The Seed Blog: Adventures in Babysitting2: Mary

Luke 1:26: Gabriel is used on several occasions as a Messenger for God, and each time news is given in regard to the Coming of the Messiah, it seems that Gabriel is the Angel which is presenting the news. He appears to Daniel when the very timetable that we studied last week is given, telling of the exact time of our Messiah's coming; then he appears to Zacharias in the Temple, foretelling of the birth of John to make a way for the Messiah; then he appears here to Mary herself, announcing the coming of Jesus The Christ. Could it be that Gabriel is somehow intimately linked with overseeing and orchestrating the appearance of our Lord on this earth, in His Eternal Plan?

Let's begin a detailed look at Mary: This city to which Gabriel was sent to meet Mary—Nazareth—alone reveals so much about her. Nazareth was a very small town [so small it made Bethlehem look big]. The population was literally about 50 to 100. There was one well for the entire community (can go there today). When Nathanael (a future disciple) was told about the Messiah who would come from Nazareth by Philip, listen to his response: John 1:45-46. So, we know that Mary comes from a very poor neck of the woods, from a very simple family, and based on the culture, and especially where she was from, it is almost certain that Mary had little to no education at all [women weren’t often educated well]. Luke 1:27: There are many guesses about the ages of this young couple, but everything we can find about the culture and times, along with the Greek word for, "virgin" used here, strongly suggests that Mary was somewhere around 13 or 14 years old when she was visited by Gabriel. "Betrothal" meant they were, for all practical reasons, already married, but waiting for a period (usually up to a year) before moving into the same house together or consummating the marriage physically. This was a time of preparation for the young groom to prepare a home, usually an addition to the father's house. This betrothal was so serious, that a bill of divorce was required to end the relationship, and any sexual contact outside this union was considered adultery. Luke 1:28: Just for the record, highly favored proves Mary needs God's Grace, as do we all. Now, try to imagine receiving the news in these following verses, when you are a 14-year-old girl [teens are of accountable age]. Luke 1:29: Gabriel's appearance made Daniel and Zacharias both fearful as well. Luke 1:30: Gabriel does not get angry with Mary's question, as he seemed to do with Zacharias' question, when he struck Zacharias silent until John's birth because Mary believed whole-heartedly in God's ability to do as He said, she simply questioned how He was to work, since she didn’t yet have a husband! Zacharias doubted. [Which are you?] If we see the entire picture communicated about Mary in these verses of Scripture, we will realize why God would choose this seemingly plain, lowly woman for one of the greatest honors in history. Mary was in one of the most exciting, and anticipated times of her whole life, making plans to be wed, and in the middle of all the plans for her entire future, Gabriel appears, giving her news that would destroy everything she anticipated to this point. Ponder with me for a moment, Mary's reaction to all she was asked to give complete and humble obedience in: Not once, did Mary question God as to whether anyone would believe her, or if she would even be protected. The Law allowed punishment up to, and including death by stoning, and although proof shows that the Roman occupation may have taken away that power officially, it was not uncommon for the Roman Government to be lax on the Jews when they invoked, "lynch laws" and unofficially executed other Jews in religious charges (if not a Roman citizen). Jesus was about to be publicly stoned on more than one occasion. Saul (Paul) held the outer clothing of the mob that stoned Stephen, and himself, was stoned and left for dead. Mary was absolutely accepting the possibility that she would possibly be stoned, or become a fugitive by following God, even if they chose not to kill her, she knew she would probably lose her fiancé, and her entire planned future. She knew she would completely lose her reputation within this small community of 50 to 100, where everyone intimately knew one another; where would a 14-year-old girl, in a patriarchal society, with no skills, go if she was rejected by house and husband, in a small and remote village in the middle of nowhere? This may be why she left for Elizabeth's house immediately upon her conception; she wanted the safety and faith building company of the only other person on earth that would truly understand, and celebrate with her. She no doubt, was faced with skepticism even from the closest family members, if not outright disbelief and shame. Surely this also, was part of the reason she traveled so far with Joseph, when she was so close to delivery, even though law only required Joseph in Bethlehem. And according to historical records, and the fact that everyone believed Jesus to be an ordinary Man most of His life, Mary lived with this social shame her entire life, while living one of the most selfless, and righteous lives in history, at this young age, with her whole life about to be changed for what looked like the worst—Mary did not contemplate for one second what she would miss in life, or what she'd suffer, who would stand with her, or who would leave her (parents, friends, husband, place in society, and maybe her very life were all up for grabs with one decision for God), and yet, she didn't hesitate with this answer: Luke 1:38: handmaid here is very powerful and significant: one who is a servant or slave for life, who has no rights of their own. In the Hebrew culture, an indentured servant (serving for six years then free) could choose to voluntarily become a bond servant for life by declaring, "they love their master and do not want to go free." (Exodus 21:5) In essence she was answering every question of obedience we have just entertained with one attitude towards God: "I love You and do not want to be free! I completely belong to You, and it is not my life to decide. Have your way unconditionally!" Just as Christ said as He sweat drops of Blood in the Garden, "Never the less, not My will but Thine be done." Philippians 2:5-8: The word for bondservant here is the masculine form of the exact word which Mary used. If Jesus Christ freely became a Bondservant to God the Father, on our behalf—when He was God Himself—if we say we have accepted Christ—we can no longer claim it is our right and our decision as to whether we will live in obedience to His will for our lives; as to when and where we say yes or no when He calls; as to whether we will choose to continue living in sin or not—there is no choice. If that decision is real, we gave up that decision freely, and submitted to His will. Why did Mary so quickly submit every aspect of her life to God in an instant? Because she loved and trusted Him so much. Meaning, she knew that everything God would ask of her, no matter how against the grain, or seemingly unpleasant, was based upon His overwhelming love and His wisdom, which is far beyond our reach. "It's not what you have, but what you give.” When Mary went to stay with Elizabeth for those three months, Elizabeth called her blessed, and confirmed to her that all the things God said to her would be fulfilled, to which Mary responds with words of poetic praise and worship. Words which show that even though Mary may have been illiterate, her attention to, and love for the Scriptures was amazing because even at this young age her response, now known as the, "Magnificat" included knowledge and quotes from many OT passages: Luke 1:46-55. Please see that in response to possibly ruining her entire life on earth, guaranteeing that she will live a life of struggle and sorrow, maybe even face public trials of humiliation and stoning, her heartfelt view, her heartfelt reaction to the entire situation, was worship and thanksgiving for being blessed by God as the one chosen to be used, chosen to go through all of this for Him, and she considers herself and her life to be nothing. That is why God used simple, young, poor, illiterate, Mary for the most awesome task in history—not because of one single thing that she had, but because of what she was willing to give—which was everything. Listen to what she gave up, and ask yourself if you are holding out on priceless obedience—which truly shows your love—while trying to show all the worthless things you think you have of value to God. She gave Him her goals, because she truly trusted His plan more. She gave Him her reputation, because she would rather be hated and ridiculed for identifying with the One who loved her most, than to have the love of the world, and not stand by Him. She gave Him her position in society, knowing that where she made it in this world was completely irrelevant, and that her position in God's eyes was priceless—her position in the eternal afterlife was priceless. She gave Him her love life, being completely fulfilled as his bondservant, if no one else would ever have her for her entire life, and in return, she received a man that would love, cherish, believe, and protect her to the end of his life. She gave Him her pleasures and comforts in life, and in return for all the struggles, she gained the greatest joy and purpose a human being could imagine. She gave Him her plans, her timing, her calendar, and God left traces of His Fingerprints and Works on the events of her surrendered life that were so amazingly orchestrated and directed, that we are still marveling at them to this day. She gave Him her very life if He wanted it, and He gave her an eternal life of honor and blessing before Himself and all mankind. Mary was so close to God, so special to God, so used of God because she realized she had nothing, yet she gave everything. Her obedience in faith and love completely directed her entire life, even at 13 or 14 years old. We would all do well to take Mary's words of advice, stemming from her many years of intimate experience raising Jesus. When, in a precious moment of trust and silent communication at a wedding, she simply told Jesus, "They have no wine." (John 2:3), and though Jesus even protests to her that it is not time for Him to show His power yet, the unspoken, intimate moment between their glances let her know He would fulfill her desires, and so, she showed absolutely no reservation or worry, as she boldly instructed the servants attending the feast: "Whatever He says to you, do it," because she had learned what complete and instant obedience brings when trusting God. [Have you?]