Intro

I love hearing songs about God’s plan in public spaces during the Christmas season!  While running errands this week I noticed the store was playing the song “Mary Did You Know”, and I began to think about what the experience must have been like for her.  Most first-time mothers are nervous enough, without the extra pressure of being responsible for the Savior of the world!  So, I decided to spend this week’s blog post looking at how Mary handled her situation.

Scripture and Commentary

Luke 1:26-29

26 In the sixth month after Elizabeth had become pregnant, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee. 27 He was sent to a virgin. The girl was engaged to a man named Joseph. He came from the family line of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel greeted her and said, “The Lord has blessed you in a special way. He is with you.”  29 Mary was very upset because of his words. She wondered what kind of greeting this could be.

How quickly we forget that God has something ordained for each of us to do!  Mary starts out as many of us would, a little nervous and afraid of what might be asked.

Luke 1:30-34

30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary. God is very pleased with you. 31 You will become pregnant and give birth to a son. You must call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High God. The Lord God will make him a king like his father David of long ago. 33 The Son of the Most High God will rule forever over his people. They are from the family line of Jacob. That kingdom will never end.”  34 “How can this happen?” Mary asked the angel. “I am a virgin.”

In this passage Mary continues in her very human response, moving from fear to doubt.  These verses always make me giggle a little bit.  I mean, Gabriel tells her she is going to give birth to the Son of God, and that His kingdom will never end.  He will rule forever, meaning He will be immortal!  And she’s concerned about the mechanics of pregnancy, as though that would be the difficult part in all this?

Luke 1:35-38

35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come to you. The power of the Most High God will cover you. So the holy one that is born will be called the Son of God. 36 Your relative Elizabeth will have a child even though she is old. People thought she could not have children. But she has been pregnant for six months now. 37 That’s because what God says will always come true.”  38 “I serve the Lord,” Mary answered. “May it happen to me just as you said it would.” Then the angel left her.

At this point in the story we start to see a transformation in Mary.  My personal belief is that God gave her the gift of faith she needed to overcome her previous fears and doubts.  Perhaps she thought of Moses- saved from the bulrushes, and educated in Pharaoh’s palace so as to be prepared to lead God’s people out of bondage.  Or of Joseph- sold into slavery and imprisoned so that he could later save Israel from starvation.  Regardless, Mary reaches a point where she realizes that God chooses His servants in unlikely places, but that He also gives them all they need to fulfill His plans.

Luke 1:41-55

41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby inside her jumped. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she called out, “God has blessed you more than other women. And blessed is the child you will have! 43 But why is God so kind to me? Why has the mother of my Lord come to me? 44 As soon as I heard the sound of your voice, the baby inside me jumped for joy. 45 You are a woman God has blessed. You have believed that the Lord would keep his promises to you!”46 Mary said, “My soul gives glory to the Lord.  47 My spirit delights in God my Savior. 48 He has taken note of me even though I am not considered important.  From now on all people will call me blessed.  49 The Mighty One has done great things for me.   His name is holy.  50 He shows his mercy to those who have respect for him, from parent to child down through the years.  51 He has done mighty things with his powerful arm.   He has scattered those who are proud in their deepest thoughts.  52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones.  But he has lifted up people who are not considered important.  53 He has filled with good things those who are hungry.  But he has sent away empty those who are rich.  54 He has helped the people of Israel, who serve him.  He has always remembered to be kind 55 to Abraham and his children down through the years.  He has done it just as he promised to our people of long ago.”

What a transformation!  Once Mary gets beyond her doubt and fear, she not only begins to trust in God, but also to rejoice.  The anointing of the Holy Spirit can be seen in her words, as this is hardly the song of a typical young maiden.  She has become the woman with enough faith and confidence to embark on the journey to Bethlehem while heavily pregnant, knowing she will give birth on the road in a strange place with no family nearby to help.  A woman who will stay at the foot of the cross when her Son is crucified- something most of us cannot imagine being able to bear.  And, ultimately, a woman that will stand in prayer with the Apostles as they wait for the baptism of the Holy Spirit after the ascension of Jesus.

Conclusion

We are into the holiday season now, and in a few days we will embark on a new year.  God has plans for each of us in 2018, ordained since before the beginning of time.  When He calls on us, let’s pray that we will forgo the fears and doubts, and proceed straight to faith, obedience, and rejoicing in His purpose.  Happy holidays to all!

I look forward to hearing your thoughts, please share.

Be blessed.