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Perspective of Mary and Joseph Blessed Among Women
" And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb."—-Luke 1:42 Aaron Kuehmichel The hope of the promised Messiah was real to some of the Jewish people. It was something for whichthey longed. Imagine how Jewish mothers yearned within their hearts, hope against hope, that they would be the mother of Israel’s Savior. Think of the honor it would bring to them if their son was the Messiah. A pure, chaste, unmarried virgin was selected to be the mother and keeper of the one who had been the first creation of God. Her name was Mary. A simple unlearned woman, in contrast to the educated priestly class, was chosen. Who would ever have thought that such a one could be so honored by God. One should not even have been a candidate for such a son. The Annunciation The honor of foretelling the birth of Jesus to the young Galilean woman named Mary was given to the angel Gabriel. The scripture connects the time of the announcement to Mary with another event, one that already occurred: the conception of John the Baptist. This connection is found in the first chapter of Luke, for it was Gabriel that also announced the birth of John the Baptist. In the sixth month of development Gabriel came to Mary. "And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth" (Luke 1:26). In all other accounts of angelic appearances unto man, the person receiving the angel recognizes them as such and is immediately fearful upon the realization. But not so with Mary. Instead of fear, she wondered at the strange greeting. "How am I so highly favored? Why am I so blessed among women?" was her initial reaction. Upon the pronouncement that she was to have a child, she replied, "How shall this be, seeing I have no husband?" What audacity to speak back to an angel. To even question the angel’s message was unthinkable, or was it? Mary did question, but the intent was not from a doubting mind looking for proof. Her question was for clarification, so she could comprehend how she could have a child not having a husband. Gabriel honored her request and gave her proof this would come true by telling her of her barren cousin Elizabeth’s conception and reminding her that nothing is impossible with God. The answer was sufficient. Believing that this unbelievable announcement could come true, she acquiesced, "Be it unto me according to thy word." The Visit with Elizabeth Mary then traveled from Nazareth to the hill country of Judea, a distance of approximately 120 miles over rough and dangerous ground to see her cousin Elizabeth. By this action she demonstrated that she believed the angel’s message. When she greeted Elizabeth, her cousin confirmed what Gabriel already had told her and that she was indeed favored. God then, through Elizabeth, honored Mary because of her faith. Mary spent three months with Elizabeth and then returned to her home. How she traveled to and fro is not stated. She could have traveled alone, but what husband to be would let her do that? Regardless, Mary was showing her pregnancy upon her return and Joseph was not sure how to deal with her seeming unfaithfulness. He pondered this and concluded to deal with her according to the law; quietly putting Mary aside so as to not draw too much attention to her (Deut. 24:1). Nothing is stated in the scriptures regarding Joseph’s character, but much is implied. Here was a man that God entrusted with the care of the Messiah and his mother. He would have a significant influence upon the upbringing of the boy Jesus and he surely must have been a noble character. We get a glimpse of this nobility in his handling of the situation. Instead of accusing Mary of unfaithfulness and taking care of his own reputation, he thought first of hers. Then God revealed to Joseph that Mary was with child by divine intervention and that he should take her for his wife. This is the first recorded encounter Joseph had with God in connection with this child. Joseph and Mary married and the remaining months of her pregnancy passed, but the stigma of being unmarried with child had already attached itself to Mary. They made their way to Bethlehem, the city of their birth in accordance with the decree of Caesar Augustus. Mary went into labor and she and Joseph delivered the child. Later that evening, the shepherds came and worshipped. In explanation of their visit they revealed of the angelic message and singing. This was the fourth encounter, though indirect, that Mary or Joseph had with God. "But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart . . . And Joseph and his [the babe’s] mother marveled at those things which were spoken of him" (Luke 2:19, 33). A Transition of the Ages Zacharias, being educated, trained and serving as a priest should have believed Gabriel’s message and did not. Mary, who had every reason to doubt, believed. Zacharias and Elizabeth were honored because of their faith by being the parents of one of the greatest prophets on the earth. Mary was honored for her faith by becoming the mother of the Messiah, the greatest in heaven. Instead of believing, the educated and priestly class held fast to their traditions and teachings. As Zacharias could not believe without a proof, so also the Scribes and Pharisees in Jesus’ day did not accept the signs given by God. The time had come and the transition was taking place, as beautifully portrayed in the events announcing the offsprings of Zacharias and of Mary. The Jewish Law arrangement was coming to an end and the age of the gospel was beginning. John, being the offspring of the Law, could not enter into the kingdom of heaven because Jesus, the offspring of faith, had not yet opened the way. He that is least in the kingdom of heaven (faith) is greater than he of the Law (Matt. 11:11). Jesus demonstrated his humility in his accepting the innuendoes and taunts of the scribes and Pharisees that implied he was illegitimate. "We have Abraham for our Father" (John 8:39). Imagine how those taunts must also have hurt Mary. They were also a jibe at her apparent unfaithfulness. But Mary was faithful, both to God and to her husband Joseph! In that knowledge she drew strength and though the scriptures do not say so, as a mother she was able to comfort Jesus because of this experience. Joseph and Mary probably had a small quiet wedding. Not at all the large, joyous feast that most women desire on their wedding day. Assuming that she never realized this simple womanly desire, could this have been the reason for initiating the miracle at the wedding in Cana. Perhaps she understood what it would mean to the bride and groom to have a wedding feast spoiled because they ran out of provisions. So to prevent that marriage feast from being ruined, she hinted to Jesus to take care of the problem (John 2:1-11). Yes, Mary had much to ponder in her heart. Her experiences during her pregnancy and with the strange series of visitors that followed the child’s birth helped prepare her for the tumultuous days that lay ahead. In Summary We note on ten occasions Mary and Joseph encountered messengers from God:
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