Women of the Bible Lesson 23 Mary: A Story of Submission

Luke 1:26-38, In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. The angel came to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored. The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women.” 

When she saw him, she was troubled by his words, and considered in her mind what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Listen, you will conceive in your womb and bear a Son and shall call His name JESUS. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Highest. And the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. And of His kingdom there will be no end.” 

Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” 

The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you. Therefore, the Holy One who will be born will be called the Son of God. Listen, your cousin Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age. And this is the sixth month with her who was declared barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.” 

Mary said, “I am the servant of the Lord. May it be unto me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her. (MEV) 

Today we will look at the life of Mary, the mother of Jesus.  Her story is one of total submission to the will of God.  We do not find a lot of information about Mary in the Bible, however, what we do find demonstrates for us her love, devotion, and submission for/to God.  

To begin, we see Mary’s first act of submission. She was obedient and submitted to her father’s authority in choosing her husband.  Scholars tell us that Mary was between 12 and 14 when she conceived Jesus.  She was a virgin, betrothed to a man named Joseph.  My studies pointed out that one of the reasons for marrying so young was to ensure the virginity of the bride, the other was because of the short life expectancy, around 30-35 years.   

Betrothal in Jewish culture was a legal marriage.  In Bible days marriages were usually arranged by the parents.  The father of the groom would approach the father of the girl and they would make arrangements.  Then the intended groom would submit a written or oral contract to the intended bride’s father.  When the terms were agreed upon there was then the signing of the betrothal covenant. This document bound the couple as legally married.  However, the actual wedding would not take place for about a year.  During that year both the bride and groom were busy making preparations for their home and life together.   

Secondly, we know that Mary was from the town of Nazareth, a town that bordered non- Jewish lands.  It was not noted for religion or learning.  “She was a daughter of the royal family, lineally descended from David, and she herself and all her friends knew it, for she went under the title and character of the house of David, though she was poor and low in the world.”i 

One of David’s descendants should have been sitting on the throne in Jerusalem, however, instead they were dispersed, living even in small, remote villages throughout the land.  Despite this, those who were in the royal line of David never forgot their heritage.    

Thirdly, we know that Mary was sought out by God.  Luke 1:26-28, During the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, the angel Gabriel was sent from God’s presence to an unmarried girl named Mary, living in Nazareth, a village in Galilee.  She was engaged to a man named Joseph, a true descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Rejoice, beloved young woman, for the Lord is with you and you are anointed with great favor.” (TPT) 

“Note, No distance or disadvantage of place shall be a prejudice to those for whom God has favours in store. The angel Gabriel carries his message as cheerfully to Mary and Nazareth in Galilee as to Zacharias in the temple at Jerusalem.”ii 

Next, we see Mary’s second act of submission. Mary submitted to God and accepted the great responsibility and risk of carrying the son of God.  

Luke 1:38, Then Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel left her. (AMP) 

Mary was committing herself to not only carry the son of God, but also to raise him.  She was taking on the great task of parenting, however, this was no ordinary child, this was the Messiah!!  

Anyone who has had a child knows how weighty the task of parenting feels at times.  Making sure they are provided for, safe, loved, trained, etc.  If that isn’t hard enough, add to that the fact that each child is unique and designed differently by God.  No two children in the family act, think, or behave the same.  Now add to that the sacred honor of parenting the son of God.  WOW!!! What a huge responsibility Mary was undertaking.   

On top of all that was the risk of being found to be with child before she was married.  “Unwed mothers were often shamed, and sometimes even killed violently by stoning. Mary showed great courage by accepting God’s calling.”iii  

As her betrothed, Joseph had the legal right to do one of two things, he could have her stoned for adultery, or he could quietly give her a written letter of divorce.  As an honorable man, he chose the quiet divorce.  We know however, that after the angel appeared to Joseph in a dream, he chose to marry her and take on the huge task of helping her raise Jesus, 

Matthew 1:24-25, Then Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him, and he took Mary [to his home] as his wife, but he kept her a virgin until she had given birth to a Son [her firstborn child]; and he named Him Jesus (The Lord is salvation). (AMP) 

Fifthly, we know that growing up in a Jewish family, who loved God, Mary would have known the prophecies about the Messiah. As the events following her betrothal to Joseph unfolded, she may have realized that she was participating in the fulfillment of those very prophecies she had heard from childhood.    

Isaiah 7:14, Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Listen carefully, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and she will call his name Immanuel (God with us). (AMP)  

Micah 5:2, “But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah; From you One shall come forth for Me [who is] to be Ruler in Israel, His goings forth (appearances) are from long ago, From ancient days.” (AMP)  

Isaiah 9:6, For to us a Child shall be born, to us a Son shall be given; And the government shall be upon His shoulder, And His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (AMP)  

Hosea 11:1, When Israel was a child [a young nation], I loved him, And I called My son out of Egypt. (AMP) 

To continue, we see Mary’s next act of submission, watching Jesus fulfill his purpose: death on the cross.  It is important to note here that Mary was the only person who was present at Jesus’ birth and at his death.   

John 19:23-23, But standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Woman, here is your son.”  Then He said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time, this disciple took her to his own home. (MEV) 

Finally, Mary’s story, like Jesus’, did not end at the cross.  Mary was present to see Jesus after his resurrection and was there to hear his final instructions to his disciples.   

Acts 1:4-5 & 7-9, Being assembled with them, He commanded them, “Do not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, of which you have heard from Me.5 For John baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know the times or the dates, which the Father has fixed by His own authority. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 

9 When He had spoken these things, while they looked, He was taken up. And a cloud received Him from their sight. (MEV)

Here we see Mary’s final act of submission, she waited with the disciples for the promised Holy Spirit.  

Acts 1:12-14, Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, which is a Sabbath day’s walk from Jerusalem. When they had entered, they went up into the upper room, where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers. (MEV)

In conclusion, I want us to picture Mary, a 13-year-old girl betrothed to be married to Joseph, visited by the angel Gabriel, conceived a child by the Holy Spirit, raised that child to adulthood, witnessed him perform miracles, stood at the cross and watched him die for her sins and the sins of all humanity, saw him raised back to like, watched him ascend into heaven and then experienced the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.   

Submission comes with a price. Mary’s price was a high one.  Mary continued in her walk of submission until the end.  Will we do the same?  Are we willing to pay the price to walk in submission to the will of God for our lives?  Are we willing to lay down our own desires to see the kingdom of Christ advanced?  Will we walk as submitted kings and priests unto God and take our rightful places of authority to see His kingdom come to earth now?   

As we head into Christmas, let us offer ourselves in submission to the one who came as a baby and died as a man for us!!! Let our “YES” be our Christmas gift to Christ.   

Works Cited: 

i Matthew Henry's Commentary 

ii Matthew Henry's Commentary 

iii https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/bible-study/how-old-was-mary-when-she-had-jesus.html