The Handmaiden

Have you ever wondered what kind of woman God chose to be the “blessed among women” mother of His only Son?

The story in the gospel of Luke (1:26-38) tells us.

Gabriel was sent from God to tell the young Jewish maiden she would have a holy baby.  Without the aid of ultrasound she would know beyond a doubt it was to be a boy.  She didn’t have to ponder over names.  He already came with one.

Yeshua, our salvation.

She was the first to receive the birth announcement.  Soon after she was angelically informed that the Son of God was being knit within her womb she didn’t run off to shop for a color coordinated layette, but instead fled to the hills to cousin Elizabeth.

On night divine, we can see her lying beneath the famed star revealing a sacred silhouette of a mother expelling a Son for the world.  No sanitized maternity ward, only hay and a feeding trough.

Lullabies by angel choruses.

No baby showers, only unique treasures brought by exotic foreigners.  The baby King received a throne and an unending kingdom from his Father.

The Christ bearer delivered her Deliverer.

She experienced the painful privilege of her special role.  Her face was the first the infant holy beheld as she looked back into the face of her God.  Prophecy fulfilled.

Later she would look into the face of a suffering son from the foot of the cross.

We can’t begin the earth story of Jesus without remembering Mary.

Chaste, humble, devoted, and faithful.

Because of this holy birth we can become clothed in the character that God looks upon with favor.  We also are handmaidens created and called for a purpose, to bear Jesus to a lost world.

We only need to trust and respond.

Behold, the handmaiden of the Lord; be it done to me according to Your word. 

Luke 1:38