LUKE 1:26-38
THE KIND OF FAITH THAT ACCOMPLISHES GOD’S PLAN
Through out church history Mary, the mother of Jesus, has not been given her proper place. Some want to make her divine and thus take away her human nature which belittles her great accomplishment. Some Protestants have over reacted and want to ignore Mary. But we should not criticize or insult Mary. Her being worshiped and made an idol is not in any way her fault. Yet God chose her for a great and significant event in redemption history, the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. In spite of human fears and struggles, Mary successfully accomplished this special calling of God. Humble Mary’s wondrous faith in her God can teach us powerful lessons, if we will learn from her.
Today, I will not attempt to explain why Mary was chosen for this great work but rather I want to share with you why the incarnation could be experienced through Mary (CIT). I want to draw your attention to the faith of Mary. It is a faith that brings forth the accomplishment of God’s plan (CIM). It is a faith that God’s faithful are called to experience also.
First it is:
I. A FAITH THAT RESPONDS TO GOD’S BLESSINGS WITH HUMILITY (28-29).
God again takes the initiative and sends Gabriel with His message (v. 26). The angel Gabriel came to the virgin Mary (v. 27) and greeted her in verse 28; "Hail thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee." Mary was "greatly troubled at the saying, and wondered what manner of greeting this might be." From the words of Gabriel in v.30, we learn that Mary’s initial respond is one of fear.
Why does Mary have such a response? Is it because she is afraid of being a virgin as she is, being unmarried but engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David, yet going to conceived and give birth to Jesus, the Son of God? This seems to be a legitimate explanation of her troubled-heartedness and fear. In that culture the engagement period was regarded as a definite promise of mutual fidelity and its violation was looked upon as adultery. However, when we study the text with care, I don’t think this can be an acceptable explanation. For Mary still did not know what God is going to do on her by that time. Her response in verse 29 is, "she kept pondering in her mind what manner of salutation this was." It is a clear indication that she doesn’t know what Gabriel’s greeting means.
[Another explanation is given by Roman Catholics. They teach that Mary’s response is due to her being divinely elected by God, that she is "full of favor" that she will be able to "confer favor," and that she will be "a fountain to dispense" grace. I agree that Mary is agitated by the words of the angel because she feels that such greeting is not suited to her. But her feeling of the unsuitability of the greeting to her is absolutely not due to the "divine election of God" that she will be the source to "confer favor" or the "fountain to dispense" grace. For no evidence exists in the scriptures that Mary is so elected. I think the misinterpretation of the verse is due to the ambiguous translation of the Vulgate, rendering "highly favored" as "gratiae plena" (which means "full of grace").
The Catholic Mariology must be rejected, because:
(1) The original Greek language of this verse does not have this meaning.
(2) "The Lord is with you" in v.28 is a further indication that Mary is just a vessel to receive, not a fountain to dispense.
(3) Mary, throughout her life, never acted as a person to "confer favor".
(4) The Apostolic church has never regarded Mary as a "fountain to dispense" or a "person to confer favor."]
Mary is perplexed or greatly troubled by the words of the angel because she feels that such greeting is not suited to her. But to what reason does Mary feel that the angel’s greeting is not suited to her? It is simply because Mary realized her unworthiness, her low estate, she also realized that she is just a "slave-maid"(v.48) of God, though God still regarded her and chose her. The faith she has is a faith of fear and humility.
APPLICATION
This attitude is one that all of us should have toward the grace of God. The Psalmist (8:4) says, "What is man that You take thought of him? And the son of man, that Thou dost care for him?" We need this realization as we accept the Lord’s call also. A realization and acceptance of fear that we’ll not be able to accomplish our Lord’s divine plan, and that we’ll not be able to glorify His name. This fear necessarily drives us to a total dedication to Him and to the work He has chosen us to do. This fear is also necessary to keep us from being lazy, wordily, or immoral. The humility and fear of Mary drives her to keep on abiding in the Lord, that is why "the Lord is with her" all the time (v. 28).
This is still true for us, dear friends, in order that the Lord may be with us all the time, we must have such fear and humility. However, we must realize that God is not only the Almighty Creator, Righteous Judge of the world, but also a God of love, our Savior, our Shepherd and our Lord. Mary had this realization. God, to her, was not only a God of justice, but also a God of love. That is why her fear does not drive her away from God, but keeps her near to God.
"Mary was young, poor, female-all characteristics that to the people of her day would make her seem unusable by God for any major task. But God chose Mary for one of the most important acts of obedience He has ever asked of any one. You may feel that your ability, experience or education makes you an unlikely candidate for God’s service. Don’t limit God choice. He can use you if you will trust Him." (Life Application Bible, p 1786).
II. A FAITH THAT LOOKS FOR MORE INSTRUCTION FROM GOD (30-34).
The heavenly bearer of glad tidings reassures the agitated or perplexed Mary with the words, "Fear not!" The reason she need not fear he declares is that God regards and treats her as a special object of His favor. She need not, therefore, be afraid on account of her humble station and personal unworthiness. The angel goes on to tell her that she has been chosen by God to bring forth a son who is to be called Jesus. In Hebrew the name means "The Lord is salvation." [But since Luke is writing to Gentiles Christians who have no knowledge of Hebrew he does not refer to the etymological meaning of the name as does Matthew (1:1) who writes for Jewish Christians. But even in the absence of the Hebrew meaning of the name,] who this son will be is clearly described by the angel. He stress three things about Jesus. His position: He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Host High (concerning His nature). [To gentile ears this would be calling Him heavens ruler and earth’s king.] The Second concern His office or his authority. "The Lord God will give to Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the House of Jacob forever; and of His kingdom there will be no end."(v.32-33) Obviously, the Son Mary is going to bring forth is the Messiah-King, He is the Son of God. Mary, as a faithful Jew, knows more about this child from Biblical prophecy. He will be the Savior of all mankind (Mt.1:21). [The third is His divine ties in verse 35].
The announcement of the angel is too overwhelming and incomprehensible for Mary and she will not realize their full implication for some time. Yet she does not, like Zacharias (recorded in v.18-20), doubt its veracity. She does not ask for a sign to prove the truth of the words, but. asks for further information. She believes that what he has declared as God’s messenger is going to happen. She does not understand how it is going to happen, and therefore asks in verse 34, "How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?" According to the original Greek, Mary’s words do not express doubt; but overwhelmed by the incomprehensible grandeur of the announcement, she merely enquires as to the manner in which that which has been promised will take place since it can’t naturally take place due to her virgin condition.
APPLICATION
Mary’s question can be compared with Paul’s saying "What shall I do Lord?" after his conversion (Acts 22:10). In order that our faith in the Lord may grow into maturity, in order that we will do exactly what the Lord wills us to do and be. To know what He wills us to be, dear friends, it is necessary for us to ask the question that Mary asks. The question looks for further instruction, which indicates our faith in God is not a kind of blind and naive faith, but rather, it is a faith based on God’s Word on objective evidences.
Furthermore, the instructions from God necessarily demands action - our commitment and dedication to doing what God says to us. Anyone who has no intention to follow God’s will will never raise such question. From the question in v. 34 "How shall this be," it is natural for us to guess Mary’s submissiveness to God, which, as we study on, finds it sound justification in the following verses.
III. A FAITH THAT TOTALLY SUBMITS TO THE WILL OF GOD (35-38).
In the reply of the angel to Mary’s question, notice the poetic parallelism which among the Hebrews always indicates the expression of sublime sentiments. The angel’s reply deals with one of the deepest and holiest mysteries, and for this reason his words are exalted to a song of praise. In a tender and sensitive manner he declares in this song the fact that the impending pregnancy of the virgin Mary will be through divine influence. The Holy Spirit will come upon Mary and overshadow her with His power, through which she will become pregnant.
At this point, the plan of God becomes clearer. Mary now comprehends that as a virgin, unmarried but bindingly engaged to Joseph, she will conceive a son of the Holy Spirit before the marriage. The possibility of this event is further justified by the miracle that occurred in the pregnancy of her cousin Elizabeth (v. 36), and the confirmation of the angel that, "For with God nothing will be impossible" (v. 37).
God’s plan is clear, success is also guaranteed. But whether God’s plan for Mary will be accomplished or not depends on Mary’s response. She can see by now that if she submits to God, she’ll face the risk of being divorced, and will be regarded as adulterer. Her purity would be questioned and her son would be slandered as being illegitimate (John 8:41). Even worse still she will according to Mosaic Law, open her self up to being stone to death because the perceived adultery.
Mary surely perceived all this but these obstacles didn’t deter her from joyfully accepting her God ordained motherhood role. She was willing to submit to God and miraculously conceive her child by the Holy Spirit.
[Had Mary been a 20th-century teenager, she might have gone to an abortion clinic. She was very young, pregnant, poor, and unmarried. Being a mother is never without problems. Dirty diapers, interrupted sleep, 24-hour duty without pay, and the risk of heartbreak and rejection fall within God’s plan. But no woman who chooses motherhood over a career ever needs to feel that she has missed life’s best. Monica, St Augustine’s mother, and Susannah, the mother of the Wesley brothers, like countless other women who modeled Christ before their children, have helped shape history even as Mary did.
We must not idealize mothers. They have their weaknesses and faults like everyone else. No woman is perfect. Yet the Lord honors mothers, and so should we. He has planned motherhood to fulfill His plans for us. Motherhood is a partnership with god. Let’s give Mom the love and respect she deserves.
Forgive your mother where she may have failed you. Call, write, or visit her and tell her at least one way she has influenced your life for good. Say from your heart, "Mother, I love you."]
Application
Dear brothers and sisters; I am sure you will agree with me that submission is always accomplished with sacrifice. One of the most important applications of today’s lesson is that we, as Christians, should be willing to accept God’s will for us, no matter how costly it is. None of us will be asked to face what Mary faced. But there could well be circumstances that might be misunderstood by people, causing us to suffer unjust reproach. Yet our responsibility is to obey God, regardless of the personal consequences. It is the work of the kingdom that counts, and we should be willing to make any sacrifice required to carry it on.
The life of the mother of Jesus was simple and plain. She did the tasks that others did at her age, learning how to be a good homemaker for her future husband. There was nothing out of the ordinary about her external life-at least not revealed in Scripture.
Yet what treasures of grace lie concealed in Mary’s attitude! When the angel announced that her child would be called "the Son of God," she responded, "Let it be to me according to your word" (Luke 1:38).
At age 16, Madame Jeanne Guyon (1648-1717) was forced into an arranged marriage to an invalid 22 years older than her. She found her marriage to be one of utter humiliation. Her husband was often angry and depression. Her mother-in-law was extremely critical and never pleased. [Even the maid despised her.] In spite of her best attempts at devotion to her husband and family, she was subjected to relentless disapproval.
Forbidden by her husband to attend church, she sought God in His Word and worshiped Him in secret. She learned that even in the midst of her dreary circumstances she was "perfectly fine-within the safe hands of God." In her book Experiencing The Depths Of Jesus Christ, she wrote, "Abandonment [to Christ] is the key to the fathomless depths. Abandonment to the spiritual life."
How can we respond to difficult circumstances with acceptance and abandonment? Mary’s response to the angel in Luke 1 :38 shows us. The only way to have that same attitude is to believe that God’s will is "good and acceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:2), and to lay down our will and patiently submit to Him day by day.
This can be our prayer: Let it be to me according to Your word. He who abandons himself to god will never be abandoned by God.
Her example shows us the value of a trusting heart that accepts the mysterious ways of God and the presence of His mighty hand, no matter how perplexing, disturbing and disruptive it might be or causes our circumstance to be. Mary’s answer contained all that our Lord requires-the pure, simple submission of the soul to His will. This was the secret of Mary’s deep spirituality: She abandoned herself to God’s will in the present and received the grace to do what God asked of her both in the present and in the future.
If you were Mary, how would you respond? The promise of God for such sacrifice is not only an abundant life while living in this world, but also the co-reigning with God forever in the heavenly kingdom (Mt.19:28, Rev.22:5).
What is God asking you to do? It may be something magnificent, or something ordinary. It may be to respond actively to a command of Scripture, or to submit patiently to present suffering. ["What God arranges for us to experience at each moment is the holiest thing that could happen to us," commented the 18th-century writer Jean-Pierre de Caussade.]
Are you able to accept each moment with grace and submission? Can you respond to the Lord as Mary said to the angel, "Let it be tome according to your word"?
May we learn the blessed secret of delighting in Your will, Welcoming whatever You send us, Joy or sorrow, good or ill. To know God’s will is a great treasure; to do God’s will is a great privilege.
Irrespective of our dislike of seeing Mary being idolized by Roman Catholics, there is really a lesson that we should learn from her - her submissiveness to the Lord. She says to the angel, "Behold, I am the slave-maid of the Lord, let it be to me according to your word." Her submissiveness, I am sure, is due to her realization of her relationship to the Lord - she is His slave-maid; and, on the other hand, is due to her confidence in the Lord’s being with her no matter what would happen. She knew that with Him and His grace she could do what ever He asked.
In fact, just as what Paul says, all of us are slaves. Before our conversion to Christ, we are slaves of sin, we submit to our self-centeredness and could not submit to God. After our conversion to Christ we are to become servants of God. But God regards us as His children. The resulting love relation brings abundant life, peace, joy and the grace of God to do His will. There is an obviously reason Mary was chosen to be the mother of Jesus. She was willing to submit her will to God’s will for her. In order to be chosen by God, in order to be a valuable tool to Him, Mary’s kind of submission is a prerequisite.
CONCLUSION / INVITATION
Dear brothers and sisters God’s plan for you is unique. It certainly differs from that of Mary, but it demands the same kind of faith that can be found in Mary: a faith that responds to God’s grace filled call with humility, a faith that looks for more instruction from God, and a faith that totally submits to the will of God.
We must clearly understand that God’s choosing us for His work is a blessing, it is an opportunity that is filled with grace. Even if we do not submit to God and fail to accomplish His plan, it does not mean that God’s plan will fail. His plan never fails for He still has other people to accomplish it. But even without them or us to fulfill it. He will see it accomplished. Though we fail God. God will never fail.
Let us follow the example of Mary, let us learn a lesson from her faith in order that God’s plan for us may also be fulfilled. He may call us to go into full-time ministry. He may call us to glorify His name in our job and give witness to Him. He may call us to be students at schools to be better equipped for Him and as we go He may give us opportunity to win class mates and even professors to Him. He may also call us to be house-wives, to rear our children according to His will, to serve Him in the home. Will you say, just as Mary said, "Behold, I am the bondslave of the Lord, let it be to me according to your word?"
(Written with the aid of a friend. Blessings!)
