1-She could give any female athlete today a good run for the money. At 9 months pregnant, she traveled by donkey for days on end, over a week— 90 miles through rough and dangerous terrain rising in altitude. (69 miles as the crow flies –the appx. distance of Macon, Ga. to Atlanta, Ga.)
2-Mary and Joseph were not Immigrants. They were traveling as good, legal citizens on journey to take part in a required census.
3-Mary was a common woman from Nazareth, likely a teen, with a spirit and a need for forgiveness from a Savior as any other human. “My spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” Mary was blessed and chosen not only to birth the Savior, but to brand and know His saving grace.
4-Mary, a virgin at Christ’s birth, went on to have other children with her husband Joseph. (James, Joseph, Simon, Judas—and daughters not named) “Joseph had no union with her UNTIL she gave birth to a son”. (Matthew 1:25)
5-Just as Jesus was a humble servant, so was Mary. Just as Jesus was a common man in appearance and reputation, so was Mary a simple neighborhood girl indistinguishable from other girls her age. Just as Jesus chose 12 common, hardworking, non-notable men for the Disciples, so God chose a common woman whose necessary character traits were humility and servanthood. Both Mary and Jesus were born of woman.
6-Mary endured the death of her son and yet nothing of her own death is recorded in the bible. The apostles did not especially recognize her. She was content, given her character, to say this, “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 now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me — holy is His name”. She would be called blessed, not because of status, rather the grace of God—the same grace we call upon today.
7-Isaiah chapter 7:13-14 A MIRACLE IN AND OF ITSELF.
In the 8th century BC, Mary and the Messiah Immanuel were prophesied.
“Listen, every one of you in the royal family of David. You have already tried my patience. Now you are trying God’s patience by refusing to ask for proof. But the Lord will still give you proof. A virgin is pregnant; she will have a son and will name him Immanuel.” (which means, ‘God with us.’)
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