“I know! Let’s confuse the wise, by doing the unexpected.”
“What do you mean?”
“Their looking for a king, and we’ll provide one, but not in the manner they are expecting.”
“So what are you thinking?”
“A baby. A baby born to a virgin.”
“Oh, like that won’t mess with their heads!”
“So who is going to be the baby?”
“You.”
So when the proper time came about, God sent an angel to announce part of his plan to Mary, and God’s plan was launched.
28 Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Rejoice, beloved young woman, for the Lord is with you and you are anointed with great favor.”
29 Mary was deeply troubled over the words of the angel and bewildered over what this may mean for her. 30 But the angel reassured her, saying, “Do not yield to your fear, Mary, for the Lord has found delight in you and has chosen to surprise you with a wonderful gift. 31 You will become pregnant with a baby boy, and you are to name him Jesus. 32 He will be supreme and will be known as the Son of the Highest. And the Lord God will enthrone him as King on the throne of his ancestor David. 33 He will reign as King of Israel forever, and his reign will have no limit.”
34 Mary said, “But how could this happen? I am still a virgin!”
35 Gabriel answered, “The Spirit of Holiness will fall upon you and almighty God will spread his shadow of power over you in a cloud of glory! This is why the child born to you will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. 36 What’s more, your aged aunt, Elizabeth, has also become pregnant with a son. The ‘barren one’ is now in her sixth month. 37 Not one promise from God is empty of power. Nothing is impossible with God!”
38 Then Mary responded, saying, “Yes! I will be a mother for the Lord! As his servant, I accept whatever he has for me. May everything you have told me come to pass.” And the angel left her. Luke 1:28-38 (TPT)
Fast forward; we know God’s plan worked. Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. (Luke 2:52) He stayed in constant communication with his heavenly Father, and despite his own will completed the plan. It’s a good thing too, because there never was a plan “B”.
Why would God do such an incredible selfless thing for you and me? There is only one reason; LOVE. God is love, and He loves us so much that he spared no expense to rescue us from our own selves and our eternal demise. We celebrate God’s love by celebrating Christmas. The event that if believed and accepted gives us life.
Merry Christmas
Copyright © 2021 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.
I love the Virgin Mary’s story. She was so brave. You see the simple truth is, she loved God more than she feared what others thought. There’s a whole sermon right there. Pass the offering plate and call it Sunday!
brady, mark a. 