“MARY – Believing the Impossible”

Luke 1:26-38, 46-56

Mary is a very young girl and soon to be a young woman, who lived in the small town Nazareth in Galilee.  She was a virgin and excitedly engaged to Joseph (who was a descendant of David).  She became miraculously pregnant (by the will of God through the Holy Spirit), and had a lovely trust in God!  Her faith was “child-like and beautiful.”  

Mary was a young girl and soon to be a young woman, who lived in the small town of Nazareth in Galilee.  She was a virgin and excitedly engaged to Joseph.  She became miraculously pregnant – by the Holy Spirit, through the will of God, and trusted God fully!  Her faith was “child-like and beautiful.”

We know she was the mother of God’s Son; and as wonderful as that was, it seems that one of the greatest qualities about her was the fact “she believed God, and believed what He shared with her through the angel Gabriel.

Gabriel must have been thrilled himself to know of this announcement, and that he was appointed by God to “deliver the good news” to her.  Gabriel knew what no one but God knew…..that GOD WAS COMING TO EARTH, in a real live person, Jesus.   Jesus is God…..with skin on!

Mary just BELIEVED GOD!  She believed that God had showed her favor and that He would be present through this experience, in every detail.  Mary, however, just knew it would because God said so.  She was just curious “how.”  Her thoughts were to know how … not if. 

We notice she didn’t give 100 reasons why it wouldn’t.  How easy it is for us to be “believing IN GOD,” but can we truly say that we “believe God?”  That was the precious quality of Mary.

She was confident she was a virgin and knew that this “upcoming event in nine months” would be a MIRACLE.   It was a surprise that gifted her heart with joy and anticipation.   This was called a miracle because God was going to pull this off….there would be no human to manipulation this conception.

Mary also believed that this event would be God’s sovereign choice.  It certainly wasn’t in her Day-Timer.  Would we be shocked and surprised if God’s plans for us were completely contrary to our carefully laid out plans for the next week, month or year?

This isn’t the first birth miracle of bringing into existence that which is not….or that which is impossible.   Abraham’s wife Sarah was BARREN….and out of her barrenness God birthed an entire nation…the nation of Israel.   Think about that for just a moment!  An entire nation birthed by a “barren womb.”  The difference was that Mary’s baby was fully God and fully human.  I am sure both Mary and her cousin Elizabeth, remembered the example of Sarah, and rejoiced at God’s intervention.

We’re not told what Mary was doing when Gabriel appeared to her.  We do know that after his announcement to her, her life would be forever changed.  I can only imagine her saying over and over throughout the days and weeks, “this is incredible.”  Mary was going to “house within her” the Messiah, the Lord Jesus.

This awesome announcement came with many difficulties and challenges that would accompany her life as a “full-with-child-teenager.”  Imagine her fiancé believing this “baby announcement.”  He would know for sure he had nothing to do with it.  Talk about a gentle approach to Joseph to share the news. Mary may have suggested the following statement:

“Joe, you might want to sit down on this one.  We have some talking to do.”

We can only imagine how her “surprise birth announcement” affected her family, friends and towns-folk.  This news would have brought fresh meaning of the word gossip.  How would Mary approach her family, friends, neighbors and towns people regarding her innocence with Joseph?  Joseph would have his own encounter with God and the truth revealed, but that comes later. 

It was likely that she would be criticized, ostracized and possibly dehumanized when Joseph would cancel the engagement.  She would be misunderstood (to say the least), shunned and reprimanded by many God-fearing people.  The law stated that she should receive the death penalty – death by stoning.  Talk about consequences to her obedience!

This beautifully highlights another wonderful “quiet quality” of Mary.  She maintained a humble, submissive spirit for she was willing to take the flack that would likely occur to be obedient and fulfill God’s plan.

God’s plans will cost us, but the cost is worth it.  Mary would attest to that.   After all she was carrying “her Savior too.”

Mary had a very real and personal TRUST IN GOD.  From this scene in Scripture we see she trusted God’s plan completely in every aspect:  purpose, sovereignty and for provision for her and soon to be informed fiancé Joseph …

I never thought about this before, but God could have just placed His Son on earth, made the announcement and introduced Him.  God’s ways are so much higher and more purposeful than our plans or expectations, aren’t they?

MARY WAS ALIVE TO FULFILL WHAT GOD WANTED.   What a life goal for us to live out in the shoe-leather of our lives!

We read Mary’s response in Luke 1:46-55 And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.  From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me – holy is His name.  His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.  He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.  He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.  He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.  He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as He promised our ancestors.”

Mary’s heart spilled out, whether in song or fullness of expression of her heart.  She was overjoyed at God’s favor upon her, and that He had chosen to use her to fulfill a wonderful plan for past and future generations as well as her own life.

She simply and beautifully exalts the Mighty One who would work this out in her life and give future generations reason to praise Him.  She called attention to Him and that He works in the child-like, humble hearts of those whose will is a yielded one….for His purposes.

A compass question might be good to insert here for our lives:                           

What are we willing to carry…….are we willing to be inconvenienced a little, perhaps misunderstood so that God may use us to draw others into the kingdom?

Could we lay aside our plans/agenda/will so He can have His way?   This would be life-changing, if we put our skin on this one, wouldn’t it.

In a nutshell, she was more interested in pleasing God, than pleasing others.

Mary was prompted by God to visit her cousin, Elizabeth for about three months.  She must have been such an encouragement to Elizabeth (who was now 5 months along in her pregnancy…and no doubt feeling tired).   Mary was thrilled that her close relative was “thrilled for her.”    This visit brought both women encouragement that indeed, nothing was impossible….whether you’re too old, too young, married or single.   They both proved that God can do whatever He chooses to do in you and for you.  Mary had a devoted and yielded her personal history with God.

She had an intimacy of experience that knew her God was a God of His word, regardless of the seeming impossibilities at hand. 

God had been faithful in Mary’s past which secured her faith in Him for her future, and for the future of her Son.  Mary was able to believe God for the impossible because of her own experience in walking with Him.  He was active and alive in her day-to-day life and she knew it. 

Isn’t it wonderful that we don’t have to manipulate His Will in our lives?  Our task is to just walk moment-by-moment in close-like communion.   It’s allowing space and time for God’s daily “divine interruptions” in our life to take us where He would have us “shine for Him.”

COMPASS THOUGHT:   We’re to believe and trust Him in the tiny, day-to-day and moment-by-moment details of our life.

Mary and Elizabeth seemed to have that beautiful quality of a “child-like attitude” because they just believed God…amidst the impossible.

I don’t know about you, but I’m waiting on God’s response to a situation I’ve been praying about for years.   I’d almost want to say it’s an

   “I M P O S S I B L E”

situation; but after pondering these truths in Mary’s life I’m refreshed in heart to know that “nothing is impossible with God.”

God is able and knows what is best for “each of us” …in His long-range plans.  He wants to have His way in all our situations, so that He is the One who receives the praise and glory, and brings the message and meaning of Christmas to our everyday living.

                                                 THE GIFT IS JESUS

                                  IMMANUEL meaning . . . GOD WITH US

                                               If we choose Him to be

                                                          Isaiah 8:30