Whose Recognition Do You Seek? - JEHOVAH GAVE A HUMBLE YOUNG WOMAN UNEXPECTED RECOGNITION

Jehovah chose a humble  young woman named Mary to be the mother of his Son, Jesus.  Mary lived in a small city called Nazareth, far away  from Jerusalem and its beautiful temple. (Read Luke 1:26-33)  Why did Jehovah choose Mary?  The angel Gabriel told her that she had "found favor with God."  We can see that she was a very close friend of Jehovah from what she later told her relative Elizabeth. (Luke 1:46-55)  Jehovah had been watching Mary and gave her this unexpected recognition because she was faithful to him. 

When Jesus was born, whom did Jehovah tell about his birth?  Not any of the important officials or rulers in Jerusalem and Bethlehem. Instead, he sent angels to humble shepherd  who were caring for sheep in the fields outside Bethlehem.  (Luke 2:8-14) These shepherds visited the newborn baby.  (Luke 2:15-17)  Mary and Joseph muse have been very surprised to see Jesus honored in such a way.  Jehovah's way of doing things is different from the way the Devil does things. When Satan sent astrologers to visit Jesus and his parents, everyone in Jerusalem learned about Jesus' birth, ad this caused a bit of trouble.  (Matthew 2:3) As a result, many innocent children were later killed. - MATTHEW 2:16.

Jehovah's Law to Israel said that 40 days after birth to a son, a mother had to offer a sacrifice to Jehovah. So Mary traveled with Joseph and Jesus to Bethlehem  about nine kilometers (six miles) to the temple in Jerusalem. (Luke 2:22-24)  On the way, Mary may have wondered if the priest would do something special to honor Jesus.  Jesus was honored, but in a way that Mary may not have expected. Jehovah   chose Simeon, a "righteous and devout" man, and the prophetess Anna, and 84-year-old widow, to announce that Jesus would become the promised Messiah, or Christ. - LUKE 2:25-38.

Did Jehovah continue to give recognition to Mary because she faithfully raised and cared for Jesus? Yes, he did.  God made sure that some if the things that Mary said and did were recorded in the Bible. It seems that Mary was not able to travel with Jesus during the three and a half years that he preached. Perhaps because she was a widow, she had to stay in Nazareth. So she missed out on many beautiful experiences that others had.  But she was there with Jesus when he died.  (John 19:26) Later Mary was in Jerusalem with Jesus' disciples before they received holy spirit at Pentecost.  (Acts 1:13, 14)  She was likely anointed along with the other disciples. If so, it means that she received the opportunity to be with Jesus in heaven forever. That is certainly reward  for her faithful service! 

Next time: Whose Recognition Do You Seek? - JEHOVAH GAVE RECOGNITION TO HIS SON

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