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Christmas with Mary Luke 1:26-38 |
December 5, 2004 Pastor Tom Marcum |
A while back I heard about a doctor was driving between hospital calls one evening, exceeding the speed limit rather shamelessly in an attempt to make up for lost time. Suddenly a police car appeared behind him and turned on the lights. The doctor, it turns out, had considerable experience in both speeding and getting caught. So, without missing a beat he picked up his stethoscope and held it up for the policeman to see in hopes that the policeman would make the assumption that he was on a medical emergency.
Instead, the police office pulled alongside the doctor and pointed forcefully to the side of the road directing the doctor to pull over, immediately. In response the doctor, still holding on to the vain hope that the officer had somehow missed his earlier signal, once again picked up his stethoscope and shook it with dramatic flair. After setting the stethoscope down the doctor looked back out the window, now confident that the officer would bow in the face of this unmistakable symbol of medical authority. In fact, what the doctor saw was a smiling police officer now waving his own symbol of authority--his revolver. The doctor pulled over.
I like to describe moments like that as, "Aha," moments. Those experiences that happen to all of us from time to time when a light suddenly goes off in our heads and some deeper reality that we had not previously grasped is instantaneously made clear.
During this Season of Advent we are making our way through the wonderful story of Christmas by focusing our attention, each week, on one of the main characters within that story. Last week, we looked at that portion of the Christmas story that is told by Joseph. This morning, we're going to shift our attention to Mary. A young, simple Jewish girl who is instantaneously lifted out of anonymity and thrust into the spotlight on center stage of the greatest drama the world has ever known.
As I read Mary's story, this past week, I couldn't help but imagine that, at some point in time, Mary must have had one of those, "Aha," moments that we just talked about. I'm not sure when, exactly, that moment came for Mary but I have to believe that at some point in this unfolding Christmas drama she crossed a line and suddenly realized that life as she had known it was over for good. She was now a part of something bigger and grander than anything she had ever imagined. And part of the wonder and beauty of the Christmas story is found in watching the way that this amazing young woman rose to the occasion.
Let's read the part of her story that is found in Luke 1:26-38.
"In the sixth month, 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. But the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name 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.'
'How will this be,' Mary asked the angel, 'since I am a virgin?'
The angel answered, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon 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 barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.'
'I am the Lord's servant,' Mary answered. 'May it be to me as you have said.' Then the angel left her."
From the moment of Mary's entry to the Christmas story it's clear that God wanted to assure her that His blessing was with her. The very first message delivered to Mary by the angel is this, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." Mary was sure to be troubled and confused at the thought of this amazing and somewhat frightening journey upon which she was about to embark so God moved to help her find comfort in the confidence that His blessing was with her. So, the greeting that the angel brings to her not only begins with a blessing, but also includes further words of assurance as the angel says, "There's no need to be afraid, Mary. You have found favor with God."
Now, obviously, it is a wonderful thing to be on the receiving end of God's blessing. No one would doubt that being blessed by God is a good thing. And it would seem to be an especially good thing in a situation like this in which God has been especially clear in conveying and then re-conveying the promise of His blessing upon Mary. I mean, when God makes this much effort to assure you of his blessing then surely that must mean that from here on in life is going to be a breeze. Right? Wrong.
Most of us know very well how this story plays out. While there's no denying that Mary was blessed mightily by God, I can't imagine that anyone would describe her life as easy or trouble free. And, folks, there's a great lesson in there for us, namely, that while God's blessing always makes life good, it may not make life easy.
God's blessing does not guarantee us an easy life but God's blessing does guarantee a life that is infinitely better than life absent God's blessing. Why? Because God's blessing fills our lives with substance, purpose, confidence, joy and peace. Folks, when we receive it fully and wisely, God's blessing is always profoundly satisfying.
We make a huge mistake when we interpret the struggles and hardships of life as evidence of God's displeasure with us. As evidence that God has somehow withdrawn His blessing from us. Folks, the truth is, to know that God's blessing does not in any way insulate us from the harsh realities of life you need look no further than Mary. Mary was an ordinary Jewish girl engaged to an honest, moral man looking forward to building a solid home and bright future. And then God blessed her. And the first thing the blessing of God brings to her is an unplanned pregnancy. Because of God's blessing Mary would be the one about whom the neighbors would whisper, "You know, her child came just a little too soon."
Thankfully, Joseph continued to love and support her but that didn't change the difficult realities of her life. When her firstborn child arrives Mary is miles away from home. None of her family is with her. And a cattle stall was probably not her first choice of birthing rooms.
And her difficulties continued as the child grew. While her child was still an infant the family had to flee to Egypt to save his life from an evil tyrant named Herod. Later, her son would embark upon a ministry that she genuinely struggled to understand. Eventually, she watched as her sons' friends abandoned him and his enemies killed him.
No one would suggest that Mary's life was easy. At the same time, no one would doubt that Mary's life was genuinely blessed by God.
--The blessing of God sustained her through the hardships.
--The blessing of God secured her sense of purpose and satisfaction.
--And, the blessing of God ultimately redeemed her reputation…in her own lifetime and beyond.
The blessing of God didn't make her life easy but it sure did make her life good. And the same is true of God's blessing in our lives, as well.
As I reflected on Mary's story this week I was also struck by all that she had to be willing to let go of in order to participate in this grand adventure. It's a good thing the blessing of God remained with her because she walked away from just about everything that had ever meant anything to her.
--She let go of her reputation.
--She let go of her dreams of marriage. She could only imagine how Joseph would react.
--She let go of her future and her family.
For a simple Jewish girl like Mary these things were the very essence of life. The truth is, they're pretty important to our lives as well. Those are the kinds of things we fight to hold on to. Yet, when Mary was asked to choose between everything she had ever planned and this incredible thing that God had planned for her, verse 38 says her response was, "I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said."
And with that response Mary has just taught us another great lesson, namely, that obedience to God is the foundation of real freedom. As much as all of the other things of life meant to her, obedience to God meant even more. In fact, it was clearly the most important thing in her life. And what Mary discovered was that, far from being constraining, her passionate desire to walk in obedience to God, in fact, was absolutely liberating. It truly set her free.
--Once the priority of being obedient to God was settled everything else in her life fell into place.
--Once the "obedience decision" was made all of the remaining decisions were clear.
Mary reminds us that the primary thing that makes decision making difficult is being unclear about our priorities. But, folks when our priorities are firmly established and our values are well secured, decision-making, while it may not be easy, becomes a very clear process.
In short, Mary discovered that there is nothing more freeing, in all the world, than choosing obedience to God as your first priority. Her desire to be obedient to God freed her to let go of everything that would hinder her cooperation with God or, in any way, restrict His ability to grow her into the person He wanted her to be. So, folks, let me ask you:
--Are you holding on to some thing, some behavior that is making it difficult for you to follow God's lead? If so, don't focus on the thing or the behavior. Instead, ask God to grow within you the desire to be obedient. And you'll find the freedom to change.
--Are you holding on to some attitude that is limiting God's ability to make your character like the character of Christ? If so, don't focus on that attitude. Instead, ask God to grow within you the desire to be obedient. And you'll find the freedom to change.
Choosing to make obedience to God our first priority is the most freeing decision we will ever make.
Now, so far, this morning, we have focused our attention on a very young woman. In fact, many biblical scholars think that Mary may very well have been a teenager when she received this incredible news from God. But now I want us to fast-forward some 30 years to look at a much more mature Mary.
By now, she's not only raised her child but she has watched as God's incredible promise concerning her son's divine destiny has been perfectly fulfilled. She's seen her Son praised, condemned, crucified and risen. As we meet her in the book of Acts the disciples, having witnessed Jesus' ascension into heaven, have returned to Jerusalem to gather together with the faithful. It's the last time we will see Mary in the scriptures.
In Acts 1:12-14 we read,
"Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day's walk from the city. When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers."
This is the woman that God chose to be the mother of His only Son. And the last time we see her she is simply numbered among the other faithful who are devoting themselves to prayer.
Some 30 years earlier God had blessed her with a holy assignment. Of all the women in the world she had been chosen to give birth to and raise the Son of God. Talk about a claim to fame. Yet now, 30 years later there's not the slightest indication that she ever sought or occupied any kind of lofty status or position. She simply obeyed God and then took her place alongside her fellow believers. And, folks, there's the final lesson that we can take from Mary this morning, namely, that humility empowers faithfulness and builds community.
Rather than using her honor to grab power or position she followed the example of her son by embracing humility.
--A humility that, 30 years earlier, enabled her to say, "Yes," when God called her to be a central player in something as incredible as the miracle of Christmas.
--A humility that, 30 years later, enabled her to say, "Yes," when God called her to something as ordinary as prayer and faithful participation in her church.
Folks, here's the point--there's no place for competition among those who serve God. No place for jockeying for position and attention. No place for ego and pride. No place for "climbing up the ministry ladder" of success. Whether the task is great or small, seen or unseen, what God requires of us is obedience. And the attitude that makes obedience possible is humility.
And that's what we see in Mary. Humility empowered her to serve God in whatever way He desired and humility empowered her to serve her community in whatever role was needed.
Mary's place in the story of Christmas was secured forever by God.
Mary's place in our hearts was secured by her own example of obedience to God, faithfulness to her calling, and humility in heart and spirit.
My prayer is that the example of Mary will guide each of us toward all the blessings that God has waiting for us this Christmas and beyond.
© Copyright 2004 Pastor Tom Marcum