Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-07-03

One day this Jewish maiden, de
scendant of the House of Davit
through another son than Solomon
the fiancee of Joseph, was visited
by the angel Gabriel. He probably
appeared in the form of a man, fol
she was not Startled at his appear
ance or presence. She was troubled
at his Saying" for he had greeted
her thus: Hail, highly favored, the
Lord is with thee; blessed art thoU
among women" AS she was think
ing over in her mind what this
could mean the angel said to her
Fear not, Mary; for thou hast
found favor with God, and behold
thou shalt conceive in thy womb
and bring forth a son, and Shalt
call his name Jesus" The ange
then proceeded to tell her that this
son should be called the Son of the
Highest, that He should sit on the
throne of His father, David, and
reign forever.
Mary was more bewildered than
ever, for she knew that her life had
been absolutely pure and she sc
stated in her question.
Gabriers answer explained all
The Holy Spirit would overshadow
her, and therefore that holy thing
which shall be born of thee shall be
called the Son of God He then
told her of the condition of her old
cousin. Elizabeth. and added for the
strengthening of her faith, For
with God nothing shall be impos-
sible.'
Mary believed and submitted her
wilt to the will of God without ques-
ton. One of the great character
istics of her life was demonstrated
in her words, Behold, the hand
maiden of the Lord, be it unto me
according to thy word"
Possibly, but probably not, she
realized what that involved, that she
should be the subject of the village
gossip, that her former friends
would forsake her as one not fit to
associate with them, that Der
! spouse would suspect her of In
fidelity and if he followed the law
might have her stoned to death for
fornication and adultry, that even
down for nearly 1000 years there
would be men who claim to be
heralds of the cross but who by
their unAelief proclaimed her son
a bastar4 Even if she had realized
all of this, we believe she would still
| have said what she did say.
Her visit to her Cousin Elizabeth
was probably to get away for the
time from Just such things as have
been mentioned. He had to have
somebody to talk with who under
Stood and who better would under
stand her than Elizabeth. Probably
her own need of a Saviour and her
The salutation of Elizabeth, how
ever, comforted her. One word OF
Elizabeth's seems to have met the
situation exactly. And blessed is
she that believed" said Elizabeth,
indicating that Mary had been dis
turbed. Mary's heart leaped for JOY
then and she burst out in singing.
Her song is so much like that of
Hannah's that we must infer that
Mary had been a close student OF
the Scriptures. In it she expresses
her own need of a SaviOus and her
praise to God that He has provided
a way that will meet every need
of everyone.
Josephs doubts when she return
ed three months later were removed
by a visitation from the angel VINO
made the Situation plain to him. AT
his direction Joseph married Mary,
thus making her child his legal
heir. This child was the only one
who could fulfill the prophecies
above mentioned; David's son
through Mary, but not Joseph's ac-
tual son, was the only one who
could inherit David's throne.
The order of Augustus made it
necessary for Joseph and his wife
Mary, both Of them being descend
ants of the house of David, to go
to Bethlehem to be enrolled. 1t
was a hard journey for this young
woman at this particular time, and
before she reached the end of it
she was in the pains of parturition.
Every mother can sympathlze with
this young mother-to be. The
crowded condition of the hosiery
when they reached Bethlehem made
it necessary for Joseph to leave her
in the stable with the beasts while
he went out to find a place for
her; but while he was gone she
gave birth to her child and laid
him in d manager.
Strange experiences followed. The
visit of the angels and their story,
the acts and words of Simeon and
the alteration of Anna in the temple
forty days later, the visit of the
kings of the east, and finally the
warning and flight into Egypt-all
of these made their impression on
Mary. She kept these sayings and
pondered them in her heart, be-
cause she and Joseph alone OF all
the people in that section knew of
the conception of this child by the
Holy Spirit. Simeon's words burn
ed into her very soul. This old
prophet who was well known to
every visitor to the temple for years
took the child in his arms and
spoke of Him as Gods salvation, as
a light for the heather, as the
glory of Israel. No wonder Joseph
and his mother marvelled at these
words. Then Simeon's words to
Mary: Behold, this child is set for
the fall and rising again of many
in Israel, and for a sign which shall
be spoken against that the thoughts
of MANY hearts may be revG@ led.
Yea, for this purpose, a sword shall
pierce through thine own soul also.
Many a time in the years that fol-
| lowed must Mary have recalled these
words of sinners.
There are only five other refer
| ences to Mary in the Scripture
when she lost Jesus at the Passover.
when she spoke to Him at the wed
| ding in Cana, when the Nazarenes
| refused to believe Him because they
knew Him and his family so well,
when she and her younger sons and
| daughters came to stop Jesus be-
! cause they thought He was going
crazy, and when we find her at the
| the foot of the cross.
She taught her son to love the
scriptures, and His affection for her
is seen in every reference. Do not
! misunderstood His words; there is
| in not one of them. anu o,.iIo..@.A "a