"And Mary said, 'Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to Thy word. And the angel departed from her.'"
What do we see of the cost of Christmas here? The cost to God was the choosing of a poor, young, Jewish girl, whose name means bitter and rebellious. Her name actually reflected God’s people throughout history. With kindness and long-suffering, He calls people out of rebellion and bitterness. The cost to Mary, and each one of us, is to allow the Holy Spirit to overshadow us, and that Jesus be born in us. For Mary, it was no more bitterness, but sweetness; no more rebellion, but submission, submission to the will of God. Mary took time to wait on the Lord. It takes time to develop personal relationships, both for God and us. To enter into personal, intimate relationship with someone, there is a cost of laying down our lives for the welfare of another. Mary saw herself as a slave in subjection and subservience to God. In a humble position, we too must admit who we are before the Lord—this is indeed costly, but so worth it! When we wait on the Lord, we have the love of God, the power of God, and the promise of God, according to His word, working in our behalf, to fulfill His desired will and purpose for our lives and others, for His good pleasure.
Today we have Mary’s encounter with the angel Gabriel. Her question to the angel was simple. “How can this be, seeing I know not a man?” Mary did not rush off to Joseph, to whom she was betrothed, to try to fix the situation by explaining or defending herself. A tremendous cost is paid; she left her reputation in the hands of a merciful God. Interference in God’s plan was not needed in bringing this baby into the world. Trust was needed. Prayer to God for Joseph was Mary’s part. Hudson Taylor once wrote, “Learn to move man, through God, by prayer alone.” It is here we come to experience and witness that with God nothing shall be impossible. Mary experienced the love of Christ, which surpasses knowledge. This love would take her beyond common sense, figuring, traditions, opinions, ideas and knowledge. God calls us all to a faith established in His Word, trusting His ability alone to move on hearts.
Mary’s response is exactly what God desires from every one of us. It is at the cost of the desires of self-will that we will embrace God’s will. Years later, Jesus, in the Garden of Gethsemane, prayed, “Not my will, but Thine be done.” How costly to God, knowing that He has given people their own will, knowing in advance that some would choose right living, and some would reject His plan for salvation, JESUS, and live wickedly! He did not force Mary’s will to be the one to carry and deliver the Son of God. He waited for her response. Praise God, her response was a humble submission to the will of God. Be it unto me according to Thy word. Let us also pray as did the psalmist and Jesus “ I delight to do Thy will, O my God.” Praise God for the costly response to His will.
~ Rosemary Parrotta
