I’m so excited. I’ve just become engaged to a gorgeous young man. His name is Joseph. My family and friends are all happy as well. Joseph is a carpenter so he will be able to make us some wonderful furniture.
It was just at this time I had a visit from an angel called Gabriel sent from God. He said “Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with you!” I was really frightened and didn’t know what to make of this. Gabriel then went on to tell me that I would conceive and have a child [the Son of God] and would call his name Jesus. How can I have a child, Gabriel, I am not yet married and am a virgin. Gabriel said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you and the child will be called the Son of God.
My cousin, Elizabeth is also pregnant with a son. So I said to Gabriel, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Luke 1:37
I was a bit unsure at this point. But God had promised it would be OK, and so I believed Him.
I went to tell Joseph the news and he was a bit upset and wanted to divorce me quietly. But he also had a visit from an angel who told him all would be OK. Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” Matt 1:20b-22
I left straight away to visit with my cousin, Elizabeth. It was a long journey but as soon as we saw each other, even though our ages are so different we had so much in common. Gabriel had visited us both and we were both having babies. I stayed with her for three months to help both of us and so we could understand what had happened to us.
Just about the time for my baby to be born, Governor Quirinius of Syria said we all had to register our names. We had to go back to the place of David’s ancestry [Bethlehem] to do this. We tried to find a nice hotel to have the baby, but because everyone one was there, the only place left was the stable. So that’s where I had my baby in a stable with all the animals watching.
After eight days Joseph and I took him to the temple, where Simeon prayed over our baby Jesus. Joseph and I looked with awe and amazement at this young boy that had been given to us. Joseph taught him his carpentry, we lost him for a few days and found him in the temple, but he was a good boy. As he grew he performed many miracles and preached to many people about himself and his father in heaven. I then had to watch as he was crucified on the cross. But as was the custom of the time, Jesus asked John to take care of me for the rest of my life. John 19:26.
I love my boy, an angel appeared to me to announce I would have him, I was there at his birth, and I was there at his earthly death. What pain was suffered, but what joy to be chosen for such a responsibility as birthing and raising the Son of God?
What lessons can we learn from the story of Mary today? The truth is it’s not a ‘story’. It really happened.
It was just at this time I had a visit from an angel called Gabriel sent from God. He said “Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with you!” I was really frightened and didn’t know what to make of this. Gabriel then went on to tell me that I would conceive and have a child [the Son of God] and would call his name Jesus. How can I have a child, Gabriel, I am not yet married and am a virgin. Gabriel said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you and the child will be called the Son of God.
My cousin, Elizabeth is also pregnant with a son. So I said to Gabriel, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Luke 1:37
I was a bit unsure at this point. But God had promised it would be OK, and so I believed Him.
I went to tell Joseph the news and he was a bit upset and wanted to divorce me quietly. But he also had a visit from an angel who told him all would be OK. Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” Matt 1:20b-
I left straight away to visit with my cousin, Elizabeth. It was a long journey but as soon as we saw each other, even though our ages are so different we had so much in common. Gabriel had visited us both and we were both having babies. I stayed with her for three months to help both of us and so we could understand what had happened to us.
Just about the time for my baby to be born, Governor Quirinius of Syria said we all had to register our names. We had to go back to the place of David’s ancestry [Bethlehem] to do this. We tried to find a nice hotel to have the baby, but because everyone one was there, the only place left was the stable. So that’s where I had my baby in a stable with all the animals watching.
After eight days Joseph and I took him to the temple, where Simeon prayed over our baby Jesus. Joseph and I looked with awe and amazement at this young boy that had been given to us. Joseph taught him his carpentry, we lost him for a few days and found him in the temple, but he was a good boy. As he grew he performed many miracles and preached to many people about himself and his father in heaven. I then had to watch as he was crucified on the cross. But as was the custom of the time, Jesus asked John to take care of me for the rest of my life. John 19:26.
I love my boy, an angel appeared to me to announce I would have him, I was there at his birth, and I was there at his earthly death. What pain was suffered, but what joy to be chosen for such a responsibility as birthing and raising the Son of God?
What lessons can we learn from the story of Mary today? The truth is it’s not a ‘story’. It really happened.
Copyright ©2008.
Mary, Mother of Jesus
Book of Luke 1, 2; Matthew 1:18; John 2:5; John 19:25-27
– For oral reading with permission by the author of this sketch: Julie Lehmann