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Mary - The Lord's Maidservant
Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.
(Luke 1:38)
Sometimes we face humanly impossible situations. But the kinds of challenges that only God can handle are found throughout the Bible! Here are just a few: Although Abraham and Sarah were beyond childbearing age, God promised them a son—does the name Isaac ring a bell (Genesis 18:1–15)? Or what about the time that the Egyptians, with murder on their minds, rushed the Israelites from the rear, leaving them with nowhere to go but into the Red Sea? As promised, God delivered Moses and the children of Israel by opening the Red Sea just in time (Exodus 14). In the New Testament, we find Jesus ordering Peter to take a walk on the Sea of Galilee—and empowering him to do so (Matthew14:22–33).
But perhaps the greatest impossibility in the entire Bible was God’s promise of the Virgin Birth of Jesus Christ. God told Mary, And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus (Luke 1:31). In this study, we will look at how a young, godly woman named Mary responded to an unbelievable promise.
Unless we read Mary’s response to this amazing promise carefully—How can this be, since I do not know a man? (Luke 1:34b)—we might assume that it demonstrated a lack of faith on her part. But did it? Let’s dig deeper to find out.
Learn It! Mary had become betrothed to a man named Joseph before God told her she would give birth to the Messiah (Luke 1:26–33). In Jewish culture, betrothal was a yearlong waiting period between the time a marriage covenant was made between a man and a woman and when that marriage was consummated. It was during this betrothal period that Mary was found with child of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:18). Although the Bible tells us this amazing truth, who would have believed it? This had "scandal" written all over it! When Joseph learned of Mary’s pregnancy, he had every intention of divorcing her, since it appeared to him that she had been unfaithful. But God changed Joseph's plans by sending an angel who told him, Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:20b).
Speak It! So let's think this through again: When Mary asked, How can this be, since I do not know a man? was she doubting God’s word that she, a virgin, would give birth to the Savior? Or were they really words of trust and belief? Mary did not ask for a sign as a doubting Zacharias had (see Luke 1:5–25); she simply wanted to know how this amazing miracle would take place. Once she was told that the Holy Spirit would cause her to conceive, because with God nothing is impossible, she affirmed, Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word ((Luke 1:35–38). Mary's words leaped from a heart that believed in the greatness of God’s power and the faithfulness of God’s promise.
Live It! A look at Mary’s character shows us why God gave her the privilege of bearing the God-Man, Jesus Christ:
• As a sinner, she spoke of God as her Savior (Luke 1:47).
• She became a God-exalting person: My soul magnifies the Lord (Luke 1:46).
• Her will was swallowed up into God’s will—she declared herself a maidservant [literally slave] of the Lord (Luke 1:38).
• She was a woman of the Word. (Read Luke 1:46–55 and count the number of Old Testament references she quotes in her song of praise to God.)
• She knew God well. (List the attributes of God mentioned in her song of praise and spend time adoring Him for each one!)
Discussion Question: What situation in your life fits in the "humanly impossible" category?
Memory Verse: For with God nothing will be impossible (Luke 1:37).
Prayer: Almighty God, Who can turn impossibilities into realities, I am so prone to trust only in what I can see. Help me to trust only in what You have said, and even thank You before it is done.
All quotations from Scripture are taken from the New King James Version.
Devotional written by Dr. Ron Barnes
Illustration by Jonathan Chong
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