{"id":46637,"date":"2022-02-11T11:28:37","date_gmt":"2022-02-11T08:28:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/?p=46637"},"modified":"2025-05-21T12:52:17","modified_gmt":"2025-05-21T09:52:17","slug":"the-grace-god-gave-to-mary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/2022\/02\/11\/the-grace-god-gave-to-mary\/","title":{"rendered":"THE GRACE GOD GAVE TO MARY"},"content":{"rendered":"

Many people read Luke 1 and assume that Mary\u2019s greatest honor was giving birth to Jesus. While that\u2019s true in part, Scripture reveals something deeper. The grace God gave Mary was not simply to bear Christ, but <\/span>to believe<\/strong> His Word.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. The Angel’s Words: Mary Found Favor with God<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u201cAnd he came to her and said, \u2018Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!\u2019 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, \u2018Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.\u2019\u201d<\/em>
\n(Luke 1:28\u201330)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The word \u201cfavor\u201d here in Greek is charis<\/em>, which is the same word translated elsewhere as \u201cgrace.\u201d This means Mary was graced by God<\/strong>, not because of her own merit, but because of God\u2019s sovereign choice.<\/p>\n

But notice something important: Mary was not told she received grace because she would bear Jesus;<\/strong> rather, she received grace so that<\/strong> she could believe God\u2019s Word about bearing Jesus.<\/p>\n

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2. Mary\u2019s Belief vs. Zechariah\u2019s Doubt<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Compare Mary\u2019s response with that of Zechariah, who was also visited by the angel Gabriel.<\/p>\n

Zechariah, a priest, was told his wife Elizabeth would bear a son (John the Baptist). Unlike Mary, he doubted:<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd Zechariah said to the angel, \u2018How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.\u2019\u201d<\/em>
\n(Luke 1:18)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Gabriel responded:<\/p>\n

\u201cBehold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words\u2026\u201d<\/em>
\n(Luke 1:20)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This shows us something key: Zechariah heard a less miraculous message, yet still doubted.<\/strong> Mary heard a far more impossible message, yet believed.<\/p>\n

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3. True Grace Enables True Faith<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Grace is more than unmerited favor\u2014it is divine empowerment<\/strong>. Paul reminds us:<\/p>\n

\u201cFor by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.\u201d<\/em>
\n(Ephesians 2:8)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Mary’s faith wasn\u2019t just her own\u2014it was a gift of grace<\/strong>. Her belief in the miraculous conception wasn\u2019t natural\u2014it was spiritual.<\/p>\n

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4. Why Mary? God Gives Grace to the Humble<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Mary\u2019s unique qualification was her humility<\/strong>. She said:<\/p>\n

\u201cFor he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.\u201d<\/em>
\n(Luke 1:48)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This aligns with what the Bible teaches:<\/p>\n

\u201cGod opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.\u201d<\/em>
\n(1 Peter 5:5)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Mary\u2019s lowly position and humble heart positioned her to receive God’s greatest favor. Not just in womb, but in heart<\/strong>, she carried the Word.<\/p>\n

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5. Parallel with the Widow of Zarephath<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Jesus referenced this in Luke 4:25\u201326<\/strong>, showing how God’s provision often goes to those outside the expected circle<\/strong>\u2014those with faith and humility:<\/p>\n

\u201cBut in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel\u2026 and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow.\u201d<\/em>
\n(Luke 4:25\u201326)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Just like Mary, the widow believed the Word of God through the prophet\u2014even when it seemed unreasonable (1 Kings 17:8\u201316).<\/p>\n

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6. What Can We Learn?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Mary\u2019s story teaches us that God grants grace not to the most religious or powerful\u2014but to the humble who believe<\/strong>.<\/p>\n