Meet the Most Significant Woman in the History of the World

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. The angel came to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored. The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women.”

When she saw him, she was troubled by his words, and considered in her mind what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Listen, you will conceive in your womb and bear a Son and shall call His name JESUS. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest. And the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. And of His kingdom there will be no end.”

Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”

The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you. Therefore the Holy One who will be born will be called the Son of God. Listen, your cousin Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age. And this is the sixth month with her who was declared barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.”

Mary said, “I am the servant of the Lord. May it be unto me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her (Luke 1:26-38).

As the mother of God, Mary is the most significant woman in the history of the world. Mary’s story begins with the mother of us all, Eve, the first woman in the history of the world.

At the dawn of creation, God made Adam and Eve in his image and likeness and gave them great freedom to enjoy their life. Sadly, our first parents succumbed to Satan and disobeyed the one restriction God placed on their life, by eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The consequence of this sinful separation from God was death. And God would have been perfectly just to end the story of the Bible right there. But He instead speaks to our first parents, revealing a gracious rescue plan to turn his lost enemies into his loving family.

Who is the godliest woman you know? What can you do to encourage her today for her example? {eoa}

Mark Driscoll is a Jesus-following, mission-leading, church-serving, people-loving, Bible-preaching pastor and the author of many books, including Spirit-Filled Jesus, which you can order here. He currently pastors The Trinity Church in Scottsdale, Arizona, with his family. For all of pastor Mark Driscoll’s Bible teaching, please visit markdriscoll.org or download the app. You can download a free devotional e-book from pastor Mark here.