Mary’s Commitment
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Key Verse: “Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.” Selected Scripture: |
WHAT A BEAUTIFUL POETIC expression of love and devotion is shown here by this statement made by Mary. It further shows that Mary was full of faith and the joy of the Lord, happy to be an instrument in carrying out his wonderful plan.
We recall that the chiefest messenger remaining in the courts of the Heavenly Father—the angel Gabriel—visited her, and told her “Blessed art thou among women.” (Luke 1:28) The fact that Mary was honored by the Lord above all other women, in that she was chosen to be the mother of Jesus according to the flesh, would prove her nobility of character and her purity of heart. Jesus signifies saviour, or liberator—“For he shall save his people from their sins.”—Matt. 1:21
The proclamation concerning the birth of Jesus to his mother, Mary, was especially important because this child was begotten by Divine power, though Mary was still a virgin when she brought forth her son. He was to be the “Son of the Highest” (Luke 1:32), thus fulfilling the promises made respecting the Messiah. He would come to fulfill the promise made to Abraham, “In thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.” (Gen. 28:14) Jesus is the promised seed from David’s house, the rightful heir of the throne, referring to the dignity, power, and authority of office which David exercised. The throne of David is the emblem or symbol of David’s reign, or kingdom. It serves as a type, or picture, of the reign or kingdom of David’s son and Lord. He is also called the “seed” of Abraham (Gal. 3:16), and the “seed” of the woman.—Gen. 3:15
The narrative of Jesus’ miraculous conception has the support of the oldest Greek MSS—the Sinaitic, Vatican, and Alexandrian in Luke. The life principle by which Jesus was conceived came directly from the Father in heaven. He was then able to be “that holy thing” (Luke 1:35), because he was “holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners.” (Heb. 7:26) He was ‘holy’ because his life did not come from Joseph, or through Adam. He was not contaminated; he knew no sin, while all other men are sinners. (II Cor. 5:21) His life came directly from heaven (Heb. 1:5), and although human, he was free from both Adamic sin and its penalty. Remember also that he was the seed of the woman, and not the seed of man. Therefore, to trace his genealogy we must go back through Mary’s line to see that he had the full authority to take on the role of king. “The Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.”—Luke 1:32,33
This was a great responsibility for Mary, and she took on the role willingly. The mind of Jesus’ mother, instead of being antagonistic to his perfect development, cooperated fully with it. The hope to be the blessed mother of the long promised ‘seed’ seems to have filled the heart of this special woman with an increase of joy, and devotion. “He hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy.”—Luke 1:48-50,54