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Birth and
Early Childhood
The one who was highly favored of the Lord was shocked when
she looked upon Gabriel who announced to her, a virgin, that
she would bring forth a son and his name would be called
Jesus.
When she looked upon Elizabeth and reported the news, there
flowed from her,heart the Magnificat, "My soul doth magnify
the Lord' and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For
he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for behold,
from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he
that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his
name" (Luke 1:46-49).
Her eyes looked upon Joseph to see his countenance change to
an expression of questionable anxiety and later to pure
serenity. Her eyes looked upon a long and weary road from
Nazareth to Bethlehem when the donkey that Joseph led strove
to fulfill its mission.
Her eyes observed the grotto, a stable where long before such
women as Rahab, the redeemed Jericho harlot, gave birth to
Boaz. Ruth, the believing Moabitess became mother to Obed, and
Jesse stood to behold his son David. Her eyes beheld excited
shepherds who came from keeping watch over their flocks that
night to see the new born babe in his swaddling clothes and to
report on the angel accompanied by a heavenly host.
Mary's eyes looked deeply into the face of her child who would
henceforth forever be Son of man and Son of God.
Her eyes beheld him on the eighth day when he received the
symbol of God's covenant to Abraham. Her eyes beheld him on
his 41st day when she offered the sacrifice as was required by
Moses, and when an affable stranger, Simeon, took the child
into his hands and sang his Nunc Dimittis.
Her eyes beheld the glitter of the wealthy and wise who came
from the east bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Her eyes looked upon the child in Egypt, in Nazareth, in the
temple at the age of twelve, in his teenage and early
adulthood, and in his ministry. Her eyes looked upon him on a
cross when a sword also pierced through her own soul.
SCRIPTURE STUDY:
Matthew 1:18-2:23; Luke 1:26-2:52
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