let poor families bring birds when they could not afford a lamb.

God sees the heart. “For man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). God was not looking for money or fame.

God chooses the weak. “God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty” (1 Corinthians 1:27).

So God gets the glory. God works this way “that no flesh should glory in His presence” (1 Corinthians 1:29). When God uses humble people, everyone can see that the power is His.

Favored by grace. “Rejoice, highly favored one” (Luke 1:28). Favored means God gave her grace. Grace is God's kindness that we do not earn.

Mary's own words. Mary later sang, “For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant” (Luke 1:48). Lowly means small and humble. Mary knew she was not great. She knew God is great.

Mary needed a Savior. She said, “My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior” (Luke 1:47). Mary trusted God to save her, just as we must.

God lifts the lowly. “He has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the lowly” (Luke 1:52). Exalted means lifted up high.

Honored by God. Mary said, “Henceforth all generations will call me blessed” (Luke 1:48). God gave her a special honor, and we thank God for her faith.

The greatest is God. Mary pointed to God, not to herself: “For He who is mighty has done great things for me” (Luke 1:49).

What we learn. God does not need famous or important people. He loves to use humble people who trust Him.

What to do. You do not have to be important for God to use you. Ask God this week to show you one way to serve Him, and then do it gladly.

Gabriel came to a young woman known by three plain facts: her town, her engagement and her name (Luke 1:26-27). Nothing about wealth, rank or achievement. God's choice rested on His grace.

Galilee. Galilee lay far north of Jerusalem, with many Gentiles living nearby. Isaiah had promised light there: “The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light” (Isaiah 9:2). Matthew 4:15-16 applies it to Jesus.

Betrothal. A Jewish betrothal lasted about a year and was legally binding. Only a divorce could end it. A pregnancy before the wedding could bring shame and even end the marriage (Matthew 1:19).

A poor family's offering (Luke 2:24). God's law allowed two birds when a family could not afford a lamb (Leviticus 12:8). Mary and Joseph brought birds. The Son of God grew up in a poor home.

Tapeinosis (Luke 1:48). Lowly state translates tapeinosis (say: tah-pay-NOH-sis), a low position or humble state. Mary did not see herself as great. She saw God as great.

1 Corinthians 1:27-29. God chooses the weak and the lowly “that no flesh should glory in His presence.” Mary's story shows that pattern clearly.

Grace. Highly favored (1:28) and found favor (1:30) both come from the word for grace. Grace is given from above, never earned from below.

My Savior (1:47). Mary calls God “my Savior.” She rejoiced in the salvation God would bring through her Son, the same salvation every person needs (Romans 3:23).

Blessed (1:48). Blessed in Mary's song means deeply happy because of God's favor. People call Mary blessed because of what God did for her.

Honoring Mary rightly. Scripture honors Mary as a faithful servant. Her own words point past herself to God: “For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name” (1:49).

Exalted the lowly (1:52). Mary praised God for turning the world's order upside down. Jesus later taught, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3).

Mercy (1:50). Mary sang, “And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation.” The mercy that reached a young woman in Nazareth reaches every generation, including yours.

Application. God is not impressed by status, and He is not put off by smallness. Humility is not thinking poorly of yourself. It is thinking rightly of God and trusting Him.

Let It Be to Me

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Mary's answer to Gabriel is one of the most beautiful answers in the Bible. She said yes to God before she knew how everything would turn out.

Behold. “Behold the maidservant of the Lord!” (Luke 1:38). Behold means look. Mary was saying, Here I am.

A maidservant. A maidservant is a servant girl. Mary did not ask for a high title. She called herself God's servant.

Let it be. “Let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). Mary wanted what God wanted.

It could cost her. People in Nazareth might not believe her. Joseph might decide not to marry her. Mary trusted God with all of it.

Faith before sight. “But without faith it is impossible to please Him” (Hebrews 11:6). Mary could not see how God would work it out, but she believed He would.

God took care of her. An angel told Joseph the truth in a dream, and Joseph took Mary as his wife (Matthew 1:20-24). God watched over Mary.

Believing God. Elizabeth said, “Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord” (Luke 1:45).

Keeping God's words. When Jesus was a boy, “His mother kept all these things in her heart” (Luke 2:51). Mary treasured what God had said. She thought about it for many years.

Pointing to Jesus. Years later at a wedding, Mary told the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it” (John 2:5). Mary pointed people to Jesus.

Hearing and doing. Jesus said, “More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” (Luke 11:28).

Like Jesus. Jesus Himself said, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me” (John 4:34). Mary's yes is a small picture of Jesus' great yes to the Father. Jesus obeyed His Father all the way to the cross.

Your yes. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5). You can say yes to God the way Mary did.

What we learn. Saying yes to God means trusting His Word, even before we understand everything.

What to do. Read a few verses of the Bible each day this week. Ask God what He wants you to do, and then do it.

Mary's reply in Luke 1:38 joins two things: who she is (a servant) and what she wants (God's word done). It is faith put into words.

Behold. Behold means look. Gabriel used the same word when he announced the Son (1:31), and Mary used it to answer. God said, Look what I will do. Mary said, Look, I am ready.

Doule. Maidservant is doule (say: DOO-lay), a female servant who belongs to her master. Mary used the same word again in her song of praise (1:48).

Let it be. These words are a wish or a prayer: may it happen. Mary did not just put up with God's plan. She welcomed it.

The cost. A betrothed woman found with child could be accused of being unfaithful. Joseph planned to end the betrothal quietly (Matthew 1:19). Mary said yes knowing her good name could be lost.

Two answers. The priest in the temple doubted (1:20), and the young woman in Nazareth believed (1:45). Faith does not depend on rank or religious position.

Kept in her heart (Luke 2:51). “His mother kept all these things in her heart.” Kept means kept carefully, like a treasure. Mary treasured God's words and thought them through for years.

John 2:5. At Cana Mary said, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” Her words are much like Pharaoh's words about Joseph in Genesis 41:55. Mary pointed people away from herself to her Son.

Acts 1:14. After Jesus rose and returned to heaven, Mary was with the disciples in the upper room, praying with them. She is last seen in Scripture as a believer among believers.

Luke 8:21 and 11:28. Jesus said, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.” The blessing of hearing and keeping God's word is open to every believer.

The greater yes. Psalm 40:8, which Hebrews 10:7 applies to Jesus, says, “I delight to do Your will, O my God.” In Gethsemane Jesus prayed for the Father's will, not His own (Luke 22:42). Mary's yes made room for the yes that saved us.

Romans 12:1. Paul calls believers to “present your bodies a living sacrifice.” A life handed over to God is the natural answer to His mercy.

Application. Faith often says yes before it sees the whole road. Think of one thing God's Word asks of you that you have been putting off, and say yes to it today.

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