Many think of Mary as the mother of Jesus, but are ignorant of the many unique qualities she possessed. Knowing these qualities would help us glean a better understanding of why she was chosen as the mother.
1. Mary trusted in God
Mary knew this verse very well. It was not limited to knowing this by heart, like many of us. But she believed this verse was true, and she refused to have any worry or anxiety because she knew this verse was absolutely true.
The verse was,
Trust in the Lord with all your heart.
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths. ( Proverbs 3:5-6, New King James Version)
Mary also believed in God. Her Aunt Elizabeth praised Mary when she visited her. She says.
I will elaborate on this point in a bit, but for the time being, I desire ‘patience’ to blossom in you.
2. Mary asked God questions
When Mary was told about the assignment by the angel Gabriel, she did not understand how some of these could work out. She had never known a virgin giving birth to a child. She asked God by asking the angel. The angel responded.
Many of us can learn from Mary and enter into a conversation with God and be confident of hearing a response, unless He intentionally chooses to be silent.
Here, Mary heard the answer from the angel. She accepted it and refused to be further anxious and chose instead to trust in God.
Six months prior to this, we know the angel appeared unto Zachariah, the head priest. He and his wife were advanced in age and were barren. And even when the angel appeared and answered Zacharias’s question, his mind had further questions.
This way Zachariah, although he had the spiritual office of a priest, lacked the will to trust God, while the ordinary girl Mary could. Since the possibility of Zachariah speaking too much and probably causing the miracle to stop from happening, the angel caused Zachariah to become mute for a season.
3. Mary was clothed in humility
Mary knew for certain that she had to bring the Son of God. She knew it was a great privilege. She knew it was a great honour. Yet she was not puffed up. She did not demand royal treatment or great privileges. When she was about to deliver, and she wanted to have a decent or basic inn, there was none. So the only option was a manager. Mary is not known to have become angry with her husband, Joseph, or with God.
How many of us in the place of Mary would have instead become upset, annoyed, and angry with God and man? How many of us in a similar situation would be annoyed and angry with our spouse/near and dear relatives, and likely stop talking to them?
Do we surrender, or do we fret and fume when we go through situations and circumstances like Mary?
4. Mary obeyed her husband
Joseph, who became Mary’s husband, had a few dreams. He had a dream to accept Mary as his bride. He had a dream to accept Mary as wife, to leave for Egypt because of the threat to the life of the infant Jesus, and later to return from Egypt when that threat no longer existed.
Mary had an encounter with the angel of the Lord. Mary does not seem to have arguments with Joseph in following Joseph’s instructions when her cooperation was required. She could have easily challenged Joseph if he had had an angelic encounter or if it was merely a dream and challenged him.
5. Mary had a surrendered attitude
Mary did not challenge God nor her husband. She obeyed God in obedience. She obeyed her husband in surrender. She may not have heard of any of her relatives or anyone known to deliver in a manger, but she was open to it. Would she not have had questions running in her mind, I am bringing forth the son of God, yet I do not have even a basic home or inn to deliver the child?” Yet she accepted all these issues with a surrendered and willing heart. Whether it was travelling when fully pregnant, riding a donkey, or travelling between countries on probably rough terrain, she did not oblige.
Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. (Luke 1:38-45 NKJV)
6. Hearing ear and a pondering heart
Mary heard what the angel told attentively. She processed and asked questions to get an understanding. She noted the points told and pondered on the points told. So when she went through situations that did not match the circumstances she faced, she pondered and chose not to be anxious, but she could be at peace and went through circumstances with a confident will of a surrendered heart.
Her surrendered heart, her humility, was from faith and certainty in God’s word, God’s promise. That was the source of great confidence for her. Even when the shepherds came to pay obeisance to the son of God, she heard what they told and pondered on it.
How many of us can do with better hearing, noting down matters in our hearts, and remembering the points? Do we take the nudges we receive from God casually? How are we when it comes to hearing from reading the Word of God?
7. Mary knew the word of God well
One of the most significant aspects of Mary’s character was that she knew the word of God well. She would have read or heard the word of God regularly or attentively. She kept what she read in her mind. She would have most probably been a person who delighted and meditated on the word of God regularly.
All this we can probably say from her nature, and a specific instance we are reminded of is what Mary told her aunt Elizabeth, as seen below. The richness of God’s word can be seen throughout these verses.
46 And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God, my Saviour.
48 For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;
For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
49 For He who is mighty has done great things for me,
And holy is His name.
50 And His mercy is on those who fear Him
From generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with His arm;
He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
52 He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
And exalted the lowly.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things.
And the rich He has sent away empty.
54 He has helped His servant Israel,
In remembrance of His mercy,
55 As He spoke to our fathers,
To Abraham and to his seed forever.” (Luke 1:46-55 NKJV) We can see that the above is based on various Old Testament scriptures bases. Scroll to the end of the blog post to read the references.
8. Mary believed in God
Mary’s trust, confidence, and faith in God were total and beyond measure. When the angel spoke, she accepted the assignment, although she could have refused. God always leaves the decision to man; in this case, Mary had the final choice to accept or reject the assignment. Hence, Gabriel, God’s angel, met her and told her about the job description and the expectations. Mary sought and received clarification. Mary believed in God totally with all of her heart.
She did not choose to ask Joseph. She did not seek her parents’ or family’s permission. She did not want to meet her aunt before knowing for certain that the angel indeed had told the truth about her aunt being pregnant at an old age.
Yes, all these point to Mary’s belief in God, His word. This is what her aunt told her when she heard Mary’s greeting on stepping into her home.
Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfilment of those things that were told to her from the Lord.” (Luke 1:45 NKJV)
9. Mary carried the presence of God
Mary carried the presence of God; she meditated on the word of God always. She was also carrying the infant Jesus Christ in her womb. Thus, in more ways than one, she carried God’s presence with her. Her sound itself carried God’s anointing. Thus, when Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child in Elizabeth’s womb leapt with joy.
For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leapt in my womb for joy. (Luke 1:44 NKJV)
10. Mary received the power of testimony
The angel Gabriel told Mary matters that did not have a precedent – matters that had never happened before. Never was it known that a woman who had not known a man could bring forth a child. Yet with many matters not known, she surrendered and believed what the angel told her.
But God had mercy on her and encouraged her by speaking through the angel about her aunt Elizabeth, who, although barren all these years, was pregnant with a child in her old age—an age that was considered beyond childbearing age.
As soon as the angel told her about Elizabeth, her aunt, Mary decided to visit her aunt and saw the miracle herself; thus, she encouraged herself with her aunt’s testimony of God being able to give a child, defying every known limitation. Mary stayed with Elizabeth and was encouraged to see through the manifestation of God’s word for her life in bringing forth and delivering Jesus Christ.
And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her house. (Luke 1:56 NKJV)
Do we take the effort to encourage ourselves or others with the testimonies? We hear testimonies in church; we can choose to meet them and hear from them directly, or we can watch videos of testimonies. It’s so important to encourage ourselves and others regarding promises, healings, and breakthroughs. In every testimony of Jesus, there is a spirit of prophecy.
For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. (Revelation 19:10 NKJV)
Cross-references to the 7th point – to the various Old Testament verses based on which Mary responded to Elizabeth—point to the fact that she knew the scriptures very well.
1 Samuel 2:1
At that time, Hannah prayed, “My heart rejoices in the LORD, in whom my horn is exalted. My mouth speaks boldly against my enemies, for I rejoice in Your salvation.
Psalm 34:2
My soul will boast in the LORD; let the oppressed hear and rejoice.
Psalm 34:3
Magnify the LORD with me; let us exalt His name together.
1 Thessalonians 5:23
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your entire spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
