Imagine confronting a supernatural being and being told that something which is an impossibility will be happening to you. What will be your first reaction? For many of us, we will be awed by the presence of this supernatural being. Some will scream in fear and some will probably faint from fear. I am not sure how angelic beings presented themselves to people in the New Testament period. Most times creators of children's Bible stories present a shiny figure with wings. Irrespective of how they presented themselves, their presence alone made the people startled. Young Mary was betrothed to Joseph and this betrothal was considered as binding the couple together. Thus, breaking the betrothal was considered a divorce. Mary and Joseph might have been looking forward to their wedding day. They probably had plans for the ceremony and their lives after the ceremony.
The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you.” (Luke 1:28)
God had a bigger task for Mary. This task was so huge that Mary's life was going to be changed forever. Elizabeth and Zachariah had received their miracle pregnancy. In the timing of God, Elizabeth's son was to be born first and be the voice that will prepare the way for Mary's son. Therefore in the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to Mary, a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you.” (Luke 1:26-28). This was no ordinary greeting. Mary was living in the small town of Galilee but she had been favoured by heaven for a task that will transform the world forever.
The young Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be (Luke 1:29). The NLT version of Luke 1:29 states Mary was "confused and disturbed" about the meaning of this greeting. As a young virgin, she least expected what the favour could lead to. Many of us in the same age as Mary would be looking forward to the angel telling us how God has lifted us from our lowly estate to give us the princess lifestyle we craved as teenagers. Heaven had found Mary worthy and has favoured her for the world's most singular honour shown to a woman. The angel seeing the confused and disturbed Mary said to her:
“Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favour with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” (Luke 1:30-33).
In the 21st century, hearing this might sound so "cool" but not in Mary's day. Getting pregnant for another person while betrothed to another is considered adultery and Mary could be stoned for that. Again, Mary could be rejected and divorced by Joseph. Society might ostracize her and even her own family can reject her for the shame. Who will even believe in that age that Mary the virgin is pregnant for God? Although the Jewish people knew Isaiah's prophecy (Isaiah 7:14), till date, the Jews have their own idea of God's Messiah. Heaven has favoured Mary but the "elephant task" of birthing the "Son of the Most High" was going to be a blessing or a setback depending on how it is received by those around Mary.
Mary's favour did not propel her to the Palace like Esther. Her own assignment was the way to the cross. God's favour can lead you to the desert to be prepared as the warrior, the one to stand up for your family and nation. You might be favoured but you will still have to climb the steep steps of life to deliver those entrusted to you. Your response is necessary, your preparation is necessary and understanding the nature of your "favour" is necessary to know the right tools to use.
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