Pondering the Christmas Story – Mary Believed
Welcome to our second post where we are looking closely at the Christmas story. Last time we considered Zacharias’ story. Today, the Angel Gabriel appears again to a young girl named Mary. Despite the consequences, Mary believed and surrendered to God’s plan for her.
Today we are reading Luke 1:26-38 {Click the link or grab your Bible}
This is the part of the Christmas story we are most familiar with. We marvel at the faith of a young girl who is visited by the Angel Gabriel. To hear news she will become pregnant without knowing a man intimately is hard to fathom.
Mary was most likely in her early teens. Betrothals most often occurred at 13-14 years of age. Even more amazing to think of her childlike faith and obedience—she WAS just a child.
The angel says she is favored. That word means “to grace” or honor, especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude (BlueLetterBible.com)
God favored Mary’s heart.
She was chosen to bear the Son of God but not without cost. As you ponder the implications of this in Mary’s life, consider that to be pregnant out of wedlock meant being barred and often death. We will see Joseph’s struggle with this in an upcoming post.
Yet, despite the cost to her socially, economically, spiritually, and as she faced her family and neighbors, she uttered words of trust in reply to the angel.
“And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” [Luke 1:38 ESV]
Surrender
A willing obedience to God’s call and purpose for her life. And, doesn’t God ask that of us also?
Believe
Mary believed and and trusted God enough to know that His ways are right.
As you read this story during the coming days in preparation for Christmas, take your time. Talk about each person in the story with your family. Imagine yourselves in their shoes. What are they feeling? What are they facing?
Ponder Time:
List all the implications to Mary as an unwed mother in her culture.
Consider that most people will not believe her story.
What examples of hard obedience can you think of for today? Are people shunned from sharing their beliefs? What has it cost them?
The reality of Mary’s belief brought about the birth of our Savior. I’m not sure how much Mary understood at the beginning. But her role teaches us about following God no matter what the consequences might be.
What are your thoughts today as you ponder our story?
Praying that the richness of the Christmas story will settle over your soul and fill your heart with love for the Savior who was born for us.
Mary believed – Will you? [click to tweet]
Jeanne, You bring the “heaviness” of this story to us.
The consequences of Mary’s pregnancy were great in that culture. Only the Hand of our God could have defused this ……….and touch the heart of Joseph to protect and take her as his wife. Still the stigma followed them, probably for years……..I wonder if I would have trusted enough to surrender everything……
Thank you Mom
Mom, that is such a huge question. We usually read the ‘cleaned up’ version, forgetting all the emotion that would have been at play. Mary and Joseph were chosen to be the parents of the Messiah. Just that alone would have me quaking with inadequacy. And, the pleaser in me would have struggled with all of the unkind things said.
What Mary faced had to be more difficult than what unwed mothers deal with today. We don’t always think about how this stigma probably followed them the rest of their lives. At one point in scripture the Pharisees even said to Jesus “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father-God” (John 8:41), which indicates they were thinking he was illigetimate. Her courage and faith show her strength. Who knows what her other children thought after hearing comments from others? Great thought provoking post.
Great observation, Barbara. That verse jumped off the page at me also. The stigma would have followed them for sure.
This story actually encourages me for my 9 year old son. That he will be able to make his own decisions of obedience. Rob Parsons says: God doesn’t have any grandchildren. I pray he will choose. The hard way if need be, eventhough as a mother I would normally want to protect him from it.