I recently listened to a CCF sermon by Jessie Elledge on the topic of faithfulness. She taught using the story of Abraham to show that being faithful may not be easy or comfortable, but it is absolutely best. If you choose faithfulness, you might become lonely or alienated. If you choose faithfulness, you might have to wait a long time to receive what the Lord has promised. If you choose faithfulness, you might be tempted at times to take control back from God. If you choose faithfulness, you might have to do things that do not make sense.
But If you choose faithfulness, you will see the Living God at work in your life.
In Abraham's case, God promised that his wife would bear a child in her old age, and that Abraham would become the father of many nations through this child. This was the promise of something that only God could do. Abraham believed God. He remained faithful to God. And God kept his promise to Abraham.]
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This Christmas season, I have been captivated by the story of the birth of Jesus and I have spent much time reading and re-reading the passages at the beginning of the Gospel of Luke which detail the account. In light of what I have learned of faithfulness, there is a certain part of the nativity account which has struck me in a way unlike ever before.
What I am talking about, and what this blog post is about, is the story of Mary. Her humility, the Lord's goodness, her belief and trust, the Lord's perfect plan and sovereignty-- and the faithfulness of them both.
And [the angel Gabriel] came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.
I have always been confused with this part of the story. Mary seems like she is a bit wary and un-trusting of what the angel is saying to her. But I took a closer look, and the Greek word used here for "greatly troubled" refers not to one who is anxious or fearful, but to one who is emotionally moved, whose heart has been stirred. Mary's heart is not been hardened! I imagine that she is overcome by the wonder of feeling God's presence within her. This simple phrase does not show that she was weak of spirit, but rather that her spirit was willing to be moved by God. This tells me that Mary has taken a posture of humility and trust before the Lord.
And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.
Again, our English translation does not do justice to the profoundness of what is being said between Mary and Gabriel. In saying that she has "found favor," the angel proclaims that Mary has come upon grace. She has been met with the loving kindness, good will, and mercy of the God of the Universe. God has chosen to bestow upon Mary that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness. Finding favor with God means that Mary has been given the undeserved gift of grace.
And not only has she been given grace, God also makes a promise to Mary that her son will be the long-awaited Messiah. This was the promise of something that only God could do.
And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
This is another instance in which I assume Mary's intention wrongly based on my understanding of the language. I have always thought that Mary's asking "how" is an expression of doubt-- that she does not fully believe yet that what the angel foretold can actually be accomplished. But I think that I was wrong about Mary. This Greek word for "how" does not imply suspicion or distrust, but instead shows the heart of one who is desiring to be taught. Mary was not questioning God. She was seeking him.
And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you... For nothing will be impossible with God.”
The angel answers her. I don't know if you will see this as beautiful or not, but it is my favorite part of the story. God does not choose to treat Mary as a servant who is not privileged enough to know her Master's business. On the contrary, because of her belief and trust in him, she is treated as a friend of the Master. It is like God is letting her in on the most beautiful intricacies of his perfect plan-- even when he was not obligated to. And what is God's secret? Nothing is impossible for him. This blows my mind. After this kind of encounter, I can only imagine that Mary's heart would have not been able to keep from worshiping the Lord in beauty and in truth.
And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”
Mary believed in the Living God. She chose to be the Lord's servant-- to remain faithful to him. And God kept his promise, even to a teenage girl.
I just think that is breathtaking.
The last part of the story that I love is the way that God takes care of everything else, and in doing so, confirms to Mary what he promised her. He sends an angel to straighten things out with Joseph. He sends the three wise men from the orient to proclaim Jesus as King. He endows Mary's relative Elizabeth with the Holy Spirit, affirming that this child truly was the Lord.
And Elizabeth exclaimed, "blessed is she who believes that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord!”
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