We have in Luke 2:26 an account given of the mother of our Lord, of whom He was to be born. Her name was Mary, the same name as Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron. Her name signifies being exalted, and a great elevation it was to her indeed to be favored above all the daughters of the house of David.
Who was the Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus?
She was a daughter of the royal family, descended from David, and she herself and all her friends knew it, even though she was poor and low in the world. She was enabled by God’s providence, and the care of the Jews, to preserve their genealogies. She was a virgin, a pure unspotted one, but espoused to one of the same royal stock - like her, however, of low estate; so that upon both accounts there was an equality between them.
Christ’s mother was a virgin because He was not to be born by ordinary means, but miraculously. It was necessary that he should be so that though He had the nature of man, He had none of the corruption of that nature.
She lived in Nazareth, a city of Galilee, a remote corner of the country, and with no reputation for religion or learning. The city bordered upon non-Jewish lands and therefore was called Galilee of the Gentiles. Christ’s living there suggests the grace coming for the Gentile world.
The angel was sent to Mary of Nazareth. Note that no distance or disadvantage of the place shall be prejudice to those for whom God has favored in store. The angel Gabriel carries his message as cheerfully to Mary and Nazareth in Galilee as to Zacharias in the temple at Jerusalem.
Adapted from Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible (Luke 2).
The Virgin Mary: An Example of Godly Motherhood
MARY WAS SOUGHT OUT BY GOD (Luke 1:26-28). She joined so many others: Adam and Eve in the Garden, Noah in the Pre-Flood world, Abram in Ur, Saul on the road to Damascus . . . God is in the people-seeking business.
MARY WAS HUMBLE (Luke 1:29, "Who me?"). No airs, no pride, just a humble troubled heart that anyone would even say such a thing. She knew her own heart, certainly, God would too!
MARY PARTOOK OF GOD'S GRACE. She was saved by God (Luke 1:30, lit. "discovered grace of God"). Mary joined the countless multitude who are heirs of life eternal by God's grace. Marvelous grace of our loving Lord grace that exceeds our sin and our shame, yonder on Calvary's mount outpoured there where the blood of the Lamb was shed. Her study of the Word led her to the open arms of "God my Savior."
MARY HAD AN INCREDIBLE MINISTRY OPPORTUNITY (Luke 1:31-33). To produce within her body tiny hands that would someday touch lepers with a healing touch, to form a mouth within her womb that would speak the very Word of God, to feel the kick of feet that would walk the roads of Israel and spread the Gospel. What an incredible ministry opportunity.
Taken from "Mary: Mother of James" by Discover the Book Ministries (used by permission).
