IMITATE THEIR FAITH-"Look! Jehovah's Slave Girl!"

MARY looked up, wide-eyed, as the visitor entered her home. He did not ask for her father or her mother. He was there to see her! He could not be from Nazareth; of that she was sure. In a small town like hers, strangers stood out. This one would stand out anywhere. He addressed Mary in a way that was altogether new to her, saying: "Good day, highly favored one, Jehovah is with you." -Luke 1:28. 

Thus, the Bible introduces us to Mary, daughter of Heli, of the town of Nazareth in Galilee. We meet her at a crossroads, in a sense.  She was engaged to marry the carpenter Joseph-not a wealthy  man but a faithful one. So her course may have seemed  to lie neatly mapped out before her-a simple life of working supportively as the wife of Joseph, raising a family together with him.  Suddenly, though, she found herself faced with this visitor who  brought her an assignment from her God, a responsibility that would change her life.

You might be surprised to learn that the Bible does not tell us much about Mary.  It says little of her background, less of her personality, and nothing at all of her appearance. Yet, what God's Word does say about her is revealing indeed. 

In order to get acquainted with Mary, we need to look beyond many preconceptions about her that are promoted in various religions.  So let us set aside the countless "likenesses" executed in paint, marble, or plaster. Let us set aside, too, the complex theology and dogma that bestow on this humble woman such lofty  titles as "Mother of God" and "Queen of Heaven."  Let us instead focus  on what the Bible actually reveals.  It gives us priceless insight  into her faith and how we can imitate it. 

Next time: A Visit From an Angel

From the Watchtower magazine, 2008