It is a mysterious thing I have been told. Many other girls are mothers at my age, but they have come to it by natural means. They have all had husbands! But that is not to happen for me.

An angel…”highly favored,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.”

And then he told me that I will conceive and bear a son, by the power of the Most High… I am to be the mother of Messiah…

Humbled and overwhelmed, I said, “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.”¹

The angel has just left me and so many questions come to mind, things I wish I had asked. What do I do with this news? How do I prepare? What will my parents say? Oh dear, what about Joseph? Yes, what about Joseph?

Elizabeth! The angel told me that she who is well along in years is in her sixth month of pregnancy. Who but Elizabeth will understand? I will go to her…

* * *

I enter the house of Zechariah and Elizabeth and call out, “Elizabeth? Elizabeth, it’s Mary!” She comes quickly to me.

“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”²

For three months I stay with Elizabeth. She who was thought to be barren—and gossiped about by many who suspected her condition was the consequences of her unfaithfulness either to God or to her husband—is so full of joy and hope for the child she carries. Her confidence in our God strengthens mine as well.

This time with Elizabeth has settled me. Zechariah has shown us Scriptures that speak of our sons, and one that speaks even of a virgin who will be with child… That’s me! “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.”³

* * *

We’ve come 90 miles. We are hungry and tired, my feet are swollen, and Joseph looks so weary. And now there is no place for us to stay. Wait… someone is leading us to a cave with fresh hay in the manger. The presence of several animals should help us stay warm. Precious baby, you are ready, and so am I.

* * *

What’s that noise? Who is entering our cave? Are they shepherds? They’ve come to see Jesus? How did they know…an angel? A host of angels singing?

“Blessed God-on-High! You are certainly up to something bigger than I ever could have imagined. Praise your name!”

* * *

Our precious boy is causing a stir in the temple. First Simeon, and then Anna, an old widow prophet who worships day and night in the temple. When she saw Simeon holding Jesus in his arms, praising God and prophesying over him, Anna herself gave thanks to God and shared the news of Jesus to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

“My heart is full, Lord God. For all my days I will seek you. I will nurture my son—Your Son—and Joseph and I will raise him to for You. The Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name.”

“But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart” (Luke 1:19).

See Luke 1:26-56 and 2:1-40 for Mary’s story.
¹Luke 1:38
²Luke 1:42-45
³Luke 1:46-48

All photos are from the website freebibleimages.org. These come from four separate stories on their website: “An Angel visits Mary,” “Mary visits Elizabeth,” “The birth of Jesus,” and “Simeon and Anna thank God for sending Jesus”.