December 6 Advent

Our story continues back into the book of Luke chapter 1. Luke does a scene change away from Zechariah and Elizabeth who are pregnant, and moves over to the Virgin Mary. In vs 26-38 we read about Mary’s encounter with Gabriel. The encounter tells us that Gabriel visits Mary, when Elizabeth is in her sixth month already. Mary is engaged to Joseph at the time and is still a virgin.  Lets put this into a little bit of perspective... Mary was a nobody. First of all, (except for a few women in the bible) women of this time period seemed to have a few minor purposes. Get married, have children, raise those children. Other than this, they were invisible. Mary was no different.  Mary was likely little older than the age of puberty at this time (which, without all our modern hormone filled food, means she was 12-14 years old), and as far as the world was concerned, she was invisible. And as far as SHE was concerned, this was ideal! She was engaged to be married, which was about as much attention as any woman would receive in her lifetime (other than childbirth when she had people helping her of course). Marriage (especially the one Joseph and Mary would have had) would not have been as big a deal as weddings are today. Given that Mary was considered unclean, likely their wedding barely cast a shadow on the temple courts at all.

But despite Mary being no one at all, God sends the angel Gabriel to her! Interesting... Zechariah needed to be near the Holy of Holies in order to meet with Gabriel, and even after working his whole life for such a moment, he blows it with doubt. Mary on the other hand, gets a private meeting with Gabriel in the comfort of her own home! If that doesn’t show the presence of the Holy spirit, I don't know what does!

The angel says to Mary “Greetings you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” This disturbs Mary greatly and she is very fretful of what such an expression might mean... Gabriel assures her not to be afraid and continues on saying “ You have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called son of the most High. The lord God will giver him the throne of his father David and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end.” 

....woah!! Talk about a loaded statement!! She too would have some basic knowledge based on tradition, of what the angel was referring to, (although she likely wouldn’t have quite the in-depth knowledge of specific prophecies to which Gabriel referred). She would have simply known what her parents told her (as women were not allowed in the temple courts, and therefore didn’t overhear instruction from the teachers of the law very often). They listened to and obeyed their fathers and husband’s teachings on these matters. So this very fact, the VERY ESSENCE OF THE PARENTS of the two babies we are learning about, speaks to Christ’s whole mission! Mary’s response is one of faith, as opposed to Zechariah’s response. You see, Mary asks the obvious question of the angel... how can I be pregnant if I am a virgin. And after Gabriel explains the power of the Holy Spirit over her, her response is simple, yet world-changing and extraordinary... “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said”... no “why?” no “this is impossible angel!!” and no doubt whatsoever... Mary is the Lord’s servant... Can you see king Davids heart here? Wow.  

Zechariah, a prestigious teacher of the law, hears and doubts.  He asked "how can this be" out of a doubt-filled heart. He might as well have said with a scoff "Look Gabriel, that is impossible. My wife is barren." A lowly teenage girl hears (She too asks "how can this be?" but full of curiosity not doubt), believes, and allows her whole life to be wrecked for the Lord’s sake. Sounds an awful lot like what Jesus is up against in his ministry, doesn’t it? The teachers of the law hear, scoff and doubt... but the lowly “least of these” hear, believe, follow, and become disciples and cornerstones of the early church. Let us not forget whom God softens his heart towards... Toward the broken, the lowly, the forgotten, the pitiful, the disgusting, the hopeless... Because do you know what he sees? He sees surrender. Just like Jesus says it is hard for a rich man to enter heaven! So often, those surrounded by status are also surrounded by pride, self-righteousness, an “I can do it myself” attitude and many other qualities that lead to a lack-of-surrender to God... and God cannot move then. So God knows, and is dear and close to the broken hearted who hear his voice and come.

And so, the one who desperately tries to cling to his status, is silenced when he doubts... but the one who is a lowly nobody, is exalted and honored for her obedience and faith!

Do you know what the truth of the matter is? We are all lowly and worth nothing... but some of us are believing lies... lies about what is really “our responsibility”. And we use our “responsibilities” as excuses to not surrender large parts of our lives to Christ. How is this any different than a Pharisee? I know I am no different... I often take back the control from God and try to do things on my own, when really I can do nothing apart from Him.

 Let us take this to heart today, and make a choice. With the spirit of which of our two Angel encounters, will you approach this  Christmas season?

Zechariah – yes, here is another Christmas, another season... I have seen it all before, hoped it all before. Here we go again, and I will keep holding on to my pride, and chose not to become emotionally involved in Christmas. I will remain silent even to myself. At least I wont be disappointed this way.

Mary—I have no idea what lies ahead, and it may not look all that pretty. In fact, it might be down-right dangerous and messy! But I will serve the Lord because THAT is the safest place for me to be. I will open my heart vulnerably and expectantly for the Lord to move this Christmas, because that is what he promises to do when we seek him! I have faith, and I will believe and I will open myself up.

The choice is yours.

Dear God,

Please soften our hearts this Christmas to your will.  Lord, we thank you for your grace, and how you loved and cherished both Zechariah and Mary. You knew what response would be the best for each of them. You knew how the silence would soften Zechariah's heart, and how Mary just needed an answer.  Lord you know all of our hearts, and what we are capable of giving right now... We ask that you surround each of us with your tender security, so that we can relax and let-go of just a little bit more control we are trying to have. Help us learn surrender this Christmas, as we witness once more, your incredible surrender of your son.  Please bless our families, and our homes lord. Please fill our homes and the people in them with your spirit as you nudge our souls closer to you and your will. 

In Jesus name, 

Amen.