Mary
Luke 2:
26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 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, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
35 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. 36 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. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.”
38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
Discerning. Logical. Questioning. Submissive. Full of faith. These are words that describe Mary, the mother of our Lord. She "wondered what kind of greeting this might be" when Gabriel addressed her as "you who are highly favoured" and asked, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?" when told she was going to have a baby boy named Jesus.
What stands out to me tonight as I read this passage is verse 38, specifically: "May your word to me be fulfilled." Mary doesn't just submit to what God is going to do in her life, she invites it. She doesn't say, "Can't you find another way, God?" or "Oh, okay.... if I have to Lord, I will go through it". No, she essentially says, "bring it on!" Even though the circumstances of her pregnancy are so unusual and incredible that others may not believe her (included her betrothed). Even though she may experience judgement for being unmarried and pregnant. Even though this wasn't how she expected her life to go, she says, "let it be to me according to your word" (vs 38 ESV). Let it be. So be it. Amen. Yes, Lord. Your will be done.
Why is she so gutsy and trusting? How is she able to do this? Because she knows who she is and Who she serves: "I am the Lord's servant". As His servant, Mary wants to be a part of His work in the world. She wants to see the prophesy of the Messiah come to pass. She is eager for the coming of God's kingdom and she is willing to be a vessel through whom the Lord comes into the world.
Thanks be to God for His willing servant, Mary!
26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 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, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
35 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. 36 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. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.”
38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
Discerning. Logical. Questioning. Submissive. Full of faith. These are words that describe Mary, the mother of our Lord. She "wondered what kind of greeting this might be" when Gabriel addressed her as "you who are highly favoured" and asked, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?" when told she was going to have a baby boy named Jesus.
What stands out to me tonight as I read this passage is verse 38, specifically: "May your word to me be fulfilled." Mary doesn't just submit to what God is going to do in her life, she invites it. She doesn't say, "Can't you find another way, God?" or "Oh, okay.... if I have to Lord, I will go through it". No, she essentially says, "bring it on!" Even though the circumstances of her pregnancy are so unusual and incredible that others may not believe her (included her betrothed). Even though she may experience judgement for being unmarried and pregnant. Even though this wasn't how she expected her life to go, she says, "let it be to me according to your word" (vs 38 ESV). Let it be. So be it. Amen. Yes, Lord. Your will be done.
Why is she so gutsy and trusting? How is she able to do this? Because she knows who she is and Who she serves: "I am the Lord's servant". As His servant, Mary wants to be a part of His work in the world. She wants to see the prophesy of the Messiah come to pass. She is eager for the coming of God's kingdom and she is willing to be a vessel through whom the Lord comes into the world.
Thanks be to God for His willing servant, Mary!
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