Mary: Blessed Above All Women

 

The angel came in and said, "Hail, you who are

highly favored, the Lord is with you and

blessed are you among all women."

Mary was thoroughly shaken, wondering what was behind

a greeting like that.  But the angel assured her,

"Mary, you have nothing to fear.  God has a surprise

for you:  you will become pregnant and give birth to

a son, and call His name Jesus. 

Luke 1:28-31 

When I read this story in the book of Luke, I began to wonder if Mary actually realized it was an angel she was talking to.  Surely she must have wondered, "Who in the world is this?"  Here is some fellow telling her that she is blessed more than any other woman on earth.  If that were to happen in this day and age, any girl would be wondering where this guy got such a bad pick-up line.  The Bible says that Mary was perplexed...thoroughly shaken...troubled - with probably a good dose of fear thrown into the mix.

Her strange visitor then stuns her with the message that she is going to have a baby - a son - and even gives the name for the child:  JESUS.  He is going to be the Son of the Most High God, from the family and lineage of David, ruling over Israel forever.  These words may sound odd to us, but for Mary, they held great significance.  The angel was plainly saying, "Your child - your son that will be born to you - is going to be the Messiah, the Promised One of Israel."   I doubt if any message would have surprised her more.  You, Mary, are the fulfillment of one of the greatest prophecies in the Old Testament:

For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given,

and the government shall be upon His shoulders,

and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor,

the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6 

* 

Angels and archangels may have gathered there,

Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air.

But His mother only, in her maiden bliss,

Worshiped the Beloved with a kiss.

The United Methodist Hymnal, No. 221