We know that the story was planned way before it actually took place and we also know God had a certain way for it to play out.
The next person we are introduced to, is Mary.
She was a key player in this ‘story’ and a wonderful example of faithful obedience.
In the New Testament book of Luke:
[26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee,
27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.
28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.
31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.
32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.
The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,
33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.
36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month.
37 For no word from God will ever fail.”
38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.]
What we believe to be true.
Mary was a virgin and had not been with any man before.
She was chosen and set aside by God; who knew her and understood the condition of her heart.
She asked a simple question, “how can it be?” not unlike the question Zechariah asked. Only she was told the HOW and He was told to be quiet.
The angel validated her question with, the answer “even Elizabeth your aging relative is having a baby too”.
I believe that was making the miraculous more powerful for Mary because she knew Elizabeth’s age.
The preparation of hearts and obedience took place.
Mary had to have been thinking, what shall I do now?
Can you even imagine being told by an angel YOU are highly favored by God?
It would be something very life changing to grab onto and understand, a baby… YOUR baby will be born.
He will be special and He will be chosen just as YOU were chosen.
What we believe to be true is this: Mary was chosen and because of that choice her life was forever altered.
In a very intense way.
Let us continue onto the Christmas story.