And the angel came in unto her and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women. Luke 1:28
How much does it take to impress an angel? What would you or I ever be able to do or be in order to make an angel stand up and take notice? After all, these are holy beings who are diligent in their service for their God, and they know nothing of the faults and failures that are so much a part of human nature. It is very difficult for us to conceive of anything that they would appreciate. And yet, in our text, we have an angel who is impressed with a person. No less than the great angel Gabriel is speaking with a young virgin in Nazareth. Gabriel addresses her with the word ‘Hail’, which is a salute for a person of great importance. He speaks of her as being highly favoured and says the Lord is with her. This from an angel is high praise, and because angels cannot lie, it would have to be the truth, a sincere compliment from the heavenly messenger. So Mary would be worthy of this praise. Are any others worth of such praise?
We know that Mary was not perfect, a fact that she acknowledged herself in her conversation with Elisabeth (verse 47) as she refers to her Saviour. We know little or nothing about her upbringing as a child in Nazareth, or of her family. But in that rough and ill-spoken-of town, she must have stood out as a good girl, a well behaved daughter, and one who observed not only the law of her parents but also the law of God. We have no details, apart from Gabriel’s salutation. But we know that this young lady was genuine in her devotion to her God. She truly did the best that she could in the circumstances of her life. And she serves as a wonderful example to young folks today (and to us older folks as well).
Mary’s circumstances were not favourable. Perhaps she came from a devout family, no doubt she did. But there was nothing devout about Nazareth, and a young person seeking to honour God would have been an exception. It sounds like the environment in which young people today grow up. The world is filled with mockery for anything that has to do with God, and reproach for any who would seek to be holy in their life. This is not easy for young Christians to endure and survive, but as Mary proved, it is not only possible but it is commendable. Mary would have to make an effort to receive any instruction in the Word of God. Attendance at services in the synagogue would be her only means of hearing the Scriptures, apart from quotations from her godly parents, and the singing of the Psalms by her family and neighbours. Young Christians today are in a society awash in entertainment, gadgets, and lifestyles that would shut God out. And yet, like Mary, today’s young Christians can honour God and serve him.
No angel is likely to commend us for our godliness and devotion to our Lord. But it would be a good goal for us to live our lives so that angels might appreciate our effort. -Jim MacIntosh