What Fresh Lesson can we Learn from Mary this Christmas?

 I have always viewed Mary’s story with a sense of awe.

Before I had even a simple grasp of the cultural context in which Mary lived, her response to the highly unexpected appearance of the angel Gabriel was impressive. Then as I began to add in the layers of the world around her, Mary took me from impressed to deeply challenged.

Mary lived during a time when there had been no significant word from God for over 400 years. The shock of seeing an angel added to the long silence would have had me questioning my own sanity! Luke 1:29 says, “Mary was greatly troubled by his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.” The phrase “greatly troubled” in the Greek means “disturbed wholly.” This was a very relatable reaction. However, Mary bounced back quickly. By the end of the conversation her response was, “I am the Lord’s servant…May your word to me be fulfilled” (vs 38).

Her quick response makes me want to yell “time out!”

There was a lot to consider here! In this time of Jewish history, who would believe an unwed teenage girl got pregnant through the Holy Spirit? There was so much risk in all this. At this time, women who committed adultery could be punished with death. Plus, she was from the poor town of Nazareth—a place no one considered to be noteworthy. If this truly was going to be the foretold virgin birth, no one would ever believe the mother of the Messiah would have been from Nazareth (John 1:46).

Even if Mary could somehow escape being stoned to death, surely the chances of her ending up cast out and alone were high. Joseph would not want her any more as his bride, and her own family would likely have disowned her. That left a future with an incredible amount of uncertainty. 

The angel did not offer Many any assurances.

There were no promises that everything would go smoothly, and people would understand. Who would have blamed Mary if she asked for time to consider if she really wanted to do this or not? What was being asked of her was far more than the already complicated task of having a baby.

But Mary did not ask for time. She didn’t even hesitate. She asked one question—how? After receiving the answer of essentially, “God can do anything,” Mary was on board. No more questions. She had no doubts. No additional pleads for help or bargaining of any kind. Her answer was a simple and humble yes.

I don’t know about you, but I cannot say when God has come to me with something that felt like a weighty ask, I jumped in without hesitation.

My responses sound more like, “Are you sure God? Am I hearing you correctly?” I am sad to say, sometimes my answer has even been, “No way—I didn’t sign up for that!”

Mary chose obedience, right away, without all of the answers. She didn’t wait for God to lay out the ten step, five year plan before her. He said, “I chose you” and she said, “I am Yours, let it be.” 

There is no way Mary could have had such a ready “yes” if her heart was not already postured to do so.

We know this is true from the words Gabriel spoke to her when he first greeted her (Luke 1:28). She was highly favored. God was already pleased with her, before she chose to submit to God’s unforeseen plan for her life. 

I think this is the key to being ready for whatever God has planned for each of us. If we wait to decide if we are going to follow Him until after He calls, we will be more likely to drag our feet. There are too many ready excuses as to why this can’t be God’s calling. But if we ask God now, before He calls, to teach our hearts a posture of surrender, then when His calling comes, we can be ready to give our unconditional yes. 

What is the posture of your heart today? If God suddenly asked you to do what the world would consider to be risky or even foolish, would you have a ready “yes” on your lips and in your heart? If not, what is keeping you from holding that posture?