Mary, the Mother of
Jesus
Luke
1:34 (ESV)
And
Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
The story of Mary has
been told and re-told for thousands of years. Elizabeth spoke the prophetic
words that, “You are blessed among women!” Mary certainly is.
Whenever I share the
story of Mary I tell it from a little different perspective. Most, especially
artists, portray Mary as an almost deified person dressed in white with beams
of light radiating her angelic face, awaiting the arrival of the news from the
angel that she would become the mother of the Son of God. This is not the image
that I see when I think of Mary.
Based on what we know
about Jewish customs of the day, Mary was most likely a teenager. Like most
women of that period, her day was likely filled with chores, either for her
family or working for others. It is quite possible that she was down at a
nearby brook washing clothes, or at the well drawing water, or in the stable
shoveling manure, or a myriad of other duties necessary to maintain a
household.
We also know from Jewish
tradition of the day that young women like Mary knew the words from the
Prophets that, “a virgin would conceive and bear a Son, the Messiah, who would
save the world.” It is possible that she was hoping, like many others, that she
would be the one chosen to become the mother of God.
Regardless of which of
these you choose (I’m sure there are many other scenarios to be made) Mary was
surprised by a visit from an angel. The primary reason I believe my view of
this is based on her response to the angel. In the Old Testament writings,
whenever an angel appeared, most immediately bowed down in fear, or even
fainted. After hearing the greeting of the angel and the words he came to
deliver, Mary responded with a question: “How can this be?”
She did not go off on a
tear of false humility (as many of us would do) and declare, “I am not worthy.”
Instead, she sought more information, saying, “I know how babies are made, and
it is biologically impossible for me to be pregnant.”
I consider this story
“The Forgotten Chapter from The Wonder in the Wilderness.” I recently published
a book describing several characters from the Bible and how they dealt with
wilderness experiences. I was actually surprised when I realized I did not
include Mary’s story.
To use the imagery from
the book, Mary just entered into a wilderness. Her normal life of
very-close-to-indentured-service, being engaged to Joseph (most likely a
financially-beneficial arrangement for the family), yet still hoping for a
chance to know God in a way that no other human ever had, or has since, was
about to change as she encountered the angel. She did not consider any of those
things, only the strange words that the angel spoke.
One of the first things
she did after this encounter was to go and visit her relative, Elizabeth, who
was living in her own wilderness. Elizabeth and Zacharias had been childless
when they miraculously conceived a child, later known as John the Baptist, the
forerunner to the Messiah. The encounter with Elizabeth ended Mary’s short time
in her wilderness.
As soon as Elizabeth
heard Mary’s greeting, John jumped in the womb and Elizabeth was filled with
the Holy Spirit and began to prophecy. This totally independent (of any human
knowledge) confirmation of Mary’s pregnancy gave Mary peace in knowing the
encounter with the angel was not simply a dream or mirage. She was now carrying
the Savior of the World inside her, even though she had no physical proof (yet)
that she had conceived by the Holy Spirit that which the angel had promised.
Mary’s wilderness
immediately changed from wander to wonder. There would be hard conversations in
the days to come. How could she explain this to Joseph? What would others say
about her? None of this was considered before she said, “Yes!” None of this
mattered now because Mary had the ultimate Promise inside her. She was
literally carrying the Prince of Peace, the Wonderful Counselor, the Savior of
the World.
Years ago I heard a
recording of a message by T. L. Osborn that described the response of the
Believer to prophecies read in scripture. He said of Mary, “Don’t read that and
get excited for Mary’s sake.” He said, “Read that for yourself and declare,
‘I’m blessed and highly favored!’” Dr. Osborn went on to say, “Whatever God did
for anyone He can do for you.”
Jack Hayford describes
this incident in his book, “The Mary Miracle,” as “the fountainhead of all
miracles.” Because Mary said, “Yes,” each of us can now “carry” the Prince of
Peace inside of us. As Believers we can be filled with the Holy Spirit of God,
the Comforter that Jesus sent to abide in us forever.
I hope this Christmas
you say, “Yes,” to God’s request to come near to you. Become identified with
Christ. Move from wander to wonder. Your life will never be the same.
