LifeWay Bible Studies for Life Series for December 11: A gift from God

Baptists rarely look at the story of Jesus from the perspective of his mother, possibly because they think Catholics over-emphasize her role. As a result, we probably under-emphasize it. But, it’s important to look at her not as a saint with magical powers and special access to God, but to see how much like us this young girl really was.

Imagine what it would have been like to be Mary, probably about 14 years old at the time and of modest economic status. Luke reveals several agendas that underscore his introduction of Mary. His story seems to indicate the important place of women in the church. It also reminds us of the high cost of discipleship and the scandal of the way of the cross.

Why Mary was chosen is a mystery. We don’t really know why. We’re not told of any special heritage or qualities about her that made her catch the eye of God for this special task. We only know, as verse 30 tells us, that she “… found favor with God.” Mary herself seems to be confused and clueless.

We sometimes ask ourselves, “Why was the Son of God born to this simple peasant girl who had no particular merit or qualifications? And, why was this birth set in the context of a scandalous out-of-wedlock pregnancy?

There’s even more scandal in Matthew’s record of the ancestral lineage of Jesus. His ancestors include Tamar, who committed adultery; Rahab, a prostitute; Ruth, a Moabite; Bathsheba, a foreigner who committed adultery; and we finally end with Mary being pregnant out of wedlock.

In Genesis 38, we find that Tamar disguised herself as a prostitute and offered herself to Judah, her father-in-law.

And, of course, Rahab was the harlot who sheltered Joshua’s men when they came to spy in Jericho (Joshua 2).

Ruth was not a Jew, but a Moabite who first married Mahlon and then Boaz.

And, then there’s Bathsheba, who probably was not an Israelite either. She was the wife of Uriah the Hittite and was seduced by David while her husband was out fighting a war.

The scandal of the birth of Jesus demonstrates his full humanity. In spite of the miraculous divine nature of his birth, he also represents a family of questionable parentage, including all these ladies of ill repute.

“God with us” means just what it says; that God took on our human condition. God became part of the human family, warts and all.

We don’t have to make Mary out to be a saint who lived a sinless life. No, she was just like us—and that is exactly the point. God acts through ordinary human beings like you and me, ordinary human beings that trust God enough to undertake extraordinary missions beyond their capabilities or imaginings.

“You have found favor with God.” Has an angel ever said that to you?
 
When Mary heard those words she was hesitant. She said, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” She certainly raised legitimate doubt, which shows up often in the biblical witness. When we doubt, we’re in good company.

The angel had made an incredible pronouncement: “You will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

There was no way for Mary to fully understand what the angel was saying. So she responded, “How can this be?”

But, in spite of her doubt and her failure to comprehend the mystery, she came to the place of surrender to the will of God. She said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.”

Whatever went through her mind at this announcement, Mary came to the place of submission. That’s the measure of a real disciple of Jesus Christ.

The miracle of Christmas is that the Son of God would come into the world through the body of this peasant girl. She provides an excellent model for all of us in her role as God-bearer, for we too are called to be God-bearers. Sometimes, we’re too busy looking outside of ourselves to find God as an objective reality. We need to be looking within ourselves.

The message of Christmas is that Christ is within you. Christ is among us. Jesus said, “Inasmuch as you have done it unto the least of these, you have done it unto me.”

We have not yet learned that the word of God addressed to Mary is the same word God addresses to us: “Hail favored one, the Lord is with you.” God is waiting for us to say “Let it be to me according to your word.”

Hear those words spoken to Mary as if they were spoken directly to you. Hear once again the message from the angel. Hear the words of salvation and hope. God is waiting for the Holy Child to be born in us, and he can’t be born in us unless we’re prepared, as Mary was, to give ourselves body and soul to God.

Listen as the angel speaks to you:  “Hail favored one, the Lord is with you.”