In recent years as Christmas draws closer, my mind wanders back in time. Back to the time of Jesus’ birth. And farther back, to the announcement by the angel to Mary. Back to Mary obeying the call God sent the angel to give her.
Oh to have been a fly on the wall for that encounter. A perfectly normal day for Mary, interrupted by an angel with news that would change her life and the whole world forever. Though initially troubled by the visiting angel, and wondering why the angel came to her, Mary willingly accepted the call to carry the Messiah.
Mary Did You Know
Did she know? The wonder of the Messiah’s miracles. Or the pain her son would endure. A famous carol belabors that every year.
She knew what the angel had told her, “You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” (Luke 1:31-33)
But did she fully grasp the meaning of those words? In her humanness, I don’t think she could comprehend all that would happen- the miracles, the criticism, the betrayal, the death. Sure, these had been foretold in the Old Testament, but in the moment, did they cross Mary’s mind?
Or did she simply choose to obey the Lord’s will for her? “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” (Luke 1:38)
She didn’t know what it would be like to be a mother. The wonder and terror, joy and sorrow, excitement and anguish that would fill her heart as she gave birth and mothered this baby. Or the hormones, the exhaustion, and the challenges she would face even as cherished moments of fingers curling around hers and bright eyes staring up into her face brought joy to her heart.
Mary didn’t know it all. She couldn’t for she was only human.
Yet, she chose to obey and to become a vessel to be used by the Lord for his purpose and his glory.
“I am the Lord’s servant.” Those five words signaled her willingness to obey even without knowning all the details. Without understanding the full scope of what was being asked of her.
Obeying Like Mary
This Christmas season, and the whole new year through, what might God be asking of you. Is there an area of your life you need to say, “I am the Lord’s servant”?
Will you be like Mary, and step into your role in God’s story without knowing all the details. After all, you are only human, so there is no possible way for you to know exactly where that first step might lead.
Mary, did you know? No, she didn’t and couldn’t know everything about what her role as the mother of the Messiah would be. However, she did know enough to place her trust in her God and say “Yes, may your word to me be fulfilled.
What about you? Will you place your trust in the One who created the world, who sustained Mary through all the joy and sorrow that came with being the mother of the Messiah, who sent his Son to save you? And when he asks something of you, will you begin obeying like Mary?
