Reflections on Advent Part 4

And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; 

let it be to me according to your word.”  Luke 1:38

This past weekend we started our Advent series at Calvary Church.  Pastor Dan spoke on Hopeful Surrender as part of the series entitled "Upside Down Christmas."  (If you've got a little time it is well worth the listen.  I've provided the link here.) Though Philippians 2 was the text for the sermon, Dan mentioned Mary's response to Gabriel after he delivers the news that she is to bear the Son of God (Luke 1:38),  Her answer is a stunning display of surrender.  I'd been pondering the effect of this pregnancy on Mary's life anyway and this got me thinking even more.

The Bible does not tell us a whole lot about Mary.  We know from the text in Luke 1 that Mary has found favor with God (Luke 1:28).  Basically this means that God pursued her in grace, supernatural grace (though let's be honest - is there any other kind?).  Other than God's choice of her (and I suppose her lineage as a direct descendant of David) there is no reason  to believe that she should carry Messiah to His birth.  Yet here the angel stands before Mary and declares "Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus."  

I remember my response when I discovered I was pregnant with my first child, a daughter we would name Kirsten (which means belonging to Christ for that was our prayer for her).  I was overjoyed and frightened all at once.  We hadn't planned specifically to have a child so soon in our marriage and it came as a bit of surprise since I'd been told that as a diabetic I might have a difficult time becoming pregnant.  My first reaction was not unlike Mary's first response to the angel, "How can this be?" (Luke 1:34)  But unlike Mary, I was married to a husband with a stable job.  And, like any newlyweds, we had engaged in sexual relations.  Nobody would question this pregnancy but would enter into our celebration with great joy.

I am not so sure Mary would have been welcomed in that way.  Actually, I'm quite sure she wouldn't have been.  You see, God had provided some pretty strict laws concerning sexual immorality. And according to Jewish law Mary could be stoned for infidelity. (Deuteronomy 22:23-24 is one such example).  Mary at the very least faced rejection from her family and friends; death at the worst.  Now I don't know about you but I'm pretty sure I would not have greeted the news of a pregnancy at this stage of my life with open arms.  

Many today face the news of pregnancy with trepidation and uncertainty.  Alan joined the board of directors for the Pregnancy Resource Clinic (PRC) this fall.  It is a place of grace that offers a hopeful alternative to Planned Parenthood.  Life is celebrated.  Medical care is offered.  Love is extended.  Wise counselors help frightened and confused women and men alike find hope and purpose.  They are holding an open house today, but arrangements can be made any day for a tour.  If you're looking for a place to give this Christmas season, do consider a gift here.  (AKA - year end giving advertisement.  😉)

The reality for Mary is that a Pregnancy Resource Clinic (or any type of pregnancy clinic) was not available.  There may have been no one she could think of who would stand by her through this pregnancy, other than, perhaps, her cousin Elizabeth (but going there is not in the wheelhouse today, even though we do know that Mary did find encouragement there.).  She certainly couldn't predict how Joseph might respond.  The possibilities must have been overwhelming.  Yet Mary stands before the angel and humbly responds, "“Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”   (Luke 1:38)  The word servant used here is the Greek word doulē which means female slave.  Thus Mary is saying "I am a slave of the Lord."  His choice.  His will.  His purpose and outcome.  Let the chips fall where they may but I'm sticking with God on this one.  She is so courageous.  But she does have the Lord's favor and she believes it.  I can't imagine she was ignorant to potential problems, but her trust in God shrouded all the clamoring fears that could have beset her.  As she declares to Elizabeth when the two pregnant women had come together,

 “My soul magnifies the Lord,

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.

For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

for he who is mighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his name."  Luke 1:46-49

49 

What are you afraid of today?  What do you need to surrender to God?  You see the good news of Christmas and the gospel is His will, His way,  His purpose and outcome.