A surrogate is a substitute, especially a person deputizing for another in a specific role or office. The definition of a surrogate mother is a woman who bears a child on behalf of another person or a couple, typically via artificial insemination or in vitro fertilization. Based upon the words of Luke, a first centurion doctor, Mary is compared to the surrogate of God. Who needs artificial insemination when you have the power of the Holy Spirit as Mary was a virgin teenage girl.
Now in the sixth month [after that], the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 To a girl never having been married and a [v]virgin engaged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, a descendant of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, Hail, O favored one [[w]endued with grace]! The Lord is with you! [x]Blessed (favored of God) are you before all other women! – Luke 1:26-28
This isn’t something that you’ll find in a high school sex education class. While most first century children were uneducated, local synagogues taught young Jewish men and women about life through the Bar Mitzvah process for boys and Bat Mitzvah for girls. Similar to the Confirmation process which takes place in Christian churches, the Jews believed children become adults at age twelve. Jesus’ Bar Mitzvah is featured in Luke 2:41-52 where Jesus is allowed to teach in the temple for the first time.
But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled and disturbed and confused at what he said and kept revolving in her mind what such a greeting might mean. 30 And the angel said to her, Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found grace ([y]free, spontaneous, absolute favor and loving-kindness) with God. 31 And listen! You will become pregnant and will give birth to a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus. 32 He will be great (eminent) and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to Him the throne of His forefather David, 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob throughout the ages; and of His reign there will be no end, Luke 1:29-33.
When an angel appeared to Joseph in Matthew 1:18-25, Joseph realized that his future wife would become the surrogate of God. To avoid any questions about this child’s father, Joseph decides to not have sex with his wife until after Jesus was born. Despite the rumors spreading about Mary’s illegitimate child throughout Joseph’s hometown, they each trusted God about the message conveyed to each of them by angels. These are the circumstances of Mary, the surrogate of God and mother of Jesus.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 