It says little of her background, less of her personality, and nothing at all of her appearance. In order to get acquainted with Mary, what do we need to ignore, and on what do we need to focus?ģ Many are surprised to learn that the Bible does not tell us much about Mary. Suddenly, though, she found herself faced with this visitor who brought her an assignment from her God, a responsibility that would change her life.ģ, 4. So her course may have seemed to lie neatly mapped out before her​-a simple life of working supportively as the wife of Joseph, raising a family together with him. She was engaged to marry the carpenter Joseph who was, not a man of wealth, but a man of faith. Ģ Thus the Bible introduces us to Mary, daughter of Heli, of the town of Nazareth in Galilee. He addressed Mary in a way that was altogether new to her, saying: “Good day, highly favored one, Jehovah is with you.”​- Read Luke 1:26-28. In a small town like hers, strangers stood out. He was there to see her! He could not be from Nazareth of that she was sure. He did not ask for her father or her mother.

MARY looked up, wide-eyed, as the visitor entered her home. (a) Mary received what greeting from a stranger? (b) In what way was Mary at a crossroads?