Luke 1:3
KJV: And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God.
NCV: The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary; God has shown you his grace.”
Story of Mary from Luke 1:26-56; 2:1-7
Mary was a teenager when she was engaged to marry a man named Joseph. An angel came to greet her and Mary was troubled when she heard the angel said, “Hail, thou art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.” The angel knew Mary was troubled or startled by the way angel greet her. Startled means frighten suddenly or taken by surprise. The angel tried to calm her by saying, “FEAR NOT, MARY; FOR THOU HAS FOUND FAVOR WITH GOD.” The angel went on to explain that she was to have a child and to name him, Jesus. Mary was confused until the angel explained that it is through the work of the Holy Spirit that would overshadow her and the holy thing shall be born of her and be called the Son of God. She accepted whatever God had planned for her. Mary learned that Elisabeth conceived a son in sixth month. Mary went to visit her and stayed three months. When they greeted each other Elizabeth and Mary were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke wonderful things of God. Mary stayed with Elisabeth for three months and then she came home.
Luke 1:47 God My Saviour.
There were many young women and God had chosen Mary to be the one to carry His Son, Jesus. Mary was favored above all women, but God did not intend for people to worship Mary. Mary was humble and her godly life had pleased God so He chose her for this most important task (work) to raise His Son, Jesus. Mary said, “My spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.” In these words Mary recognizes her own need of salvation. She was a sinner who needed Christ as “Saviour.” The note said, ‘The idea that Mary was immaculately conceived and lived without sin is taught nowhere in Scripture’ (Roman 3:9, 23 ‘All are guilty before God’).
‘God has shown you His grace’. Let us be reminded what grace really means. Grace means undeserved and unmerited favor and love from God. It means Mary cannot earn her salvation by doing well and she was not free from sin because she came from descendants of Adam and Eve. The reason God had chosen Mary was because Mary knew that God was her Savior and she was humble and fully aware of her needs of salvation. She accepted Christ as her personal Savior.
Have you prayed for someone who needs to realize the need to accept Christ as their personal Savior? Even Mary accepted Christ. This should make us realize how important that we all cannot earn our salvation by doing good work. We all need to realize that we are a sinner and we need to ask Jesus to come into our heart. We need to ask for the blood of Jesus to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We are covered with Christ’s robe of righteousness. It is through His righteousness that made Mary righteous so worship only Christ who died for us and rose again. May God bless you.
