As I put myself in Mary's shoes, I wonder what my response would have been when
Gabriel announced that I would give birth, knowing full well that I was a
virgin. What a disgrace she would now be considered to her family and community.
What a slap in the face to Joseph, her finance, who also knew full well that
there was no way the child in Mary's womb was his. What great faith Mary had
when she said to the angel, "I am the Lord's servant. May it be done to me as
you have said." I would like to think that I would have given the same response
as Mary, but how could I ever say for sure that I would have been so willing to
do so. After all, when Mary accepted this task she ran the risk of being stoned
to death, losing Joseph, and, as I said before, disgracing her family. What a
mature and selfless young woman Mary had to be to set all these things aside and
simply trust her God. How I pray to have that kind of faith; strong...courageous...
unwavering.
Not only did she have faith when the angel told
her she would be with with child, but think about the journey along the way. As
my pastor also pointed out, there could not have been a worse time for a census
to be issued when Mary was so close to giving birth. The distance from Nazareth
to Bethlehem was about 80 miles. I have not yet experienced what it's like to be
pregnant, but I have a lot of friends who have, and I would guess that they
would definitely pass on traveling 80 miles-on a donkey- while being 9 months
pregnant! Not only that, but then going into labor and giving birth in a stable.
If I were Mary I'm sure I would have thought to myself, "This is the Messiah,
the Son of God, and he is going to be born in a stable?"
However, the thing I love most about God is that
He can redeem anything and make it beautiful, and how beautiful it is to think
our Savior entered the world in such a state of humility. He deserved so much
more than a stable and a manger, but as the Bible tells us He, "Who, being in
very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but
made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human
likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became
obedient to death-even death on a cross!" (Phil 2:6-8)
What a sweet, sweet Savior that we serve. Jesus
did not deserve the cross, but yet He knew it was the only way to save us, so
that we may have the hope of eternity. I am so thankful that Jesus did not stay
a baby. He choose to live and die on the cross, and after resurrecting, is now
sitting on the throne at the right hand of God, waiting for the day when He can
come and rescue us. I am looking so forward to that glorious day, friends, and I
pray that you are too. Over the next few weeks let's meditate on the humble way
that Jesus came to earth during His first coming, and gladly rejoice in the
hope of His second coming where He will forever reign as King of Kings, and
Lord of Lords. Until then, I pray that my heart would be made a dwelling place
for Him, and that I may have such an immoveable faith as Mary.
