The questions flooded the mind of Mary when the angel came and spoke, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” (Luke 1:28)
- Why am I hearing this?
- What am I supposed to do?
She must admit, this was no ordinary experience.
Gabriel continued his message to her and Mary listened intently. She heard all of her questions answered. She was given clarity for all her Why, What, Where, When, etc. questions. Her purpose for living was clearer now than it ever had been before.
The conclusion of the matter was she was to “SHARE CHRISTMAS”.
It wasn’t called “Christmas” when Mary, the mother of Jesus lived. It was a time of great darkness. God had not spoken to His people for about 400 years. And now, He had sent an angel to a “nobody” of a teenage girl in the “world’s” perception of her.
Mary was learning in the moment “God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (I Samuel 16:7)
The initial reaction of Mary was fear. The Angel told her she did not have to be afraid because God had spoken to her, she was highly favored, God was with her, and she had pleased God.
Mary questioned what she was to do. The Angel told her she would bring the Son of God into the World.
To give Mary more clarity, the Angel Gabriel explained exactly who she would make known – The Great God, The Son of God, and the Ruler of an Eternal Kingdom.
Because of Mary’s unmarried status, she wondered when this would happen, and the Angel Gabriel told her it would happen when “The Holy Spirit will come upon you.” It would happen right where she was.
WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM MARY’S EXPERIENCE?
We don’t have to be afraid. The things in our life that startle us, make us afraid, and seem to appear out of nowhere do not have to debilitate us. We can hear the reasons why we don’t have to be afraid. We can hear God has spoken to us by His Word (Bible). We hear in God’s Word that we are blessed by God. We have been given every spiritual blessing. We don’t have to be afraid because God is with us.. He said “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Having confidence in God, like Mary, we please God.
We need to keep listening, like Mary did to the Angel Gabriel. Her questions were answered. As we continue to listen to God’s Word, our questions will be answered too. We’ll have more clarity for our life, and the purpose of our life will be more evident.
God asked Mary to “bring the Son of God into the world”. The request of God for every believer is no different. We are to bring the Son of God into the world. We, as followers of Christ, should tell others about The Great God, The Son of God, and The Ruler of the eternal Kingdom.
Mary had to wait for the Holy Spirit to come upon her before she would be able to begin telling others about this Christ-child. We too, have to ensure we have the Spirit of God before we can make Him known.
Mary was in her normal place of duty. We serve God best in our normal place of duty.
Christmas for Mary was not about Mary, and Christmas for us is not about us. Take this opportunity at Christmas to SHARE CHRISTMAS with those around you. God has spoken to you, you are highly favored, God is with you, and you please God. Tell someone about The Great God, The Son of God, The Ruler of an Eternal Kingdom.
Read the full encounter of Mary and the Angel Gabriel here.
Written By: Anne Gurley
