Storytrail -
Mary
Meanwhile, a young girl, Mary, betrothed to a carpenter called Joseph, was also greeted by the Angel Gabriel. Gabriel said to Mary, "Rejoice, highly favoured one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!" I think we can understand why the bible tells us “she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.” I think we would all feel the same way if we were greeted in this manner. (Luke 1:28,29)
And I don’t think the reply would have made her feel any less perplexed. The angel said, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." (Luk 1:30-
If it had been impossible for Elizabeth to have a child because of her age, it was even more impossible for Mary. She was a virgin -
Challenge 1
When we question, is it from a position of unbelief and not really wanting to listen to an answer. Or do our questions stem from a genuine desire to understand?
It had been a long time since God had spoken to his people through the Prophets -
And about 750 years before Gabriel spoke to Mary, God had spoken through the prophet Isaiah. He had said, “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.)
750 years is a long time but now Gabriel tells Mary that the prophecies are about to be fulfilled through her. Gabriel explained how, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God.” (Luk 1:35) Assuring her that, “nothing will be impossible with God." (Luke1:37)
It’s worth spending a moment just thinking about what Mary would be facing. Her culture was much different from ours. To be pregnant and unmarried would bring shame and humiliation especially when the man that she was engaged to was not even the father. Engagement or betrothal in those days was a much firmer commitment than it is today. Joseph could have made life very difficult for her. What would she say to her parents, her friends, her neighbours, her rabbi, and to Joseph?
It is likely that she would be shunned by all around her, and disgraced. But Mary was still able to say, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word." (Luke 1:37) Great faith was required, firstly to believe that it was possible, but then to submit to God and to trust Him in the time ahead.
Challenge 2
Are we able to say to God, “let it be with me according to your word," knowing that it may lead to a rocky ride?