Young Mary, Mother of God

     “How brave am I? Can I bear this call on my life without breaking? Why have I been chosen to mother the Son of God? I’m only thirteen, how can this be true?… I’m a virgin.”

     My story all begins with a troubling visitation. I, Mary, a young Jewish girl living in Nazareth heard the call of God—and not at the most convenient of times. I was engaged to a man named Joseph from King David’s lineage. “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”  I was disturbed by this message and did not understand the words of the angel. But the angel assured me I had nothing to fear.

     “Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end” (Luke 1:30-33).

     “I am the Lord’s servant. I’ll do it! I will submit to His will for me.”

     Well, after I said “yes” to God, my life changed. When the angel came to me, I was not prepared for all I would face. He didn’t even explain everything, but simply heard my willing submission to God. So God’s plan went forward. I could only look ahead, and up. Here I was, only thirteen, bearing the weight that part of the Trinity was living inside of me, but always aware I was just a peasant girl.

     As you can imagine the months ahead were not easy. Joseph didn’t believe my story at first, but he extended grace to me. What more could I ask of him? It was all too fantastical to believe.  I was born in 20 B.C., during a time when women were stoned for adultery. Joseph was planning to divorce me quietly and spare my life. But after considering this, God sent an angel to Joseph in a dream, explaining that I was indeed carrying the Messiah. The angel told him that His name should be Jesus, because He would save all people from their sins. So now, we carried this burden together. The Lord knew we needed each other in the days that followed.

     During my pregnancy, Caesar Augustus issued a decree for a census to be taken of the entire Roman world. The Mediterranean world was expanding. We had to go from Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem, the town of David, because we belonged to David’s lineage. This was about a three-day trip and women 12 years of age and older were required to register. I had to make the journey. We knew the baby was coming soon, but not sure how soon.

     While we were there, Jesus was born. This wasn’t exactly the way I dreamed it would be. There were no rooms available for us at the inn, but Joseph searched and searched to find a respectable place for us. We found a manger in a stable. Here, on a bed of hay, our Son was born.  I wrapped Jesus in strips of cloths to keep him warm and still. He didn’t seem to mind his humble beginning and radiated with God’s glory.  Joseph and I couldn’t keep our eyes off of him and we just kept blinking through the tears to see Him more clearly. I couldn’t believe I was finally holding my Son, the Savior of the world. My arms trembled as cuddled with Him, and I felt a joy I had never known, holding All Holiness.

     Soon, the shepherds came and found us. The angels told them where we were. They came and were just as amazed as we were with this Child. In that quiet, lonely night, Joseph, Jesus, and I found comfort in the company of shepherds and some friendly barn animals.  These beginning moments of Jesus’ life were precious to me. I held Him tightly all night, pondering all that the Lord had done to bring this miracle about. It all made little sense and seemed so—impossible. What if I would have said, no to God’s plan?  I rejoiced in what God had done! All my fears and anxieties left my heart and I continued to accept the role of mothering the Son of God. The word spread quickly that Jesus, King of the Jews, was born, and the reminder that a sinful world awaited Jesus was further realized.

     Soon after Jesus’ birth, the Magi from the East came to worship Him. Herod was very disturbed at this and became very threatened. Herod, not a Jew, was ruthless. He murdered his wife, his three sons, and many others during his reign, not to mention innocent babies.  In his rage, he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem, hoping to kill my Son.  Joseph had another visitation from an angel, who said, “Take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child and kill him.” Again, God protected us and we returned to Nazareth until we heard of Herod’s death.

     Through all these trials, the Lord’s faithfulness protected us. He accomplished all He promised through me. I could have said, no. God gave me a free will. Yet, there was something inside me that said, “You must be apart of this wonderful plan. You’ve been chosen.” I could have taken an easier road for my life, but I would have missed out on experiencing God’s amazing power at work in me.

      Through the years raising my son Jesus, I still often wondered, why me? Surely there were other, older, more qualified mothers that could have taken on the task. Yet, in God’s wisdom, He chose me. As scandalous at it sounds, I knew His way had to be the best choice.  I had to trust His plan, not mine.

       My story continues to cause people to question why God picked such an unconventional way to save the world. Why is it that God chose a thirteen-year-old girl Jewish girl, to be the mother of His Son?  And, it would have been so much easier if I were married before the Holy Spirit placed Jesus in my womb. All the ridicule that could have been avoided. And Joseph’s anguish and shame. Couldn’t Jesus have been born under more favorable circumstances? Why couldn’t there have been room in the inn, at least? And, perhaps life would have been easier if Jesus hadn’t have been born under the reign of the most evil ruler, who found nothing wrong with killing babies. Many mothers’ hearts could have been spared. No doubt, God could have chosen an easier road for me, but I would have never known emphatically with all my heart that “all things are possible with God.”

Mary’s Song

And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.  From on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is this name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. … “

(Luke 1:46-50)

Tracey D. Lawrence

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