Monday, December 19

MARY’S JOURNEY

Luke 1:26-38

Mary’s journey isn’t a journey of doubt or one full of questions, even though there are questions asked verbally and silently; it’s a journey full of faith that we will see as we take a look at this passage of Scripture.

“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 is Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name is 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.” (vss. 26-29) It’s not so much that Mary was troubled, as we figure the word to mean "confused, worried, not understanding," but she was troubled as to mean surprised or in amazement. She wasn’t sure what to make of it, because men didn’t usually greet the women with any type of salutation. At that time, it was unlawful for any man to greet a woman in any form. Gabriel caught her off guard, so to speak, when he spoke to her, especially with the words pertaining to her as a highly favored one of God. That was something she didn’t see herself as. As he saw that look of awe on her face, he told 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.” (vss. 30-31) After speaking with Mary, she, in verse 34, says to the angel Gabriel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” She wasn’t doubting or questioning that this could and would happen. She wasn’t asking for a sign, for if we look ahead to verse 38, we see she accepts her role as Jesus’ mother and tells the angel, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.”

Mary doesn’t need an explanation to trust what the angel speaks to her, but he gives her one anyway. He answers her by explaining to her how the Holy Spirit will come upon her, and the power of the Highest will overshadow her. He goes on to tell her, “For with God nothing will be impossible.” (vs. 37) He didn’t need to give Mary an explanation. You see, God keeps His promises regardless of how difficult any circumstance may seem. She trusted in what the angel said. Her faith was fully in God. In Isaiah 7, verse 14, Isaiah tells King Ahaz, “that God will give a sign, that ‘Behold the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son and shall call His name Immanuel.’” This promise is being fulfilled through Mary. She will be God’s maidservant—faithful and obedient.

Do we possess the same faith and willingness to be obedient to God’s will as Mary did? Mary humbly stepped in faith to be that maidservant. Will we? As we come to Christmas, let's take that step of faith in humility to step into God’s will for our lives, and take a step out of our own will for our lives. Let Jesus be our stepping stones—now and forever!

~ Melody Krauser