“In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, ‘Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.’ Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; His kingdom will never end.’ ‘How will this be,’ Mary asked the angel, ‘since I am a virgin?’ The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.’ ‘I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May your word to me be fulfilled.’ Then the angel left her.” Luke 1:26-38 (NIV).
Becoming the mother of the Messiah would seem to be a path full of glory and honor. But Mary knew that wasn’t going to be her reality. Engaged, not married, she realized the implications of accepting the angel’s proposal right away.
Showing up pregnant and unwed in a society that had stoning rules for such situations was scary at the least. Then there was Joseph–what would he think? What would he do about their relationship? There were many unknowns and many unanswered questions about the future. And why did God choose Mary–she was young, she was from a tiny village, she had no power or influence, no education–why did God choose her? Why God chose Mary gives us lessons for our own lives.
Mary Was Humble Before God
“‘I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May your word to me be fulfilled.’ Then the angel left her.” Luke 1:38 (NIV). Mary’s life was planned out. A wedding was looming. Plans had been made–and then an angel showed up. The angel tells Mary she will be the mother of the Messiah, and Mary questions the situation “‘How will this be,’ Mary asked the angel, ‘since I am a virgin?’” Luke 1:34 (NIV). and then humbly surrenders to God’s plan even though she has lots of questions and issues with what she has been told is the plan of God. I think most people in Mary’s situation would have gone immediately to Joseph and her parents and let them in on the big secret, so a plan could be made to manage the fallout.
But she didn’t do any of that. She didn’t tell anyone except Elizabeth, who already knew. Her view must have been: If God can do this miracle, He can handle all the other details.
Humility means we recognize who we are–sinners that have nothing and know we would be nowhere without God.
Mary’s Life Would Be Difficult
The road ahead was going to be difficult and painful. When Jesus was presented in the Temple as an infant, a man named Simeon said this to Mary: “Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, His mother: ‘This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.’” Luke 2:34-35 (NIV).
Mary was present at Jesus’ crucifixion. Though He was the Messiah, the Son of God, He was also her son. She faced terrible pain and hurt.
When we follow God’s plan there may be challenge and difficulties, but there will be no better place to be.
Mary Faced Her Fears
“But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of his father David, and He will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; His kingdom will never end. Luke 1:30-33 (NIV).
We can have all sorts of fears: Fear of change, fear of not being enough, fear of the future. But always our fears leave out God. A key lesson from Mary is: God works through ordinary people in extraordinary ways and fear can keep us from God’s plan.
A church leader once said to me as we discussed a project for the community: “It’s amazing to be able to be part of God’s plan.” That is true. Nothing is better!
One day we will all face God. He will simply ask: “What did you do with what I gave you?” We cannot let our fears defeat our faith.
Mary Trusted in the Lord
“Mary responded, ‘I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.’ And then the angel left her” Luke 1:38 (NLT).
Basically Mary was all in. Mary’s example of humble faith and trust encourages us to move forward by faith depending on our Lord.
Have you ever told God: I'm willing to do whatever You want me to do? That is a great prayer to make your prayer. We give glory to God when we come to Him unconditionally and surrender and trust in the Lord. The Christmas season is a great time to say: I can give up on trusting myself. I want to make Jesus my Savior, my Lord, my Rescuer, my Deliverer.
