The Marvel of Mary

Consider the conversation between the angel Gabriel and the peasant girl Mary.

Knowing the promise of God and holding the hope related to the Messiah, she understood the meaning.  However, how could she be a part of all this, she was not even married? When told she would conceive and bear a son she asked, “How can this be?” Gabriel anticipating her quizzical nature spoke again:

“And the angel answered and said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.’”  (Luke 1:35).

During the era of the Old Testament the Holy Spirit worked in the lives of a few persons, but the doctrine of the Holy Spirit was not taught. When Gabriel spoke of the Holy Spirit she might well have said, “The Holy what?” Even that took faith.

Further realizing Mary’s difficulty in accepting such an impossibility, Gabriel told her of another impossibility already in progress: “Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren.” (Luke 1:36)

Her aged cousin Elizabeth, already beyond the age of child bearing, was expecting. 

Gabriel assured Mary, “For with God nothing will be impossible.”  (Luke 1:37)

Mary now believes God’s message to her and responds: “…let it be…” (Luke 1: 38).

“Let it be,” let that be the watchword of your life.  It is a summary way of saying, “Whatever you want, Lord, is OK with me.  Anything you want me to do, I will gladly do it.”  “Let it be.”

Her Son, Jesus Christ, prayed a similar prayer in Gethsemane: “Thy will be done.”

Consider how Mary and Jesus related to each other later in life.

Of Mary it was said, “blessed are you among women!” (Vs. 28b).  Unfortunately some have pushed the appropriate compliment too far and have asserted that Mary was immaculately conceived, that is, that she was also virgin born. Notice how Mary and Jesus related to each other. Later in life Jesus honored her, but played down her role. (Luke 11: 27, 28)

“And it happened, as He spoke these things, that a certain woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, ‘Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which nursed You!’ But Jesus said, ‘More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!’”  (Luke 11: 27, 28)

She honored Him and played up His role by acknowledging her need for a Savior.  Mary called Jesus, “God my Savior.” (Vs. 47)

To Mary, Jesus, not she, was the central character in the Christmas story.  We dare not leave Him out.