Mary

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14

In the sixth month, 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 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." "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon 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 barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God." "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her. Matthew 1:18-25

She was just a kid, probably 13 or 14, as this was the customary age for girls of her time to be engaged. Soon she would be marrying Joseph, a righteous man whom her parents approved of.

She was alone in her home one day, perhaps cleaning or fixing dinner for her family. Suddenly the room grew bright. She turned around to see what was happening and gasped – there before her stood a figure like nothing she had ever seen. An angel?

The angel’s words, while quite odd, were reassuring. She had found favor with God. But then – she would have a child? Now?? How could she have a child? She wasn’t even married!

What would Joseph say? Her parents? This could cause quite a scandal. Pregnant and not married! Who would believe her when she tried to explain?

But Mary agreed to this task. God had a plan for her, and He would take care of her.