And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”
–LUKE 1:41-43
Mary, the mother of Jesus, is one of the most misunderstood persons in all of the Word of God. She is adored by some, even worshipped by many, and often ignored by others. There is a great deal of confusion about this amazing woman.
But as we look into the story of Jesus’ birth, we find a woman who loved God and faced an uncertain future with full faith. She worshipped and sang to God for many of the reasons you and I do, even calling Jesus her “Savior” (Luke 1:47).
Yes, Mary was a faithful servant of God. But she was born in the same sin and is saved by the same grace that saves you and me. She is not a mediator to Jesus, and she has no special power in heaven. She is what she is by the grace of God – no more and no less.
As we look to Mary and her crucial role in the life of Jesus, let’s be quick to thank God for the love that was shown through her. Pray that God would make you a conduit of that same love and grace to others as well!
(To obtain a free copy of “The Cost of Christmas,” a 25-day advent devotional go to jackgraham.org, call 800-414-7693, or request it online at email@powerpoint.org.)
