The NIV 365 Day Devotional

Mary: A Faithful Example

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him 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 Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.”

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

Luke 1:26-38

Mary’s life changed dramatically when the angel Gabriel appeared to her. She was pledged to be married to Joseph when Gabriel told her she would conceive and give birth to a son through the Holy Spirit—a child who would reign on David’s throne forever. Mary humbly replied that she was God’s servant and that God’s word should be fulfilled (Lk 1:26–38). The rest of this beloved and miraculous story is recorded in Luke chs. 1–2.

When Jesus was twelve years old, Mary and Joseph discovered he was missing as they returned home from celebrating Passover in Jerusalem. They went back and found Jesus in the temple courts, talking with religious teachers. Mary chastised Jesus for scaring her and Joseph, but Jesus responded that it was right for him to be in his father’s house. Luke tells us that Mary pondered this in her heart (Lk 2:41–51).

Mary encouraged Jesus to perform his first public miracle at a wedding feast, helping the host who had run out of wine (Jn 2:1–5). Though Jesus said his time had not yet come, he miraculously turned water into wine. Mary was confident that Jesus would be able and willing to help.

Mary stayed near Jesus for much of his ministry, but she did not always understand him. At one point in his early ministry his family thought he was out of his mind (Mk 3:21); this may have included Mary, but the text is not clear.

Mary remained with Jesus to the time of his death. From the cross Jesus spoke to her, putting her in the care of his beloved disciple, John (Jn 19:26–27). After that, a prediction that had been made about Mary came to pass: “And a sword will pierce your own soul too” (Lk 2:35).

APPLICATION Mary was given a monumental task: to give birth to the Son of God and raise him to adulthood. She humbly accepted this calling. Mary sets an example for all of Jesus’ followers who continue to bring the presence of Christ into the world through his Holy Spirit with acts of obedience and love. Mary was not only a devoted mother, but she was also a devoted follower of Christ and a faithful example throughout all of history of what it looks like to say yes to God’s call.

Taken from the NIV Application Bible.