Mary, the mother of Jesus

Being a mother is a special privilege for women. Being the mother of Jesus is even more extraordinary. God did not choose just any woman to bear his son. The story begins with the angel Gabriel announcing to the priest Zechariah that his wife Elizabeth would miraculously give birth to a son, whom he would name John (according to Luke 1,5-25). This later became known as John the Baptist. It was in the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy that the angel Gabriel also appeared to Mary, who lived in Nazareth. He said to her: “Greetings, you who are blessed! The Lord is with you!" (Luke 1,28). Maria could hardly believe what she had just heard: "She was shocked by the words and thought: What a greeting is that?" (verse 29).

Jesus was conceived by a miracle, by the power of the Holy Spirit, before Mary had a marital relationship with Joseph: "How can this be, since I don't know of any man? The angel answered and said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; Therefore the holy thing that is born will be called the Son of God" (Luke 1,34-35).

Being chosen to give birth to the Son of God was a great privilege, a great blessing from God for Mary. Mary later visited Elisabeth, her relative; she exclaimed as she came towards her: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” (Luke 1,42).

The question arises as to why God chose Mary among all the young women in Nazareth. What made them different from the others? Is it her virginity? Did God choose her because of her sinlessness or because she came from a prominent family? The honest answer is that we don't know the exact reason for God's decision.

In the Bible, virginity is given special importance, especially in relation to marital relationships and sexual purity. God did not make his choice based on Mary's sinlessness. The Bible writes that no man who has ever lived is without sin: "They are all sinners, falling short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace without merit through the redemption that is through Christ Jesus is" (Roman 3,23-24). Mary was a sinner just like you and me.

Why did God choose her? God chose Mary by grace, not because of what she had done, who she was, or because of her background. God's grace is undeserved. Mary did not deserve to be chosen. None of us deserve to be chosen by God to dwell within us. God chose Mary by grace: "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2,8).
God chose Mary to carry Jesus for the same reason He chose you to have Jesus live in you. Mary was simply the first person in whom God lived. Today it dwells in all who believe in God: "To them God wanted to make known the glorious riches of this mystery among the nations, even Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1,27).

As we celebrate the birth of Jesus this month, remember that, like Mary, you too are highly valued by God. If you have not yet accepted Jesus as your Redeemer and Savior, God wants to dwell in you too. You can say, like Mary: «Behold, I am the handmaid (servant) of the Lord; Let it be for me according to your word" (Luke 1,38).

by Takalani Musekwa

More articles about the mother of Jesus:

Jesus and the women

The gift of motherhood