Mary of Nazareth
Blessed Above All Women

Topical scriptures for this lesson are: Luke 1:26 - 28, Luke 2:1 - 12, Luke 2:41 - 50, Luke 1:46 - 55, John 1:46, John 19:25 - 27, Acts 1:12 - 14, Isaiah 7:14 - 15

Mary was: holy, blameless, devoted, longsuffering, humble, meek, mild, compassionate, loving, faithful, and strong


Out of Nazareth, it seemed nothing good would ever come. Nazareth was a city of ill repute and poor reputation. Yet, out of Nazareth, GOD chose a woman to be the mother of HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST. I can just imagine Mary's surprise when the messenger of the LORD came to her and told her she would bare the SON of the living GOD. I can almost see her looking around and saying, "Could you repeat that, please? I'm not sure I heard you correctly". Mary then asked, "How can this be seeing I do not know a man?" Here she was, betrothed to Joseph and yet she'd be with child - but it wasn't his. I'm sure her thoughts began to race as she wondered what others would think and say. What would Joseph say? What would the townspeople say? Nevertheless, despite her misgivings, Mary bowed to the will of GOD and was soon found to be with child. Mary grew to love the child she was carrying and couldn't imagine what was in store. She knew HE would be a SAVIOR, but she didn't quite understand that she'd have to give her SON up, that she'd have to see HIM crucified. She endured the cryptic remarks, the knowing glares and the town gossip, traveled to Bethlehem with her husband, Joseph, and then gave birth to her baby boy in a manger.

As I write this, thinking on Mary's character, I cannot imagine watching my child die. Yet, I can't imagine going against the will of GOD. I'm sure as it began to dawn on Mary what was required of her - that she struggled with the same things. She watched JESUS grow up and become a man and sat at HIS feet as HE taught. She was there when JESUS turned the water into wine and she watched as a Roman soldier nailed her baby boy to a tree. JESUS was the SON of GOD, but HE would always be Mary's precious baby boy. I cannot fathom the heartbreak she must have known as CHRIST cried out in pain from HIS wounds. I can, however, imagine her struggle to keep from running up Golgotha's hill and pulling her SON down from the cross. Yet, through all of this, Mary never once doubted GOD nor did she waver in her faith and trust in HIM. Her heart was ripped out and nailed to the cross with JESUS, yet she still served GOD with joy.

What a woman Mary must have been! She had to be holy and be found blameless in the eyes of GOD to even be chosen to be the mother of JESUS. She had to be humble, meek, mild. She had to be kind, compassionate, gentle, and loving, all the while being strong enough to bear up under the weight of the tremendous cross GOD placed on her shoulders. What a woman of GOD! If ever there were a woman to pattern your life after - Mary is the perfect choice. She was a devout believer, a loving wife, a devoted mother. She was compassionate and longsuffering - this is Mary of Nazareth.

What can we learn? If we were to pattern our lives after the example of Mary of Nazareth, we would make a tremendous impact on this world. If we can learn to be humble, compassionate, loving, and faithful - even through our trials - and learn that our strength comes from GOD alone - we would really shake this world up and set it on fire for GOD. No matter what Mary went through, she never lost her faith in GOD; she never lost her zeal in serving GOD. In fact, in the book of Acts, we read that Mary of Nazareth was present during the Upper Room experience, when everyone present was baptized with the HOLY GHOST and with fire.

Yes, we would do well to heed the example of Mary of Nazareth, for in doing so, we open up our hearts and lives for the full favor and abundant blessings of GOD.