In the next part of our Immanuel devotional series, Lorna Wilkinson looks at our second ‘M’ - Mary 🌷.

Mary was visited by the angel Gabriel and received a very important message. The Holy Spirit would come upon her, and although she was a virgin, she would give birth to a baby boy who was the Son of God (Luke 1:26-38).

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” Isaiah 7:14 📖.

“All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” Matthew 1:22 📖.

In the first chapter of his Gospel, Matthew records the genealogy of Jesus Christ, who was born of David’s line. The Lord told Joseph to not be afraid to take Mary as his wife; she was bearing a son conceived by the Holy Spirit who was going to save His people from their sins. Indeed, this is why Mary was told to call Him Jesus (Matthew 1:21).

In Luke 1:38, Mary acknowledged, “Behold I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word”. Luke also records the Magnificat, Mary’s song of praise to the Lord (Luke 1:46-55). She rejoices in God her Saviour and realises how blessed she is to be given the privilege to bear the Son of God. Gender reveal is nothing new!

Her baby was the One promised in the Garden of Eden and foretold throughout the Old Testament. It was now time for the Christmas miracle! As we read in Galatians 4:4, “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son…” God always keeps His word. Let us rejoice in the Saviour’s birth ⭐️👑

“Once in Royal David’s city
Stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother laid her Baby
In a manger for His bed:
Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ her little Child.

He came down to earth from heaven,
Who is God and Lord of all,
And His shelter was a stable,
And His cradle was a stall;
With the poor, and mean, and lowly,
Lived on earth our Saviour holy.

And through all His wondrous childhood
He would honour and obey,
Love and watch the lowly maiden,
In whose gentle arms He lay:
Christian children all must be
Mild, obedient, good as He.”

Extract from ‘Once in Royal David’s City’, by Cecil Frances Alexander 1848