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Mary, the Courageous Mother of Jesus

A well-known song, “Mary, Did You Know?” asks how much Mary knew about her baby boy. When the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, he told her she would give birth to the Son of God, the long-awaited Messiah. He also shared how her child would reign on the throne of David and His descendants forever and that His kingdom would never end. Mary listened, posed intelligent questions, and understood with eyes of faith. Then she actively yields: “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary said to Gabriel. “May your word to me be fulfilled” (Luke 1:38).

This was not just a young girl passively submitting to God’s plan. Mary was a girl of deep faith who expressed a bold resolve to face whatever danger may come. She certainly understood the potential consequences. In her culture, being an unwed mother carried a lifetime of shame and social stigma. According to Jewish law back then, a woman who had committed adultery could even be stoned.

So, after Gabriel left, Mary likely did not share the news with anyone — not even Joseph. Instead, she immediately went to see her older cousin, Elizabeth, who the angel had told her was also with child. Mary carried the hidden gift inside her as she made the long journey from Nazareth to the hill country of Judea, where Elizabeth lived.

What bursts forth from Elizabeth and Mary’s lips when they meet is nothing short of one of the most moving dialogues in all of Scripture! They both hold miraculous new life within them: Elizabeth, who was past her child-bearing years, would be the mother of John the Baptist, the prophet who would prepare the way for Jesus. And Mary, the young virgin, would be the mother of the promised Messiah. These two unlikely women become the main characters in the story of God’s redemption.

Filled with the Holy Spirit, they prophesy and proclaim the radical good news to one another. As soon as Elizabeth hears Mary’s greeting, she feels the baby inside her womb leap for joy! Before Mary could utter a word, Elizabeth blessed her and the child she would bear. “In a loud voice she exclaims: ‘But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?... Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!’” (Luke 1:43, 45).

Then Mary sings a revolutionary song, further revealing her understanding of God’s grand vision (Luke 1:46-56). This song, known as the Magnificat, is profound, especially in the face of what she is about to do. Mary points to how God will topple rulers from their throne and how there will be an end to the exploitation of the poor. She proclaims the promises of God’s justice and mercy extending to Abraham and his descendants forever. Mary knows the child she will bear will change her life, and he will fulfill God’s redemptive purposes, bringing salvation and justice and changing the course of history forever.

Prayer: Dear God, we thank you for the example of Mary’s courageous “yes.” Please help us to say “yes” to you and your plan, even when it is not what we expect. Help us to persevere even when it is challenging to follow you. We praise you for how you bring redemption into our lives and the world. In Jesus’ name, Amen.