Crucial to, and the kingpin (or rather queenpin) of the whole salvation plan of God, birthed on that Christmas day so long ago, was a young girl. Most probably in her teens, it was Mary’s willingness to shoulder motherhood, while yet unmarried, that’s the key to the redemption of the human race.

Jewish girls were considered marriageable at the age of twelve years and six months, though the actual age of the bride varied with circumstances. The marriage was preceded by the betrothal, after which the bride legally belonged to the bridegroom. She did not live with him till about a year later when the marriage was celebrated.

Betrothal was definite and binding upon both groom and bride, who were considered as man and wife in all legal and religious aspects, except that of actual cohabitation. This was a period of commitment and preparation, as the bridegroom would prepare a place, a home for his wife. He would then come with his entourage and take her home, after everything was made ready for her.

The bride also prepared and equipped herself with all that was necessary for her housekeeping. She made ready her wedding garments, as well as her own self. Psalm 45, Matthew 25:6, Revelation 19:6 relating to the bridal preparation, coming of the bridegroom, being shut out of the wedding feast, all make sense in the light of these customs.

Her Call

It was during this crucial period, the most sacred and anticipated preparation time, that Mary had a divine visitation bringing an unexpected call. Even in her wildest dreams, Mary wouldn’t have thought about such a call or anticipated such a destiny. She was only a simple village girl, hardly a woman yet, at the threshold of an important phase of life. She faced an uncertain future with no idea of how it would all change her life. I don’t believe she even had the full grasp of all that it would cost her, or the full glimpse of what was demanded of her. Yet, she rose to the occasion, only understanding that God had called her, and she needed to obey. Unlike Zechariah who demanded a sign, she never asked for confirmation, but just the wondering query of how it would happen.

Once she had the explanation, she simply said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” The term comes from the Hebrew words ‘shiphchah‘ and ‘amah‘, which both mean “female slave.” Though she had no inkling of what was ahead of her, nor a full comprehension of her task, or all that would be demanded of her, she still compiled willingly.

Her Task

She didn’t understand when she was told that a sword would pierce her own heart. She probably had only a vague idea of it when Simeon prophesied over her in the temple courts. Hers was the stupendous task of knowing motherhood before becoming a wife. It was having to adjust to a new home and its duties with a baby in her womb, and later in her hand. This was not accepted in those times! What a mission, what a commission, and what a great undertaking, being a mother to the hope of this world! Who could have thought that a teenager held the future of the world in her hands when she said yes to the chore placed divinely upon her.

We often tend to frown upon the catholic world that honors Mary. I think, non-Catholics have swung to the other extreme of not valuing her role in the salvation plan of God. What if she had said no, or refused it or even undertook to abort the fetus because of the burden it brought, an accepted practice even in today’s Christendom! No wonder Angel Gabriel assured her of the favor of God, for she would need it all her life!

Her Burden

Mary didn’t just carry the weight of the child in her womb, in her physical body, in her emotions, in her spirit. She bore it in the face of the outside world, probably  carrying a stigma all her life of bearing a child out of wedlock. I wonder if she did have the reputation of being one who sinned before her marriage. Even if people had known about her encounter with an angel, her call, her task, and her husband’s acceptance, wonder how many snide remarks she countered in her life!

Jews as a nation, strictly adhering to the letter of the law, were often narrow in their outlook, and stringent in their acceptance beyond the norms. I really don’t think many would have accepted her story or looked on her with favor, even if God did! Though Joseph would have married her quickly, still there would’ve been smarties who calculated her pregnancy and decried her. Until the day Jesus rose again from the dead, and became the Savior of the world, her plight would have been pitiable, and often difficult. It was only in the 3rd century AD that her part in the magnificent plan of God was recognized and acknowledged in the First Council at Ephesus.

Her Heart

More than the physical strain of bearing and birthing a child, Mary underwent enormous strain of heart in bringing forth a child who was the light of the world. It must have taxed her beyond what a normal mother would’ve have endured. Her Son was One Who lived outside the box, a controversial figure, and His message revolutionary. It exposed fraud and falsity in their religion that even her own relatives and friends rose up to stone Him in their synagogue. Every mother’s desire is that her child is applauded and lauded among her folks, her kith and kin, not rejected or sought to be killed. Imagine Mary’s heartache and pain when she saw her own people disapprove and denounce Him as heretic and even a devil!

He was her son, of her flesh and blood, though not of the seed of man, borne nine months in her womb, carried in her arms, fed and cared for by her, for thirty long years. To her who wiped his tears, bandaged his hurt knees, soothed his fears, calmed his mind, answered his questions, nurtured his faith, taught him the Scriptures, and spoke of his destiny, it was death. A child to his or her mother is precious, whether villain or saint, poor or rich, tall or short, something or nothing. So many of her people would have come and complained to her about Him, and taken her to task for His conduct. I guess they would’ve blamed her for it, since Proverbs says: A wise son makes a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.

The strain on her heart and the price she paid to birth this Child, raise Him, and see Him rejected was unimaginable!

Her Price

Mary paid a heavy price all her life for the world to have a Savior. When she met the angel and said yes to her commission, she paid the price of telling others of her call. She bore the cost of having people laugh at her, or ridicule her, or suspect her fidelity. When He was growing up, or had grown up, she knew that one day He would leave to be about His Father’s business.

She had to bear the pain of knowing that she was no longer the first in His life. When she came seeking His audience, He refused to see her, and how it must have hurt her. He was no longer hers, nor could she any longer have a claim over Him as His mother. She had to accept that others came first in His life because He said yes to His call, just as she did those many years ago!

No mother can bear to see her son tortured, beaten, and crucified, for no fault of His. Mary had to watch her Son die a horrible death, and move from being her Son to truly becoming the Son of God through resurrection. She had no more ties with Him as His mother, only as a follower and a disciple.

Yet before He made that transition, He fulfilled His duty to her as firstborn son. He did indeed provide for her in her old age by giving the care of her into the hands of His beloved disciple. How precious must have been the thought that He did need remember what He owed her as a human being, and provided care for her as a dutiful elder son!

Yes indeed a sword did pass through her heart – all because she said gave consent to rent her womb to the Lord of the Universe for His purposes!

Her Reward

Mary is a pivotal character in mankind’s history, for her yes to God paved the way for the fulfilment of His plan to retrieve us from sin. She stands as a pillar of witness and testimony at the crossroads of human life, pointing to the goodness of God. She had the unique privilege to mother the Son of God when He came as the Son of Man. It cost her life, her reputation, her emotions, her will, and her whole life. She was forever branded by the greatest joy and sorrow, greatest gain and pain, and greatest call and cost.

Her reward was favor with God, and blessedness beyond belief above all women. The greatest approbation given her is that the fruit of her womb was called blessed. She conceived by the Word being implanted in her by the overshadowing presence of the Holy Spirit and birthed that which was holy.

The first surrogate mother, it was her willingness to lay down her will and life down for God that accomplished His purposes for the redemption of all mankind, past present and future. She is the best example of true submission, which first begins with humbling before God and saying yes to Him!

Her Legacy

All women have the call to follow in her footsteps – to birth a child or children, and raise them to do the will of God. We can only leave behind a godly generation by laying down our lives for the sake of the plans of God.

Mary had to lay down her own dreams, her agenda, her expectations, and her desires for her child for the plan of God to accomplished. Every godly mother will face this question many times in her life – Am I nurturing my child for God or for myself?

Motherhood is all about martyrdom, sacrificing yourself for the sake of God, that His will be done on earth as in heaven, through our children. It is enabling His Kingdom come on earth, His rule and reign be established, in and through our children. Physical martyrdom is easy compared to laying down your will, emotions, and facing heart pain, day in and day out.

As a mother, you need to help your children develop feet plus strong foundations to stand, and grow wings as well as lessons to fly in the heavenlies. Then, allow them to walk in the ways of God, and fly to fulfil the purposes of God. It is about giving them the freedom to walk away from you, out of your home. It is not keeping them captive bound by your ambitions and goals, but letting them fly away to their godly destinations.

Mary’s Ministry

Motherhood and the martyrdom it brought was the essence of Mary’s ministry to the Lord. She was a nobody whose is today known and venerated. Often times when we serve at home, sacrificing ourselves to raise a family, we may not be compensated or acknowledged or even recognized. Mary’s history shows us that heaven looks on our work and our reward will come one day.

Ministry is not just going out and preaching, teaching or even winning souls. Ministry is saying yes to God to whatever call He places on us, and willingly doing it because He ordained it so for us!

Being a mother is all about being the handmaiden of the Lord, humbling bowing to accept the burden He places on us, and carrying through. Mary kept all the things told her and treasured every incident that happened in her heart, and pondered over them. I believe that out of this came strength for her to understand and accept the plans God had for her child.

Only as we root ourselves in Him, ground ourselves in the Word, and build ourselves in our most holy faith through the Holy Spirit, can we follow in the footsteps of Mary.

May we take heart from this promise of God from the book of Proverbs from the words of a mother to king son:

Proverbs 31:30-31 NIV
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

I think the lessons we can learn from Mary’s life is not just for women, but for men too. Her willingness to hear God’s call and obey it is an example we all can emulate, all the time!

*A good follow-up article to read:

The Oft Over-looked Character in the Christmas Story and Scene – Joseph!