One of the first people to be called 'highly favored' in the New Testament is Mary, the mother of Jesus.  Did you ever wonder why God would tell the angel Gabriel to greet her in such a manner?  He not only greeted her as highly favored, he said it a second time, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God." I think scripture gives us some clues as to why God felt this way about her and I would like to comment on two of them.

The first one is found in Luke 1:38, which is her response to Gabriel and his incredible, even wild, message about God's Spirit coming upon her, overshadowing her and planting the seed of redemption in her womb.  Even though Hebrew women throughout the ages longed to be the mother of the Messiah, not many would have ever guessed it would happen this way.  This makes Mary's response even more amazing. 

Gabriel tells her that with God NOTHING is impossible.  He spoke faith into her and she responded with "I am the Lord's bondservant, slave, handmaiden;"  whatever word you choose.  She was submitting as servant to Master.  She positioned herself in a way that God could honor her.  Remember, the humble will always be exalted.  Then she went on to say, "Let it be to me according to your word."  In other words, 'I accept everything you have said and I align myself with God's will.'  This is clue number 1. 

Another clue is found in John 2 at the wedding of Cana.  The discourse between Jesus and His mother is almost comical.  At a Hebrew wedding there were days of festivities and running out of wine before the party was over was an embarrassment.  So Mary takes it upon herself to help the guests save face by bringing it to her Son's attention.

She very cryptically says "They have no wine."  And in essence Jesus says, "So?"  It really wasn't His problem and He wasn't ready to engage in miracles right then. However, she wouldn't let it go and said a statement to the servants that should resound in all our ears -"Whatever He says to you, do it."

If we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior we are already the favored of God.  His blood 'justifies' us and it's just-as-if-I'd-never-sinned.  We are now sons and daughters in His house and we are favored.  However, Mary's example of being HIGHLY favored has to be because of her great responses - 'You are God and I'm not.  I accept Your will.  Therefore, whatever You say I will do.'  In God's View, these are responses that are dear to His heart.  His Son responded in like manner.  So did His mother.  And now as their brothers and sisters, we get to participate in this as well.

Its amazing to me that people today will try anything and everything to get answers to life's complexities except they don't want to try Jesus.  I've been talking with a friend for the past year who has some church background but hasn't attended in years.  We have talked about the Lord and I've even prayed with her during some rough times over and the other day she was all excited about going to see the Dali Lama.  Another lady had a horrible operation and a difficult recovery and I talked with her about Jesus helping her through it and she said, "Oh I just need to find my Zen place."  Really?  There is such a place?