"Mary - you shall have a Son"
I'm thinking about God, and what He was feeling as He spoke to Adam and Eve in the garden after they had rebelled against Him, as He spoke of the Messiah for the first time. (Gen 3:15) Mainly I'm thinking about what He was feeling as He looked at Eve, the first woman of His creation. I'm certain He was grieving - this was her choice, but not the choice He hoped she would make. And as with all sin, she was caught up in the moment, and thinking of what she imagined the outcome would be - but she was deceived, the outcome was not that 'she would be like God' as the serpent had said; no, the outcome was going to be more dreadful and enormous in scope than she was even capable of imagining. Gone now was the reality of walking with God in peace, safety and innocence every day; she was already covering her beautiful self and hiding from Him. Now He was going to have to send them out of the garden, away from His presence. I ache for her too - I also know what it is to fatally underestimate the gravity of my sinful choices, and find myself living with shame, fear, pain and turmoil the likes of which I never imagined.
For the first time, innocent blood is shed in order to cover our sin. (Gen 3:21) The scarlet thread of redemption begins here, and as God revealed His plan over time, every faith filled Jewish woman through the generations yearned to give birth to a son, hoping that He might be the seed God spoke of - the Messiah.
Then Isaiah proclaimed this prophecy hundreds of years before Mary was born: "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel." (God with us) Isaiah 7:14 His plan, as always, was something we could never conceive of. The Messiah would not be born of a human union, but through a virgin. And it amazes me that people scoff at this - though it shouldn't amaze me. But it does. God makes Himself so clear, and He is able to do anything, so why does this confuse people or cause them to doubt? It goes back to our human tendency that we discussed in a previous post - we want to believe in a god of our own making, and for some reason, for most people, that god wouldn't do things this way. But that's yet another post for yet another day.
Right now, we want to get to talking about Mary. Hundreds of generations have passed since Eve, and while many still believe that God will send the Messiah, many never think of it at all - just like today. But God decrees that the time has come, and He sends the angel Gabriel to tell Mary. (Luke 1:26-38)
Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!"
But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then 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 bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end."
Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?"
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. 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. For with God nothing will be impossible."
Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.
May I digress just long enough to tell you that reigning in my thoughts is THE hardest part of writing this blog?!!! There is SO much popping through my mind right now!
Consider this - Gabriel announces this news. He doesn't ask her what she thinks of the plan, or if she'll go along with it. He simply tells her that this is what is going to happen. Mary asks one question - a practical one, since conception has never happened without a woman AND a man before (or since). Gabriel explains that God Himself will Father the child, His spirit will overshadow her. And Mary says "Here I am. Let it be as you say." Now I don't mind saying, I would have had PLENTY more to ask AND to say!!! Which tells us a few things about Mary, doesn't it?
Her faith is simple, practical and a part of the very fabric of her being. As someone coined the phrase "God said it, I believe it, that settles it", they may have had Mary in mind. I can't help but think of others God recorded in scripture: Moses, who protested that he wasn't a very good speaker, and maybe God should consider sending someone else to talk to Pharoah; Jonah, who didn't think God understood what kind of people He was offering forgiveness to; Jacob, who lied and cheated his way into the line of blessing; Abraham and Sarah, who believed God would give them a son, but figured He needed their help to get the conception right. Not Mary - she hears the plan God has for her and says "Here I am."
I wonder what God was feeling as He was hearing Mary's response. How His heart must have been singing! He knew her faith was simple and pure, yet she, like every other human, had the choice to obey or disobey, to cooperate or rebel. I'm in awe that not only does she immediately consent to obey, but she did so with no request for further explanation. Mary is a young teenager. I'm sure she has dreams for her life, just as any young woman does. She is engaged to Joseph. She surely has spent time imagining what their home will be like, how they'll have a family together. What Gabriel announced here was not anything she had ever expected to hear. Yet her impulse to trust God and follow His leading is clearly one wrought by the exercise of her life - she has no hesitation.
I can't say the same of me. I have MANY imaginary plans for my life. And for the lives of all the people closest to me, I might add. I have plans for my husband, for each of my children, for my grandchildren. These plans are quite thought out, and fairly complicated in their detail. This results in hesitation on my part when God speaks to me about what He would have me do. I start filtering what I'm hearing from Him through what I already had in mind! I often have MANY questions, most of which are more like arguments to convince Him to see things my way, rather than actual questions to gain new information from Him. Sometimes I arrive at the point of saying "Here I am", but I imagine that God is a little weary of the debate process by the time I get there! Sometimes, I'm sad to say, I remain "unconvinced" - I pretend that I didn't really hear Him, or that I'm confused, or I just choose not to acknowledge that He spoke to me . . . all of which are simply rebellion. Refusal to follow Him. Disobedience. Sin. And WAY short-sighted, since He is, after all GOD, and therefore knows what is best for me and what He is doing in the world.
I'm grateful for Mary's response. Grateful because without the Messiah I would be lost in my sin forever. I'm also grateful because as I reflect on her, I humbly ask God to increase my faith, and help me to silence my tendency to argue. Her example challenges me to hold my agendas very loosely, especially when He leads me in another direction.
I can't close this post without suggesting more to ponder, should you want to take the time. Think about all that Mary's obedience cost her. We tend to think that when God leads us and we obey, everything will be hearts and roses. Again, I'm not sure where we get that from, since God is very clear to record accurately in the scriptures that the opposite is often true. Mary was immediately the object of shaming, scorn and ridicule. Joseph doubted her - how could he do otherwise, until he heard directly from God in his dream? Her parents - what must they have thought about her explanation? How did her girlfriends respond? Surely some of them had planned to be attendants at her wedding ceremony. Would they be willing to stand beside her now? And I'm sure you can imagine what the "church ladies" thought! Well, they were the "temple ladies" then, but you know what I mean - the religious types, always ready to pronounce judgement and spread gossip like wildfire. She had to live in that town every day, go to the well for water, enter the marketplace, attend services at the temple.
Imagine parenting Jesus. Really. Let thinking about that fill at least an hour of your day. He's perfect. Every parent is already frighteningly aware of our own failures and limitations when we are trying to raise our regular, run-of-the-mill human kids! Imagine trying to raise a child who is without sin - he's morally superior to you, he always makes the right choices, and he's humble about it. I'd be convicted of my own sinfulness every second of every day. Now think about adding in the siblings. I'm not joking. Being the mother to Jesus was a difficult calling.
And then there's the cross. He's only 33 years old. My oldest daughter is now 32, my son-in-law is 33. I'm not ready for them to die, let alone in a horrific, seemingly senseless way, with everyone scheming to make it happen and me powerless to affect or prevent it at all. What must that have been like for Mary? What wordless communications were going on between her and God as those events were unfolding? Pain so great there are no words to utter; confusion so deep warring with her faith that wants to believe that God knows what He is doing, what He is allowing to happen. All the promise of Who He was - the Messiah - seemingly snuffed out in desperate darkness, in hatred and rebellion so thick you could feel its substance. Memories of her precious little boy, his soft hair, his sweet smile, his little hand in hers slamming up against the horrible realities of the crown of thorns drawing blood that matted his hair, his lips grimacing in torment, spikes piercing his tender, loving hands. . .
Some of you may be wondering why a post about Christmas and Mary would be so heavy. I offer no apology. We cannot keep a pretty little image of Mary in a light blue robe and a white veil cradling a beautiful baby safely in her trembling young arms and have that be separate of the very reason He came. The only reason was to reveal God to man in a way we could see and hear, bring us to a conviction of our sinfulness in the light of Who He Is, and provide the way of salvation through His sacrifice. He came to live, and then to die.
So I end by asking myself - and you - this: if following God leads me into very dark, painful and gut-wrenching circumstances, will I still follow? Will I trust that He knows what He is doing, and that faith in Him will never disappoint? Will I remember what I've learned from Mary, and from countless followers of God, as well as from Jesus Himself - faith and obedience are not always easy, darkness must be walked through in this life, but God will never leave me nor forsake me, and following Him will always result in light and life.
Now please scroll back up and look at the picture of Mary, because this was indeed a true and sacred moment in time, and it is also right to reflect on the awesome beauty of this moment, the peace and hope that He brings, the awesome majesty that is Christmas.
(Here is the link to the very simple, very HAPPY Children's post: http://elizabethtreger1.blogspot.com/2014/12/christmas-countdown-dec-2.html)
Right now, we want to get to talking about Mary. Hundreds of generations have passed since Eve, and while many still believe that God will send the Messiah, many never think of it at all - just like today. But God decrees that the time has come, and He sends the angel Gabriel to tell Mary. (Luke 1:26-38)
Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!"
But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then 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 bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end."
Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?"
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. 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. For with God nothing will be impossible."
Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.
May I digress just long enough to tell you that reigning in my thoughts is THE hardest part of writing this blog?!!! There is SO much popping through my mind right now!
Consider this - Gabriel announces this news. He doesn't ask her what she thinks of the plan, or if she'll go along with it. He simply tells her that this is what is going to happen. Mary asks one question - a practical one, since conception has never happened without a woman AND a man before (or since). Gabriel explains that God Himself will Father the child, His spirit will overshadow her. And Mary says "Here I am. Let it be as you say." Now I don't mind saying, I would have had PLENTY more to ask AND to say!!! Which tells us a few things about Mary, doesn't it?
Her faith is simple, practical and a part of the very fabric of her being. As someone coined the phrase "God said it, I believe it, that settles it", they may have had Mary in mind. I can't help but think of others God recorded in scripture: Moses, who protested that he wasn't a very good speaker, and maybe God should consider sending someone else to talk to Pharoah; Jonah, who didn't think God understood what kind of people He was offering forgiveness to; Jacob, who lied and cheated his way into the line of blessing; Abraham and Sarah, who believed God would give them a son, but figured He needed their help to get the conception right. Not Mary - she hears the plan God has for her and says "Here I am."
I wonder what God was feeling as He was hearing Mary's response. How His heart must have been singing! He knew her faith was simple and pure, yet she, like every other human, had the choice to obey or disobey, to cooperate or rebel. I'm in awe that not only does she immediately consent to obey, but she did so with no request for further explanation. Mary is a young teenager. I'm sure she has dreams for her life, just as any young woman does. She is engaged to Joseph. She surely has spent time imagining what their home will be like, how they'll have a family together. What Gabriel announced here was not anything she had ever expected to hear. Yet her impulse to trust God and follow His leading is clearly one wrought by the exercise of her life - she has no hesitation.
I can't say the same of me. I have MANY imaginary plans for my life. And for the lives of all the people closest to me, I might add. I have plans for my husband, for each of my children, for my grandchildren. These plans are quite thought out, and fairly complicated in their detail. This results in hesitation on my part when God speaks to me about what He would have me do. I start filtering what I'm hearing from Him through what I already had in mind! I often have MANY questions, most of which are more like arguments to convince Him to see things my way, rather than actual questions to gain new information from Him. Sometimes I arrive at the point of saying "Here I am", but I imagine that God is a little weary of the debate process by the time I get there! Sometimes, I'm sad to say, I remain "unconvinced" - I pretend that I didn't really hear Him, or that I'm confused, or I just choose not to acknowledge that He spoke to me . . . all of which are simply rebellion. Refusal to follow Him. Disobedience. Sin. And WAY short-sighted, since He is, after all GOD, and therefore knows what is best for me and what He is doing in the world.
I'm grateful for Mary's response. Grateful because without the Messiah I would be lost in my sin forever. I'm also grateful because as I reflect on her, I humbly ask God to increase my faith, and help me to silence my tendency to argue. Her example challenges me to hold my agendas very loosely, especially when He leads me in another direction.
I can't close this post without suggesting more to ponder, should you want to take the time. Think about all that Mary's obedience cost her. We tend to think that when God leads us and we obey, everything will be hearts and roses. Again, I'm not sure where we get that from, since God is very clear to record accurately in the scriptures that the opposite is often true. Mary was immediately the object of shaming, scorn and ridicule. Joseph doubted her - how could he do otherwise, until he heard directly from God in his dream? Her parents - what must they have thought about her explanation? How did her girlfriends respond? Surely some of them had planned to be attendants at her wedding ceremony. Would they be willing to stand beside her now? And I'm sure you can imagine what the "church ladies" thought! Well, they were the "temple ladies" then, but you know what I mean - the religious types, always ready to pronounce judgement and spread gossip like wildfire. She had to live in that town every day, go to the well for water, enter the marketplace, attend services at the temple.
Imagine parenting Jesus. Really. Let thinking about that fill at least an hour of your day. He's perfect. Every parent is already frighteningly aware of our own failures and limitations when we are trying to raise our regular, run-of-the-mill human kids! Imagine trying to raise a child who is without sin - he's morally superior to you, he always makes the right choices, and he's humble about it. I'd be convicted of my own sinfulness every second of every day. Now think about adding in the siblings. I'm not joking. Being the mother to Jesus was a difficult calling.
And then there's the cross. He's only 33 years old. My oldest daughter is now 32, my son-in-law is 33. I'm not ready for them to die, let alone in a horrific, seemingly senseless way, with everyone scheming to make it happen and me powerless to affect or prevent it at all. What must that have been like for Mary? What wordless communications were going on between her and God as those events were unfolding? Pain so great there are no words to utter; confusion so deep warring with her faith that wants to believe that God knows what He is doing, what He is allowing to happen. All the promise of Who He was - the Messiah - seemingly snuffed out in desperate darkness, in hatred and rebellion so thick you could feel its substance. Memories of her precious little boy, his soft hair, his sweet smile, his little hand in hers slamming up against the horrible realities of the crown of thorns drawing blood that matted his hair, his lips grimacing in torment, spikes piercing his tender, loving hands. . .
Some of you may be wondering why a post about Christmas and Mary would be so heavy. I offer no apology. We cannot keep a pretty little image of Mary in a light blue robe and a white veil cradling a beautiful baby safely in her trembling young arms and have that be separate of the very reason He came. The only reason was to reveal God to man in a way we could see and hear, bring us to a conviction of our sinfulness in the light of Who He Is, and provide the way of salvation through His sacrifice. He came to live, and then to die.
So I end by asking myself - and you - this: if following God leads me into very dark, painful and gut-wrenching circumstances, will I still follow? Will I trust that He knows what He is doing, and that faith in Him will never disappoint? Will I remember what I've learned from Mary, and from countless followers of God, as well as from Jesus Himself - faith and obedience are not always easy, darkness must be walked through in this life, but God will never leave me nor forsake me, and following Him will always result in light and life.
Now please scroll back up and look at the picture of Mary, because this was indeed a true and sacred moment in time, and it is also right to reflect on the awesome beauty of this moment, the peace and hope that He brings, the awesome majesty that is Christmas.
(Here is the link to the very simple, very HAPPY Children's post: http://elizabethtreger1.blogspot.com/2014/12/christmas-countdown-dec-2.html)
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