A Son and a Savior: How Mary’s Faith in God Revealed Christ

So many times, when Mary and Jesus are presented in Scripture, it is often in the context of Christmas, but there is so much more to Mary’s journey than that one season of her life! The life of Mary, the mother of Jesus, shows that it was her faith in God that shaped her faith in her son, and her Savior Jesus Christ.

After the angel Gabriel told Mary about the journey she was about to begin – to bear and raise the Son of God – Mary’s reaction was indicative of her true nature within: Faith in God. Mary wasn’t perfect, but she was the Lord’s perfect choice because God looks on the heart. (1 Samuel 16:7) He sees your heart too!

“Mary wasn’t perfect, but she was the Lord’s perfect choice because God looks on the heart.”

Throughout her life, Mary’s journey had many ups and downs, yet one thing remained consistent: She had a strong faith in God and it was that strength that sustained her so she didn’t break even when she watched her world crumble down.

• What kept Mary’s faith in God from failing?
• What kept her consistent in her calling and protected her faith from being changed by her challenges?

God’s plan for your life is powerful, and you can be ready to face anything, like Mary was, through faith in Him.

Mary Wasn’t Perfect – She was Prepared

Luke 1:38 & 47 show three important aspects of Mary’s faith in the Lord that were already part of her relationship with God, and had prepared her for the life He was calling her to.

• Mary had a humble heart (“I am the servant of the Lord”)
• Mary was willing to face the unknown (“May it be to me according to your word”)
• Mary had a heart for worship (“…my spirit rejoices in God my Savior”)

Mary was not a divine being. She was a regular woman with both natural and spiritual qualities that God the Father wanted His Son to have while He was walking through His earthly experience. Just like His mother, Jesus Christ, too, was humble, willing, and had a heart for worship.

God sees in you things that you do not see in yourself. Like He had planned for Mary, God has a powerful place for you in the “birthing” of the Gospel of Christ in the life of another person, maybe even the world! God knows you are flawed, and imperfect, but He sees who you really are in your heart. Remember:

• Mary didn’t understand everything that was unfolding, and you won’t either (Luke 1:51)
• Mary experienced troubled and difficult times like you do, starting with facing an unwed pregnancy and continuing through the death of her Son and Savior.
• For the rest of her life, Mary bore the “sword” that pierced through her own soul Simon had prophesied of (Luke 2:35) and you, too, may always carry the difficult memories of how life has affected you.

Whatever it is that the Lord is calling you to, if you are willing, humble, and live a lifestyle of praise and worship, you will have an intimacy with the Lord that prepares you for the various aspects of your life’s journey. This is grown through time spent in His presence, knowing Him through His Word, and communing with Him in prayer.

A Living Witness to an “Impossible” Life

The angel Gabriel encouraged Mary to continue to trust the Lord when he said, “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” (Luke 1:37) But he didn’t say that because he was speaking brave words.

Gabriel’s entire existence has been in the vital, living presence of God and he has personal experience with the power of God. Gabriel had witnessed God’s ability to sustain His people. From his observation over the thousands of years of human history including Adam and Even, Noah. Abraham, Moses, Daniel, Samson, Esther, David and many more, Gabriel was a first-hand witness that, “with God, NOTHING is impossible”.

Gabriel’s words weren’t spoke in faith- they were spoken from experience. God can bring you into what seems like incredible odds or call you to do the “impossible” because He knows that He can trust you – because you have learned to trust Him.

Even when the fallenness of the world thrusts you into an “impossible” situation, remember this:

WITH GOD, NOTHING SHALL BE IMPOSSIBLE.

Mary didn’t ask why, and you don’t need to either, even though your “natural” instinct will tell you to. Instead, praise the Lord, as Mary did – because you will need the strength of the Lord to remain solid in your faith when life shakes the ground.

“…you will need the strength of the Lord to remain solid in your faith when life shakes the ground.“

What Mary went endured would have broken anyone who didn’t have an unwavering faith and trust in the Lord, but because of her trust, God used her to bring Jesus Christ into the world! God will also use you to bring Jesus Christ and His Gospel into the world as well, but you can expect that the “impossible” to be part of that journey. 

Praise God for choosing you! You may not feel prepared or strong enough, but He knows you are! Say what Mary said: “I am your servant” and then see what miracles God will do!

Mary Searched for the Son – and the Savior

In Luke chapter 2, Mary and Joseph were frantically searching for Jesus for three days in the massive city of Jerusalem once they realized He was not with them. After they had exhausted every option, Mary finally her son- and her Savior.  And where was He? “…in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.” (Luke 2:46)

Mary said to Him, “Son, why have You dealt with us like this? Your father and I have anxiously searched for You.” (Luke 2:48) Mary was upset because she had departed only to find Jesus wasn’t with her. But He gave her an answer that showed the mistake wasn’t His, but hers.

“How is it that you searched for Me?” Jesus answered. “Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49) Here’s the thing: Jesus never went anywhere – Mary had left Him. Mary assumed that where she was going, Jesus was going too, but she was wrong. Think about this:

• How many times have you looked around at your life and felt like Jesus was no longer with you?
• Have you ever have felt like you’ve drifted away from Jesus or lost sight of Him?
• How many times have you wondered where Jesus went when things were hard?
• How many times have you asked other people to point you to Him?
• How many times have you sought help, wracked your brain, prayed desperately and exhausted yourself to find where Jesus is during this difficult season? 

Mary asked Jesus the exact same question everyone asks the Lord, “Why have you dealt with us like this?” 

• Jesus gets the blame for leaving
• Jesus gets accused of disappearing during the hardest times
• Jesus is faulted for not being there assume when, in reality, people moved on without making sure He was with them.

Everyone makes choices in life and goes down various paths that lie before them and everyone likes to think Jesus is with them, but are you with Him? “I must be about My Father’s business…” Jesus said. Later He told His followers to, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be given to you.” (Matthew 6:33)

Everyone makes choices in life and goes down various paths that lie before them and everyone likes to think Jesus is with them, but are you with Him?

~ Alicia Purdy ~

Mary desperately sought her son just like God’s people must desperately seek the Savior in times of distress, trouble, loss, fear and anxiety, impossible situations, and darkness.

Determine in your heart that you will not depart for the next chapter or season of your life or make any important decisions without making sure Jesus is with you by seeking Him in His Word, staying close to Him in your praise, and growing in your faith through prayer.

“How is it that you have searched for me?” Jesus said, because He knows that you know where to find Him!

Mary’s Life Was a Miracle in the Making – Just Like Yours

Just like in Mary’s life, your faith in God will always cause you to be the natural choice when He needs to work a supernatural miracle here on earth.

There is nothing wrong with being afraid when God asks the “impossible” of you, but remember: If God needs you to do the impossible it’s because He wants to prove that His word makes the “impossible” a reality.

The first recorded miracle that Jesus worked, according to the Bible, was at a wedding. (John 2:1-10) Mary, was there and she had brought an issue to Jesus saying simple, “We need more wine.” Mary didn’t beg, or whine, or plead, or demand that Jesus move and provide. She simply brought her need to Him.

“…your faith in God will always cause you to be the natural choice when He needs to work a supernatural miracle here on earth.”

~ Alicia Purdy ~

Mary was confident that Jesus would take care of the need she had brought to Him. In fact, she was so confident that she told everyone else to get ready to receive it! There, she gave the greatest advice anyone has ever given: “Whatever He says to do, do it.”

Even though that was an extremely minor problem, Jesus He still took care of it because GOD CARES ABOUT THE SMALL THINGS IN YOUR LIFE. Mary knew the heart of her Son, and her Savior. She trusted the Lord.

Learn more about the 7 Hebrew Words for Praise and how each one helps create strength, intimacy, and fresh revelation as you understand more about God’s plan for praise in your life!

Remember, if you want to be part of the miracle, don’t focus on everything you no longer have and get make preparations to receive that miracle. Don’t worry about “how” – just take Mary’s advice: “Whatever He says to you, do it.”

Thought for Today: Mary, the Mother of Jesus, Couldn’t Forget Her Faith

The prophet Jeremiah told God’s people, “Set up road marks, place guideposts. Set your heart toward the highway, even the way by which you went.” (Jeremiah 31:21) If Mary had allowed herself to forget what God had done in her and through her, she would never have had the strength to watch her son AND her Savior die on the cross.

Plenty of women had seen their criminal sons die for their crimes via crucifixion, so what was different? Mary knew Jesus was innocent. But there’s more! As Mary’s son and Savior hung on a cross bleeding and suffering, she grasped onto God’s promises of what the Messiah would do.

Mary had to see His blood run and remember that it wasn’t the end, it was only the beginning. Mary had to hear her Son cry out in despair as He hung in agony and she had to force herself to remember the words of the angel before He was even born: WITH GOD, NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE!

Then, 50 days after Jesus died, rose again, and ascended into heaven, Mary was there in the Upper Room praying with 120 other believers when the Holy Spirit came in FIRE and anointed Mary with “power from on high”. It was time for a new season of power in her life and her faith was ready!

If you don’t set milestones, memory markers, in your heart and mind of the things God has done, you’ll falter and fail in your faith when it looks like the promises He made to you are bleeding and screaming and dying right in front of your eyes. EVERY PROMISE GOD HAS EVER MADE IS TRUE. 

Mary’s faith in God never failed, and He never failed her. “Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a completion to those things which were told her by the Lord.” (Luke 1:45)

Like Mary, you can speak and act from a position of faith. You carry within you testimonies of God’s power, that God hears and answers prayer, cares about the big and small things, that He is with you even though you walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death. Use those memories to build a foundation of faith upon which you will stand firm in your next season of need.

Whatever God is going to do next, if you want to be part of it, prepare yourself, and “Whatever He says to you, do it.”