Luke 1:26-38
Every year I am amazed by the fact that no matter how many times I read the gospel accounts of Jesus’ birth, I’ll catch something I never caught before. This year’s revelation came by way of comparing the angel Gabriel’s visits first with Zechariah, John the Baptist’s dad, and six months later to Mary the soon-to-be mother of our Savior, Jesus.
We looked at Zechariah a couple of weeks back. He was a priest, a devout man who, along with his Elizabeth was seen as righteous in God’s eyes. This means that he and Elizabeth strived to obey God’s commandments. Zechariah knows God, and serves God faithfully, and yet…when Gabriel appears to him with this wonderful news, that Elizabeth, thought to be unable to conceive would have a son who would be filled with the Holy Spirit, Zechariah doubts. He asks Gabriel how he can be sure that God can really pull this off. “Does God realize how old we are? Does he realize that Elizabeth is unable to conceive?”
Gabriel’s like, “Zach, I have coffee with God every morning. I’m pretty sure He’s got this.”
Gabriel then takes away Zechariah’s ability to speak until the day John is presented to his friends and neighbors.
When Gabriel drops in on Mary, there are some striking similarities to his visit with Zechariah. Gabriel opens the visit by telling Mary not to be afraid. He tells her that she has found favor with God and that as a result she is going to give birth to a Son but unlike the son being born to Elizabeth and Zechariah, this Son “…will be great and be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of His father, David, and He will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom, there will be no end.”
That’s a lot for a girl who was, maybe 16 years old to consider. But unlike Zechariah who wanted some proof that God could do what He said He would do, Mary simply asks the angel to help her understand.
“How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
No hesitation, no negotiation…no doubt.
And once Gabriel gives Mary the extraordinary explanation as to how all this will happen, her response is one that we would be well served to model in our day-to-day…
“Behold I am a servant of the Lord. Let it be to me according to your word.”
Imagine facing each day with that as your state of mind…God’s will over your own. We’d probably avoid a whole lot of stress and shame and guilt and regret and, you name it.
This week we’re blessed once again to celebrate the arrival of a Savior who came into this world for no reason other than to make a way for us to navigate this life with joy. A joy that reminds us that the best is yet to come, all of eternity in His presence. That’s truly a gift that keeps on giving!
Merry Christmas!