Max Lucado said about the Bible that studying it is like looking at a fence full of knotholes. We can peak through but not get the whole picture. We can, indeed, see part of the story but are left with a question.
Further, we can describe Scripture as looking at a scrapbook capturing people in encounters with God. We do not see the whole picture.
We are left with so many questions. We want to know what comes next. We want the rest of the story. We wonder:
- Did Mary know about the life that lay ahead for her?
- What was Mary thinking as she was burping God?
- Was that really Joe? A carpenter? God is going to have dinner every night with a common laborer and call this guy, “dad?”
- Did Joseph ever look up from his prayers and see Jesus listening?
- What ever happened to the magi?
We will see to look at the rest of the story of the main characters around Jesus’ birth. We will, of course, need to review the known stories. But then we will look beyond them to what comes next.
Mary is a part of the story around which we sometimes feel tension. There are those who elevate Mary give her titles such as coredemptrix (agent of redemption). They assert that she was free of original sin and a perpetual virgin. In error these assert that Mary is the mediator between Christ and man or the fountain of grace. Some even call her the queen of heaven.
Because of these excessive expressions others in the Christian community nearly ignore Mary altogether. She is ignored. Her contribution to the Christmas narrative is downplayed.
We do well to remember that Mary was human. She had flaws and failure. She challenges Jesus on one occasion and doubts him on another.
Looking ahead in this message we would do well to understand that Mary is to be honored and respected. We can be inspired by her example of surrender and faithfulness.
God specializes in using the unexpected. He used unexpected people. Moses and David were murderers. Jacob was a notorious deceiver. Peter was continuously changing his mind and could not keep from talking. David and others were unfaithful to their spouses.
26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.
We learn five things about Mary.
First, we notice her name. “Mary” means bitterness or sorrow. It may seem strange at the beginning of her story but our last glimpse of her is at the foot of the cross. She certainly understood bitterness.
Second, we observe that she is from Nazareth. Those from Nazareth were from the other side of the tracks, considered inferior, sinful, and corrupt. They were looked down upon by everyone.
A woman from a town seventy miles north of Jerusalem. A town with a poor reputation. Looked down upon by the people because of an active merchant trade and a Roman Camp. Nazareth had become a military camp town with which all manner of sin and corruption were associated.
Because they could only attend worship occasionally, they were considered second class citizens.
Thought of as materialistic, and often living up to that reputation. It was said, “If a man would be rich, let him go to Galilee; if he would be wise, let him go to Jerusalem. One could get rich by working in Galilee. There was much grain and fish so everyone from there was considered materialistic. It was thought that they forfeited spiritual privileges for material gain.
Third, we note that she is both young and poor. She was likely thirteen or fourteen years old at the time of her encounter with the angel. Every indication from the life of Mary and later her married life with Joseph indicates they were a family of small means.
Fourth, and most important, we find out that Mary is a virgin. Luke, a doctor, would have understood what this term means. He would have been quite clear in his definition. He was that clear.
The importance of the virgin birth cannot be overstated. Jesus had to be born of a virgin to be sinless. The only way for Him to save us was to be completely pure of sin. Without a virgin birth we have a human born Jesus and no Savior. To reject the virgin birth is to b reject the gospel. He was perfectly pure and blameless from His conception through His death.
Finally, we learn that Mary was betrothed. Betrothal was a legally binding agreement entered into as early as twelve years old. Betrothal was the second step in a Jewish marriage. Only death or divorce could break a betrothal.
Betrothal followed engagement. A couple became engaged when their two families agreed to the union. They determined if the couple were well suited for one another. This could even happen in childhood.
When a public announcement was made the couple became betrothed. A public ratification of the relationship. It usually began when the girl was about 12 years old. It was formally made with rejoicing in the house of the bride. It could still be rejected up until the public announcement. It was considered binding and could be broken only be death or divorce. She was considered his legal wife. He would give her a piece of money before the witnesses and seal it with the words, "Lo, thou art betrothed to me." This was the equivalent of a civil contract to be wed.
Marriage. Months could intervene between the betrothal and the marriage. Betrothal was concluded generally at the end of a year when the woman would transfer her residence to the man’s house.
While Mary and Joseph were betrothed, they were not yet married. They had not functioned as husband and wife.
The greeting of the angel is found in verse twenty-eight.
28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
What a greeting. We do not know where Mary was when the angel spoke but cannot lose the awe in the fact that an angel spoke to her! An angel spoke to her!!
The angel’s greeting is substantial in its content. “You are highly favored.” She is also told that the Lord was with her. Mary! The poor, young woman is the recipient of grace.
Mary’s initial response is one of confusion.
29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
Her reaction is predictable. She is understandably troubled. The word is diatarasso which means disturbed, upset, puzzled. She is greatly distressed.
The angel offers reassurance.
But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 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, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
Powerful words of promise. Mary would readily testify to these truths. We learn the name of her son. His name is Jesus. The name testifies about His role as Savior.
Jesus is a common name meaning Savior. A counterpart of the OT names of Joshua and Hosea. It means "The Lord Saves” The OT name Joshua-who led the people into the promised land.
His name describes His ministry. This Jesus would lead the people to eternal life. In Jesus' name people were healed, demons were banished, and sins were forgiven. Jesus came to save us because we cannot save ourselves from sin's consequences. No matter how good we are we cannot get rid of the sinful nature.
His name implies both help and deliverance. He does not necessarily depose external foes, but provides freedom from the power, guilt, and penalty of sin. Christians no longer need to be bound by the corrupting power of evil that enslaves and drags people down to eternal destruction. Jesus takes believers out from under the dominion of sin and brings them into the freedom and joy of a life in the Spirit.
The mission of her son. He is the one who saves people from their sins. He came for that purpose. Make no mistake about His agenda. He was a great teacher, a powerful miracle worker, and the ultimate example of following God. But He did not come for those things. He came to save people.
He came to save you from your sin. That is the collective body of wrong. He also came to save you from your sins. The individual sins that drag you down. He offers you redemption from all of those.
Mary would testify to the deity of her son. He is indeed called the Son of the Highest. She never doubted who He was. She always knew He was God’s Son. The toddler just learning to walk was God. The boy she taught to talk created the world with a word!
Jesus will reign over the house of David. Harkening back to the promises of old David was promised a son would rule after Him. Now Jesus sits on the eternal throne, fulfilling every promise of God.
Three words from the promise of 2 Samuel 7:13-16 are used here: "Throne", "House", and "Kingdom". The Messianic prophecy of Micah 5:4 is referred to. Jesus would be installed as Messiah, the supreme heir to the Davidic throne. David had been promised an everlasting kingdom. That promise was fulfilled in Jesus.
Whereas Jesus legal lineage through Joseph gave Him the right to sit on the throne, His relationship as the Son of God makes the reign eternal. Jesus is the fulfillment of the hopes and expectations of His people.
She would tell us that He is the very Son of God.
He would not be THOUGHT to be the Son of God, He would BE the Son of God. Whereas Jesus' legal lineage through Joseph gave Him the right to sit on the throne, His relationship as the Son of God makes this reign eternal.
This phrase marks Jesus off from all other men. He did not use the word often of Himself (Matthew 27:43). It is a title used of Him often, including by the Father. (Luke 3:22, Luke 9:35)
It ascribes to Him a relationship to deity that is claimed by no other human being. This child was to be God’s Son, and she must trust Him for the details.
Those words brought hope then and bring hope now. They are God’s words for a hurting humanity.
Mary expresses her continued confusion:
34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
Her question is a natural one. How can it be? We cannot fault her question. We can gain insight into how we manage those questions. She asked honestly. That is great advice.
She did not seem to doubt, but only to wonder how. This is a chaste maiden, knowing of her purity and intending to remain that way until marriage, asking for more light on the subject. It is nothing but a practical question.
The answer is simple and incredible profound.
35 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. 36 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. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.”
We can mentally wrestle with the how of the virgin birth or accept the truth despite our inability to explain it. The Holy Spirit conceived Jesus.
Holy Ghost is the same as "Holy Spirit” Just as the Spirit of God had been at work in the creation, He was at work in Mary's body in miraculous ways. The angel does not seek to explain the "how" of the miracle, but the who. The Holy Spirit is active in bringing into being a new creation, a new humanity.
Overshadow thee is a picture of a cloud coming over her. This suggests the Shekinah glory or the hovering presence of God. The term for "overshadow" is a reminder of the cloud of God's presence that descended upon the tabernacle-Exodus 40:35. The conception of Jesus took place through the direct action of the Holy Spirit of God in the womb of Mary.
The result of the overshadowing is that Jesus was to be holy, i.e., filled with the Holy Spirit from His conception.
Of course, it is a miracle: A miracle is any act of God above the physical law as men understand it, but by laws which are known to God, and which He performs in keeping with His wonderful purposes. This only told Mary that God's Spirit would enable her to do what was humanly impossible.
Mary is given a reassurance in the pregnancy of her relative Elizabeth. The latter was past the age of childbearing. But God delivered a baby. By the time of this announcement John is six months in his development. Mary was doubtless strengthened by the fulfillment of this promise.
Finally, she is given a promise we can hold on to. No word from the Lord fails. We can hold on to His promise. He fulfills every one of His promises.
Mary finally expresses her willingness to go along with the plan of God.
38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
The cost would be high for Mary. Her peers would ridicule her. Her fiancée would come close to leaving her. Her Son would be rejected and murdered.
Yet she said “yes.” No hysteria, just simple faith. She prays a courageous, beautiful prayer.
What is the rest of the story?
- She kept it all in her heart.
- She presented Jesus at the temple. (Luke 2:22-ff) During this visit when Jesus was a newborn Mary met Anna and Simeon. The elder prophet prophesied that Jesus would be pierced. How often must Mary have felt the sting of these words.
- They receive the wise men (Matthew 2:1-12)
- They take Jesus to the temple (Luke 2:41-50)
- She later gave birth to other children (Mark 6:3, Matthew 13:55-56)
- She observes Jesus’ Ministry-At here initiative, Jesus turns the water into wine. (John 2:1-11) On this occasion she asked for Jesus to intervene when the wine ran out. Jesus warns Mary that his ministry would proceed as He planned.
- On another occasion she believes Jesus has gone crazy and sent her other sons in to take charge of Jesus. She says that He was out of his mind.
- She watched Him die. (John 19:25-28) How painful it must have been for her. She stood near the cross as they hung him there. She listened as his raspy voice spoke.
- Finally, she observed the birth of the new church. (Acts 1:12-26) She saw the beginning of the fulfillment of
How do we respond to Mary? I offer three suggestions:
First, we can copy her character. Like her we can ponder God’s promise. She remembers the prophecies. She was willing to be obedient. May our character follow her example.
Second, we should keep the focus where it should be. It is not about Mary but about the Manger. It is not about the mother, but about the Messiah.
Finally, we receive the promise. What was the essential message of the angel? “If you let him, Jesus will assume residence in you. He will live inside you.”
Is this not the same promise we receive? Jesus comes to us with the promise, “If you let me, I will live in you.”
This is the great mystery we discover.
Colossian 1:27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. [1]
He dwells in our hearts through faith. In conclusion I pray over all who will read these words the prayer of Paul.
Ephesians 3:14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. [2]
[1] The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Col 1:27.
[2] The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Eph 3:14–19.
