Full of Grace

“And having come in, the angel said to her, ‘Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you;

blessed are you among women!’” (Luke 1:28) NKJV.

When was the last time you received good news unexpectedly? Although it happens to most of us at one time or another, it doesn’t come from an angel, nor will it be as significant. How could it be? Mary is the only human to hear that she is the “highly favored one and blessed among women.” No doubt this would get her attention, because Gabriel proceeds to tell her that she will be overshadowed by God’s spirit, conceive in her womb, bring forth a Son, and call His name Jesus. (See Luke 1:29-31.) Being “favored” or “the favorite” carries responsibility. If you were that favorite child, you already know that it brought blessings, but it required much as well. Mary was about to see that being “favored” required great faith and total reliance on God.

Even though Mary has received the most coveted call among women, it’s problematic. First, she’s a virgin. She knows she’s one, and so does God. So immediately, she’s stunned at Gabriel’s annunciation. Second, she’s betrothed to Joseph, which means Mary is legally married. The blessing Gabriel is describing would get bigger, not smaller, because babies grow. She surely couldn’t hide the news for long, but she assumed that if God’s spirit could supernaturally place His Son in her womb, He had a plan. When Gabriel spoke to Mary, he addressed her as “highly favored one.” A literal translation is “full of grace.” Mary was a vessel of grace. How lovely! What’s grace? Simply stated, it’s the free, unmerited, unearned favor of God. Grace was God’s gift to Mary and, ultimately, to us as well.

Mary never asked for this call. She didn’t spur it on, pray for it, or audition for it. How could she? There was absolutely no way Mary could have known God’s plan to use her. But this day had been coming all of her life. On the outskirts of Nazareth, Mary found solitude, perhaps daily. Most believers have a designated place where they enter into God’s presence, and perhaps you do too. I believe Mary did, and I believe this was it. When Gabriel encounters Mary, she is alone; she had no distractions. She would have understood Gabriel’s message as well as her call. Mary not only understood, she pondered its worth. Although women of this era had no formal education and didn’t study scripture, Mary was saturated in it. Mary knew God! Like all Jews, she also knew the time was ripe for a deliverer.

Many rejected Jesus because He came in a way they didn’t expect and failed to make their earthly lives better. He spoke of a kingdom which was not only baffling but boring. They wanted help now! But not Mary. She was satisfied to serve God in any way He determined. She didn’t need to know God’s plan, never objected, and never asked for instructions. She didn’t collapse in despair over what she was facing, namely Joseph and her parents. Mary never thought about herself! Her strength was undergirded with love and hope from heaven, and God could use her anyway He chose. She must have smiled, because something not good, or better, but best, was about to come out of Nazareth – the Son of God –Jesus - Savior of the world.

Prayer: Mighty and gracious Lord, help our unbelief! Give us grace to respond “Yes” to whatever you ask just like your maidservant, Mary, who was indeed full of grace. Thank you Jesus. Amen.