The angel Gabriel’s announcement to Mary is a story we all know and love. It’s one that touches our emotions, and also reminds us that Christmas is coming! And it’s has been the inspiration for countless works of art.

But Luke, who tells it, has other objects in mind. He wants to introduce us to the Lord, to see his wonderful love and the greatness of his being, so that we may trust and obey him ourselves, as our Lord and Saviour. He wants us to be assured of his heavenly origin, and yet of his real humanity, entering this world as we do, graciously identifying with us in every way. He also tells us of Mary’s reaction, and contrasts it with that of Zechariah – so that we may learn how to please God in our own lives.

When Gabriel – whose name means God is mighty – told Zechariah that he would be the father of John, the herald and forerunner of the Lord – Zechariah’s response was to doubt if this could possibly be true, since he and Elizabeth were old.(Luke 1:18) He rightly earned Gabriel’s rebuke, and the dumbness that lasted for the next nine months! But the announcement to Mary was not only more startling – more tremendous, yet full of possible pain as well as joy – it found her with an open and trusting heart.

Her question was seeking to understand, not to doubt. She was accepting the truth of Gabriel’s message. Yet it was a call to trust God even when it was sure to involve dishonour in the sight of others – the probable disbelief of Joseph, his rejection of her and her loss of him, when she would be in most need of him. It was a call to believe God cared for her in a remarkable way – she was to be highly favoured (1:28,30) – although she regarded herself as a ‘nobody’ (1: 48).

God’s will

God came into Mary’s life unexpectedly and suddenly – calling for a response of faith and obedience. He may do something of the same with us. We too may be faced with a sudden, unavoidable challenge. He doesn’t ask our permission – he is Sovereign over our lives. We may face a disappointment – as Mary might lose Joseph. We may lose a job, our health, or someone we love. Or God may challenge us to leave our present circumstances, and venture for him. To leave our security and go out into the unknown – as God called Abraham, the prophets, or women like Rebekah. God may decide to turn our lives upside-down – for our own good, for the good of others, for his own glory.

At this point we may be tempted to doubt – to refuse his call – to default in our trust and obedience. We may say, Why me?.. Are you and I ready for God to turn our lives upside-down? Will we embrace – will we welcome – God’s will for our lives?

We’re accustomed perhaps to teenagers – and that was probably what Mary was – saying No! – but Mary says Yes! She doesn’t, like Moses at the burning bush, put up objections, and finally ask God to choose someone else. (Exod 3:11,13; 4:1,10,13) She doesn’t, like Jeremiah, claim exemption on account of her youth (Jer 1:6). Wouldn’t someone with experience of motherhood have been a better choice? She wasn’t even married.

Nor does Mary look upon herself as unworthy, as Isaiah did (Isa 6:5). She simply accepts that God had chosen her. She doesn’t need God to touch her lips, in order to say, I am the Lord’s servant. She has to leave past dreams behind, and possibly face great danger – she could have been stoned to death for adultery. When we say Yes, we can’t know the outcome – or the difficulties we may face – but God knows and loves us, and he will be with us through it all.

We know that Mary’s response was to sing God’s praise. Can we do that when challenged by events – or afflicted, like Paul and Silas in prison (Acts 16:23-25)? We know why Zechariah was silent! Are we dumb (because we don’t believe) or do we praise God (because we’ve experienced God’s hand in our lives)? We need to be open to the unexpected; ready to praise God when the Holy Spirit prompts us.

God’s character

What made Mary different? That she could trust straightaway and, when she met Elizabeth – sing a song of praise to God? The answer must be – and it’s evident in her song – her knowledge of God’s character, through his word. As well as through Gabriel’s message, assuring her through his knowledge of Elizabeth’s pregnancy in her old age. As he said, Nothing is impossible with God – echoing words first said by the Lord to Sarah (Gen 18:14), and repeated to others (Job 42:2;Isa 50:2;Jer 32:17,27;Rom 4:21).

Mary sings of God’s character, seen in his acts. Sings of God’s graciousness, his mercy and justice – and she praises God, that he is like that. God loves humble people and chooses those like her and Elizabeth through whom to perform mighty deeds (1:51). This reverses the world’s way of doing things.

God overturns the world’s power structures. He puts down the great and raises the poor. He rejects the self-sufficient and provides for the helpless. Mary’s song is political dynamite. God’s kingdom subverts all earthly kingdoms, and renders all rulers accountable. By faith, although she doesn’t know how God is going to do it through her son, she believes God is at work, bringing in his kingdom, which will endure for ever. What God has said, he will do.

Perhaps you lack Mary’s confidence. Perhaps you are overwhelmed by what God has called you to endure? Let me then tell you the testimony of someone who has indeed been challenged. Nick Vujicic was born without arms or legs. His Christian parents asked, If God is a God of love, why would he let something like this happen? Nick comments – They came to understand that God had a plan for me and one day he would reveal it. My dad assured me that God didn’t make mistakes, but at times I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was the exception to that rule. “Why couldn’t you give me just one arm? Think what I could do with one arm!”

For a long time I thought that if my body were more normal, my life would be breeze. What I didn’t realise was that I didn’t have to be normal – I just had to be me, my father’s child, carrying out God’s plan. My pleasure (now) is to tell people God does have a plan for their lives. God took my unusual body and invested me with the ability to uplift hearts and encourage spirits, just as he says, “For I know the plans I have for you.. plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jer 29:11) Do not put limits on how God can work through you!

In his book Nick reminds us of others. Of Helen Keller, who lost her sight and hearing before the age of two, but who became a world-renowned author, speaker and social activist. Of Joni Eareckson Tada, who became a quadiplegic at 17, as a result of breaking her neck in a diving accident. He tells how a friend gave Joni the verse, In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God and Christ Jesus concerning you. (1 Thess 5:18) and how she reacted, You can’t be serious. I don’t feel thankful for this. No way. Her friend told her that she didn’t have to feel thankful for being paralysed. All she had to do was to take a leap of faith and give thanks for blessings to come.

It was very hard for her to do so. She felt a victim, and called herself that. She blamed everyone but herself, and wanted everyone to pay.. Eventually she came to realise that victimhood is an easy place to hide. Suffering brings us to a fork in the road – we can chose the downward path to despair, or take the hopeful path up the hill to adopting an attitude of gratitude. We must put our trust in God, and in his future for us, and thank him for his love.

God’s purpose

Mary had to live her life by faith – as we do – that God had a plan and a purpose that would eventually be fulfilled. She was not always able to live in that way (Luke 2:48; Mark 3:21-31) – and neither are we. But God will forgive our failures if we turn from them and ask him to forgive us, for Jesus’ sake, who died for us. And God is gracious. She had been given a part to play in God’s plan – to create a holy people who love and trust and serve him. To renew and restore the world to righteousness. And we also are called to play a part in God’s plan.

And our part begins with our being renewed and restored ourselves. C. S. Lewis put it very well: The almost impossibly hard thing is to hand over your whole self to Christ. But it is far easier than what we are all trying to do instead. For what we are trying to do is to remain what we call ‘ourselves’ – our personal happiness centred on money or pleasure or ambition – and hoping, despite this, to behave honestly and chastely and humbly. And that is exactly what Christ warned us you cannot do. (Matt 7:16-17; Luke 6:43-45) If I am a grass field – all the cutting will keep the grass less, but it won’t produce wheat. If I want wheat.. I must be ploughed up and re-sown. (Essay: Is Christianity Hard or Easy?)

You see God wants to make us like Jesus, his Son. We can’t do that ourselves, we must ask him to come into our lives and change us. Christ must be born spiritually in us! (Gal 4:19) When we ask Jesus to enter our lives – as someone said long ago – He dwells in us spiritually and his Father takes up his abode with Him.. In this way the child Jesus is born in each of us. (Gregory of Nyssa)(John 14:23)

Mary was given the immense privilege of bearing in her body the growing child who would become Jesus (= Lord the Saviour). Is it any less a wonder, less a privilege, to be able to receive him spiritually, that he may be born in us, as we open our hearts to him, to transform us into his likeness? May he give us all the trust, the humility, the willingness, to say with Mary, I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.