Luke 1:26-38
Mary was a humble young woman, born to a peasant family who lived in difficult times. Imagine as you read , being Mary, just a teen and being visited by the angel Gabriel She must have been frightened. When Gabriel see's her concern and says: "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. " She must have been blessed knowing she has favor with God.
But how confusing for her to hear she will give birth to a son. "How can this be since I do not know a man?" She must have wondered what Joseph and her parents would think. What would happen to her, to be pregnant without a husband during that time in Israel?
Mary's responds to this news.
"Behold the maid servant of the Lord.
Let it be to me according to your word."
Let it be to me according to your word."
She has a humble, surrendered heart. No wonder she found favor with God.
"God resists the proud,
but gives grace (favor) to the humble."
James 4:6
but gives grace (favor) to the humble."
James 4:6
Digging a little deeper: Overshadow is the same word used for the cloud from which the voice spoke at the Transfiguration. Both uses refer to the cloud that manifested the glory of God in Exodus 40:34-38
Imagine the sense of awe and wonder she must have felt as the glory of God overshadowed her.
Be blessed by Mary's humility and servants heart. She is an inspiration to me, as I walk out this day with my family.
"Behold the maid servant of the Lord.
Let it be to me according to your word."
Let it be to me according to your word."
5 comments:
So many prophecies about Mary and mankind's salvation were ignited towards fulfillment when Mary said "yes" to God's will. Although she was God's chosen woman for this purpose, He did not force her -- He asked -- and waited humbly for her free-choice response.
And so Mary became the Spouse of the Holy Spirit and the mother of Jesus, our long-awaited Messiah.
The other element that strikes me is the overwhelming joy that fills Mary's heart after she agrees to the Lord's proposal. She cannot contain it and bursts into an exuberant and marvelling song of praise.
There are two very wonderful things to note in this passage:
1.Mary's 'Yes' answer
2.God's gift to us of Jesus, the eternal King
1. Mary's "I am the Lord's servant; may it be to me as you have said..." sends shivers down my spine. What genuine love she had for God! The risks which accompanied that 'Yes' were just so numerous! a)There was the risk of being stoned to death (according to the Law) for being found pregnant out of wedlock. b)There was also the gossip regarding her 'case' which she probably had to put up with for the rest of her life; in other words, her reputation was destroyed.
What selfless love for the Lord; she was totally committed to Him! Her life didn't matter anymore; all that mattered was to please God no matter what. It didn't matter if people thought she was 'a girl like that' or crazy. It didn't matter if she was misunderstood and rejected. It didn't matter if she suffered a thousand pains because of her yes to God; all that mattered was pleasing and living for God. She was dead unto herself and alive unto the Christ she bore and gave birth to.
2.God gave us, through Jesus-Christ, a King whose reign would not end (like David's, for example), but last forever and ever! Jesus-Christ, the Lord of Lords, the King of Kings, the Prince of Peace!
Praise the Name of Jesus, may we all die to self like Mary did and let us praise Jesus all the days of our life!
Such great comments Marjie and Elisheva!
Sheri...I love what you shared about the word overshadowed. When I read Luke 1:35. 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...I got so excited to think about what happened to all of us when we were born again! Did not the Holy Spirit come upon us and the power of the Highest overshadow us as well and birth in us the revelation and life of Jesus Christ through the indwelling Holy Spirit. Wow! This passage causes me to connect with the profoundness of Christ in us, the hope of glory. How blessed among women are we!
Annie, I love what you have said. Yes, the Holy Spirit did come upon us, the power of the most high overshadow us and birth the life of His son IN us. The miracle of all the ages, that Emmanuel, God with us, may dwell IN us! His presence in our life is the hope and guarantee that we will live forever in glory with Him!
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