Mary: Ordinary, Poor And Chosen

The Angel said, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favour 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” (1:30-32).

A very famous and rich couple are going to have a baby next year. Yes, that’s right - the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. No doubt Kate will soon be flashing bay scan pictures to her friends and family and to the Queen – and there will be massive excitement across the country. And what do you think they will call their baby?

How famous was Mary? How well-to-do was Mary? Which school did she attend? Where was she from?

Mary was a young teenage girl. She was not well off and she was from Galilee.

Now when I say Galilee that means it was the place where most people would not want to be born. Think about it. Have you ever thought, “I’m so glad I wasn’t born in that town, or that county, or even in that estate.” That was Galilee! Mary was a country-bumpkin. She probably never went to school but if Joseph went to school it means he went to that school that’s in Special Measures, the school where you’d never send your kids; and Mary was poor. There’s no mention of her parents, and after Jesus was born she and Joseph took Jesus to the Temple and offered the sacrifice that only the poor would bring.

Mary was about as far from being a Princess as you could get and yet God chose her to carry Jesus. How about you? God’s not interested in how much money you have; which school you went to or if you’re well known. But he’s got a perfect, holy plan for you and he longs to hear you say, like Mary, “I am the Lord’s servant; may it be to me as you have said” (1:38).