Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

Mary’s shock

Luke 1v29 “Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.”

Mary seems a remarkable young lady.

• First she has the shock of an angel appearing to her. The words of the angel are positive, “Greetings you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you.” But these positive words do not stop her being surprised and even troubled. It is outside the realm of her experience and she really does not know what the outcome is to be.
• Her second shock is to be told, “You will be with child … and you are to give him the name Jesus.” Afterall, she is only engaged, not married and she has had no sexual activity. There was of course a clue as to how in the description given of her child, “He will be called the Son of the Most High.” Today we look back and can see that this was prophesied in Isaiah 7v11 “The virgin will be with child, she will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means “God is with us”)”, but I doubt this was in the front of Mary’s mind. You can imagine her perplexity as she asks the question, “How will this be since I am a virgin?”
• It may not be so much of a shock, but the angel’s answer must have raised some questions in her mind too, “the Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.” I think I would still be in question mode. The angel continues to graciously tell her that her elderly relative Elizabeth is pregnant. Maybe this is meant as a sign for Mary that she is able to test by going to visit Elizabeth.

In all this, the angel’s conclusion, “For nothing is impossible with God”, is met by Mary with “I am the Lord’s servant, May it be to me as you have said.”

Let us give thanks to the Lord for Mary’s submissive heart. It also raises the question, “What is the Lord saying to me?” It is good to share our questions and concerns with the Lord, but it is also vital that we submit to his answers.

With love and blessing,

Roland