Observations from Mary
Today I had a fairly active schedule. After my morning prayer time with a couple of county officials, I had a massage appointment and then attended the Loveland Rotary meeting. Our guest today was Kelley Johnson, Miss Colorado. She was the second runner up in the Miss American pageant last fall. Her monologue on being a nurse has received over six million “You Tube” hits. It was great to see a local young woman express her humility and commitment to service
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “The angel came to her and said, “Greetings! The Lord is with you; you are very special to him.” But Mary was very confused about what the angel said. She wondered, “What does this mean?” Luke 1:28,29 ERV
It is in Luke’s detail of the life of Jesus we find the account of the angel appearing to Mary. Matthew has more of an emphasis on Joseph and simply states, “But before they married, he [Joseph] learned that she was expecting a baby. (She was pregnant by the power of the Holy Spirit.)” (Matt. 1:18 ERV) In Luke we see angels involved in messages to Zechariah in the Temple and then later Mary.
The angel provides insight into “God’s selection” process. In the day of “reality TV” shows that feature competition for “being selected” based on musical ability, other talent or attractiveness trying to figure out the selection criteria can always be a mystery. Was Mary the best, brightest, most talented? What she from the “right” family? Of all the thousands of young women why did God select Mary? Was she the only young woman in the world who “pleased” God in her day? Why didn’t God chose Elizabeth to be the mother of Jesus instead of the mother of John? We don’t know!
What we do know is that Mary “pleased the Lord” and the Lord showed “favor” to her. God in His sovereign way and for His reasons demonstrated to Mary the grace to be chosen as the “mother of the Lord.” The Lord selected Mary just as He called Abraham. Just as He called the prophets, just as Jesus would call His disciples. The Lord calls people not because of who they are, but who He is and who they can become when they surrender their life to Him. That is a lesson for us all to learn and embrace. Can we be that type of person, to whom God can trust to believe and obey and be used by Him?
The angel encouraged Mary’s faith. As Mary was trying to “wrap her head” around the words of the angel, the angel told her, “…here’s something else: Your relative Elizabeth is pregnant. She is very old, but she is going to have a son. Everyone thought she could not have a baby, but she has been pregnant now for six months. God can do anything!” (Luke 1:36,37 ERV) I like that “Oh, by the way” kind of wording in the narrative. But it wasn’t by accident. The angel let Mary in on a “family secret,” but in so doing emphasized the bottom line, “God can do anything.” If He can allow an old woman to become pregnant by natural means, He can allow a virgin become pregnant by supernatural means. They are both miracles that can’t be explained by human rationale.
Mary’s faith, reflects the response of Abraham. Mary responded to the words of the angel, “I am the Lord’s servant. Let this thing you have said happen to me!” (Luke 1:38 ERV) The Bible says when God made a promise to Abraham, that, “Abraham believed God…” (Gen. 17:9) Outside of the question, “how can this be?” We don’t read other questions or arguments or complaints from Mary. She was humble and submissive.
Mary was open to the mysterious. I’m not sure if that is the best description of Mary’s response to the visit of the shepherds. But we read, “Everyone was surprised when they heard what the shepherds told them. Mary continued to think about these things, trying to understand them.” (Luke 2:18,19 ERV) I like the wording and contrast that comes through in other translations, “…all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” (Luke 2:18,19 NIV)
Mary would have certainly been amazed and filled with wonder as the shepherds came and as they shared their “story.” But she went beyond just the moment of wonder. She gave this and I’m sure other events deep consideration. Perhaps she realized she would need to be patient to come to the full understanding of all that was transpiring.
We certainly see this taking place during the ministry of Jesus. He shared many things with His disciples that they did not full understand until Jesus was raised from the dead. An important aspect of our faith is that we, “know in part.” We don’t have the “full picture,” the full meaning of everything is not always revealed as the events of life take place. Like Mary we need to be willing to, “treasure and ponder.”
These are just a few observations that we can make from Mary’s life as she is chosen to be the “mother of our Lord.” As with many others in the Bible, what we see in Mary, challenges us today. God is still at work. God is till using human instruments to accomplish His purpose. Are we available for Him to use us, even in special ways, if by His sovereign favor He so chooses?