MARY: THE RESOLUTION

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.”

Luke 1:38

This ends today’s reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

It was all out on the table for Mary to consider, a proposition that presented quite a quandary to her.

The angel Gabriel had been sent by God to inform Mary that she would conceive by way of the Holy Spirit and give birth to a son who she would name Jesus. All this would happen before she was officially married to Joseph who she had been pledged to be married to. Mary knew Jewish law and the ramifications of violating an engagement covenant which was essentially the same as if they were actually married. Infidelity was not tolerated with the penalty as severe as death. There would be no hiding the fact that Mary was pregnant; all would know and surely both she and Joseph would face a litany of questions. And speaking of Joseph, what would his reaction be to all this. He would know that he wasn’t the one responsible for Mary’s pregnancy and how would he ever be able to look at her the same again? How could he ever understand what was being proposed to happen?

Surely, Mary’s mind could have been awash in questions and confusion as she tried to process everything she had just heard from the angel. Think about how you may have felt if you were in her place and how you would respond. I think if we’re all truly honest about it, we probably would have proceeded with more questions to Gabriel or even asked for some time to ponder the proposition and the implications it would bring.

But as we see in one verse today, Mary did none of that. She simply responded in obedience.

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.”

That was it. There wasn’t any reservation. No uncertainty. No doubt like a much older and wiser Zechariah exhibited when he faced a similar improbable proposition (Luke 1:18).

Only words of compliance as Mary proclaimed her identity. She wasn’t just a mere young virgin girl. She was the Lord’s servant and ready to accept whatever His will was for her.

This was Mary’s resolution to her quandary. It didn’t need to be complicated. She just needed to trust in a perfect God: to trust that His ways were perfect, to trust that His plans are perfect, the trust that the outcomes of those plans are always perfect.

In the end translation, out of all the young Jewish virgins God could have chosen to bear and give birth to His son Jesus, He chose Mary. Perhaps there could have been no greater honor bestowed upon any woman and as we’ll see in tomorrow’s devotion, Mary recognized this, bringing her praises to God for the blessing He was bestowing upon her.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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