Nobody but God could have thought of it and done it. He chose a simple girl to fulfill His great purpose.
Angel Gabriel came to Nazareth to the home of young Mary with news that hit like a thunderbolt! “O favored one, the Lord is with you!” Taken aback and scared, Mary “tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.” She learnt that she will conceive in her womb, bear a son and call him Jesus. For thousands of years, the Jews knew God’s promised Redeemer would be born in Bethlehem to a virgin. But that she will be that virgin was a new twist of life Mary was not expecting! She gave thought to what this meant for and required of her.
Mary did not contradict Gabriel’s message. She only wondered about the “how.” For how could a virgin conceive? Even when she was told about it (v35), it was almost impossible to imagine it, for nothing like this has happened in human history up till then. Yet her barren cousin Elizabeth had become pregnant in her old age - proof that God could make the impossible happen!
Mary could have said, “No! My fiancé Joseph won’t understand, my whole village will condemn me, my child will face problems growing up!” Instead, she chose to trust God. Fixing her heart and mind on His power and purpose, she was willing to submit and surrender: “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”
God had been preparing redemption history and, in His timing, Mary would give birth to the Son of God, raise Him, share life with Him, and later watch Him suffer and die, and rejoice as He rose as the Savior of the world.
Only God and God alone, could make this possible through a virgin: the amazing birth of a babe who would be King and Saviour, fulfilling His salvation plan. Glory be to God!
Sister Yong Soo Li
Living Praise Presbyterian Church
Comments