Mary believed God's Word. She trusted what defied understanding, logic, and biology. What a remarkable faith!

Nine months before the birth of Jesus, God sent Gabriel to Nazareth with an unbelievable message for Mary.

Mary was planning her wedding to Joseph and perhaps thinking of the children she would carry. But in her mind they were children of Joseph. Gabriel had different news. Mary would carry a child, but not like she thought. Gabriel addressed her as one who was "highly favored"(Luke 1:28). Even that greeting by a high ranking angel was an understatement. She would be with child and give birth to a son—Jesus, the Son of the Most High.

Mary asked, "How will this be . . . since I am a virgin?"(1:34). She knew the facts of life, and she and Joseph had "no union . . . until she gave birth to a son"as Matthew careful pointed out (Matthew 1:25). After Gabriel explained that the power of the Most High would overshadow her, Mary spoke some simple but remarkable words, "I am the Lord's servant. . . . May it be to me as you have said" (Luke 1:38). In humble faith, she accepted the role God chose for her.

She understood what this was all about. Mary's song of praise, which we still sing in our worship, begins, "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior" (Luke 1:46,47). What all the descendants of Abraham had waited for was about to happen. Sinful humanity would welcome the holy child, the Savior from sin and death.

Mary was clearly a "highly favored"woman. She is the mother of the Savior of the world—her Savior too. But some go beyond what God tells us about her. They make her into a co-redeemer; holy or immaculate; able to do miracles; and, because she was the mother of Jesus, able to intercede and answer prayers. Unfortunately, none of that has any foundation in the Scriptures. It's all fiction based on outwardly impressive declarations of human imagination. That human imagination also proclaims that Mary did not die but ascended into heaven much like her son Jesus did. I would not question the sincerity of the devotion and respect for Mary that led to it all, but it has all gone beyond what God says. And we only become presumptuous and arrogant when we go beyond what God says.

Yet I don't want to lose the example of Mary in the controversy over the cult of Mary. Mary believed God's Word. She trusted what defied understanding, logic, and biology. Whata remarkable faith! Imagine her first conversation with Joseph and his deep wounds. He was ready to call the marriage off because he believed she was unfaithful. God had to help him accept the miracle too. Then he is also an example of faith in the Word of God.