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December 17, 2007
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=========================== TODAY'S ARTICLE ==========================
Mary's Choice, by Phil Ware
The story is familiar, maybe to the point that we have forgotten how
incredible it is. Some have trouble accepting the virgin conception and
birth of Jesus because it is so outside our experience. Since we
believe that God created and ordered a universe beyond our
comprehension, it is not so difficult to believe he could create a
child in the womb of a virgin. What is truly amazing to me is that this
young, peasant, pious, small-town Jewish virgin would accept such an
awesome and challenging task.
Let's read the story again with just a few questions and comments to
help us hear the story again and rejoice.
Do you think Mary ever imagined an angel would speak to her personally?
(Luke 1:26-29 TNIV)
In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel
Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be
married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's
name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who
are highly favored! The Lord is with you."
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of
greeting this might be.
How could Mary think God would notice a poor girl like her from
despised Nazareth? Even the Bible itself reminds us that people of
Mary's day asked, "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" Why would God
notice her, in this out of the way place, among a group of people with
no claim to power or position? (Luke 1:30-33;John 1:46)
But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found
favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you
are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son
of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his
father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever;
his kingdom will never end."
Legend has it that Jewish women often prayed that they could be the
mother of the Messiah. But could Mary actually dare to pray such a
prayer? What right, what claim, did she have to even be able to utter
these words? The angel's word pull back the curtain of life and help us
see God's grace at ork. (Luke 1:34-37)
"How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"
The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the
power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be
born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is
going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be
unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will
ever fail."
How could she believe God would bless her so when it appeared in every
way that he hadn't? After all, she was poor, her country under the heel
of the Roman boot and a people under subjugation for hundreds of years.
Mary had no financial or legal claim to expect God would bless her in
this way. Yet Mary believes that God has seen her situation and has
come to bless her! (Luke 1:46-49)
And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me -- holy is his
name.
Looking at the horrid political situation of her time -- couple with
the religious hypocrisy and power struggle -- how could Mary think of
of Herod and the Romans, yet still pray for God's deliverance? God's
deliverance seemed blocked the the power-mongers and the dishonest in
the system. Yet Mary proclaims: (Luke 1:50-52)
His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
How could she believe God would bless her so?
Don't you think it caught in her throat when she saw Pharisees &
Sadducees gloating in their rich and religious arrogance? But, Mary
reminds us that God is going to turn the tables and make things (Luke
1:53-55)
He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
to Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors."
Most of all, didn't Mary realize the mess she would be in by accepting
this challenge? Didn't she understand that she could lose her betrothed
husband, her friends, and her reputation as the rumors associated with
her son — like going to live with Elizabeth or Jesus being called
"Mary's Boy" because the (Joel 1:8)
Mourn like a virgin in sackcloth grieving for the betrothed of her
youth.
What makes Mary's partnership with the Holy Spirit of God so powerful?
When given the open challenge of bearing the Messiah miraculously
conceived in her womb by God's Holy Spirit, Mary said yes. She said yes
to the challenges and joys, surprises and wounds, the precious moments
with her baby and a horrifying moments as he was crucified before a
hardened and mocking mob. Had to be crushing. Hearing her son being
called Mary's boy had to be an embarrassment.
One verse, the miracle verse of the whole story comes out when Mary
answers the Lord with these incredible words of pledge: "I am the
Lord's servant ... May it be to me according to your word." (Luke 1:38)
Then the angel left her.
The miracle of Christmas certainly has to do with God creating his Son
in human flesh so he could be one of us. But equally a part of that
miracle are the words of a young, pious, jewish, woman to believe it
when she said it:
"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me
according to your word." Then the angel left her.
Such is the stuff of miracle and grace. The stuff of character that
forms us to be like the Savior.
---------
(c) 2007 Phil Ware <phil@heartlight.org>. All rights reserved.
RELATED LINKS:
* In the Shadow of God
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200711/20071117_shadowofgod.html
* To Know This Love That Surpasses Knowledge
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200711/20071110_surpasses.html
* Deceit and Joy
http://www.heartlight.org/wjd/matthew/0110-wjd.html
* Southern Hills Church of Christ
http://www.southernhillschurch.org
This article can be found on the web at:
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200712/20071217_maryschoice.html
=========================== FEATURED PRODUCT =========================
CURE FOR THE COMMON LIFE: LIVING IN YOUR SWEET SPOT, by Max Lucado
In Cure for the Common Life, Max Lucado offers practical tools for
exploring and identifying your own uniqueness, putting your strengths
to work, and living in your "sweet spot" for the rest of your life.
http://shopping.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/link?256
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