Mary was a young Jewish girl chosen by God to give birth to Jesus. She humbly accepted this role despite not understanding fully how it would happen. Mary treasured the unusual events around Jesus' birth and her relationship with him changed as he grew up performing miracles and identifying himself as the Son of God. Mary maintained faith and devotion to God's will throughout her life and serves as an example of humility and obedience for Christians today.

1. Mary ChristmasMary (“loved by Yahweh”).Main contribution: Mary gave birth to Jesus the son of God, the Saviour of the world.

2. Mary’s BackgroundThe angel Gabriel announced to her that she had been chosen by God to give birth to the promised Messiah. Many unusual events were associated with that birth. Mary remembered and treasured these events. During the thirty years Jesus lived with the family and carried on Joseph’s trade, Mary and Joseph provided a home for Jesus.

3. MARY’S RELATIONSHIPS.A. Mary’s relationship with God (Luke 1:26-38; 46-55). Mary’s relationship with God is beautifully portrayed in the account of Gabriel’s visit to her and in Mary’s psalm of praise known as the Magnificent.

4. MARY’S RELATIONSHIPS.B. Mary’s humility (Luke 1:26-30). Mary had never thought of herself as special. She was simply a young Jewish girl, probably about thirteen years of age, the typical age for betrothal in first-century Galilee.

5. MARY’S RELATIONSHIPS.C. Mary’s calling (Luke 1:31-33). 1. She would conceive and bring forth a Son.2. She would name her Son Jesus (“Saviour”).3. Her Son would be great.4. Her Son would be “the Son of the Highest” (that is, God).5. God would give Him the throne of David.6. Her Son would reign over Israel forever.7. Her Son’s kingdom would never end.

6. MARY’S RELATIONSHIPS. D. Mary’s question (Luke 1:34-37). We can measure the depth of Mary’s faith by the question she asked, and the questions she did not ask. The question Mary asked was a natural one. How could she have a child since she had never had sexual relations with a man? The question arose out of curiosity, not doubt. And the angel answered her:“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God” Luke 1:35.

7. MARY’S RELATIONSHIPS.E. Mary’s Magnificent (Luke 1:46-55). Luke records a magnificent praise poem that gives further insights into Mary’s relationship with God. In it we see her joy at the opportunity she had been given to magnify God’s name, her presentation of praise to Him for His attributes and His actions on Israel’s behalf.

8. MARY’S RELATIONSHIPS.F. Mary’s relationship with Joseph (Matthew 1:18-25; 13:55). Their relationship produced a large number of additional children. Matthew specifically mentions four brothers, James, Joses, Simon, and Judas, and unnamed number of sisters (Matthew 13:55; see also John 7:3–5). Mary had a healthy and normal relationship with Joseph after the birth of Jesus. Together they provided an ideal home for Jesus and their other children.

9. MARY’S RELATIONSHIPS.G. Mary’s relationship with Jesus (Luke 2:33, 51; John 2:2-5; Mark 3:31-35). Despite the early evidence that Jesus was indeed special, the Gospels suggest that Christ grew up as such a “normal” child that even Mary’s vision of His identity was clouded.

10. MARY’S RELATIONSHIPS.H. Early evidence of Jesus’ uniqueness (Matthew 1; Luke 1-2). So many events marked Jesus as special in Mary’s mind:There was the angel’s visit. The miraculous pregnancy. Joseph’s confirmation of his confidence of her virgin state. When Jesus was born, shepherds appeared with their tale of angels celebrating in Bethlehem’s skies. Luke 2:19 states that “Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.”

11. MARY’S RELATIONSHIPS.I. Mary’s relationship with the child Jesus (Luke 2:41-51). While Jesus was aware of His identity and mission, Mary seemed unaware.Luke concluded his remarks by saying that “then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart” Luke 2:51. Jesus lived the life of a normal, growing boy. That Jesus was so normal a child in her large family must have led Mary to treat Jesus with the same love and discipline as her other sons and daughters.

12. MARY’S RELATIONSHIPS.J. Mary’s relationship with Jesus changes (John 2:1-5). On the way back to Galilee after His baptism, Jesus and several friends who later became disciples stopped to share in a wedding celebration in Cana. When the wine ran out, Mary found Jesus and reported, “They have no wine” John 2:3. “Jesus is about to perform the first of His miraculous signs; a sign that will reveal His glory and move His disciples to “put their faith in Him” Luke 2:11. Long ago Jesus had insisted that “I had to be in My Father’s house” Luke 2:49. Yet Jesus returned to Nazareth, and lived as a child in Mary and Joseph’s house. Gently Jesus rejects Mary’s importunity: Woman, what to me and to you? Woman, now no earthly relationship can bind me, for at last I am setting out on My Father’s business. Mary bows now to her son, and says to the servants, “Do whatever He tells you” John 2:5. Jesus is now subject to the Father alone,

13. MARY’S RELATIONSHIPS.K. Mary fails to understand (Matthew 12:46-50; Mark 3:31-35; Luke 8:19-21). Jesus at one time said, “Who is My mother, or My brothers?” Mark 3:33. Looking at those around Him, Jesus then answered His own question.“Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of God are My brother and My sister and mother” Mark 3:34-35. Any human being can have a family relationship with Jesus, but that relationship can only be established by putting that trust in the Saviour that God requires.

14. MARY’S RELATIONSHIPS.L. Mary among the disciples (John 19:25-27; Acts 1:14). We next meet Mary standing near the cross with women friends and John the disciple. We cannot imagine Mary’s pain during those bitter hours. What happened reveals Jesus’ special concern for His mother.As He hung on the cross Jesus took note of Mary and John. Fixing His gaze on Mary, Jesus nodded toward John and said, “Woman, behold your son” John 19:26. And then gazing at John, he nodded toward Mary, saying, “Behold your mother!” John understood Jesus’ request, and “from that hour that disciple took her to his own home” John 19:27. Mary still held a special place in His heart.

15. MARY: AN EXAMPLE FOR TODAY.Everyone should have a faith similar to Mary’s. Each day we should pray, “Behold the (servant) of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word” Luke 1:38. This is a simple prayer of faith and submission to God’s will.

16. Mary ChristmasDo you know the Jesus that Mary knew?Mary Christmas one and all! Internetpreachersforchrist.co.uk