This situation was anything but ideal. The emperor’s decree could not have come at a more inopportune time with the baby so soon to come. Nevertheless, they had gathered their meager belongings and left Nazareth to begin the days of walking only to arrive in Bethlehem to find the city bursting at the seams with travelers. That did not bode well for their hope of finding accommodation in the city.
Perhaps Joseph had intended to find lodging with their kinsmen here in his ancestral home? Surely someone could see how desperate their need was, given Mary’s condition. Alas, it was not to be. Every innkeeper turned them away. Finally, someone offered them one last bit of hope: an empty stock pen. It would at least keep the wind at bay and provide a place for them to sleep.
Then came the moment. Mary’s body began to signal that the time had come for her to deliver the baby. We might imagine she did not want her son to be born under these circumstances. Not in a filthy animal pen. Not in a strange city. Not alone. However, God had not consulted Mary about her ideal timeline for this moment. This was it, no more waiting.
There, with only the comfort of her husband, she gave birth to Him. He was perfect in every way. His hair was a wet mass of brown curls. His limbs and features were appropriately formed. Through their tears and excitement, Mary and Joseph must have taken time to absorb the moment, and Mary’s mind must have drifted back to a different moment many months before.
As she had busied herself with the events of that day, in a flash of light, she found herself in the presence of a messenger from God. How she had trembled at the sight until there came the calming voice, saying, “Do not fear, Mary: for you have found favor with God.”
“You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will call him Jesus. He shall be mighty and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord will give him the throne of David, his ancestor: and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there will be no end.” (Luke 1:31-33)
She had her questions, to be sure, but God had an answer for every single one. She was an unwed woman. There was sure to be a scandal. How could she also face the man she loved with the news that she was expecting a child when he would know it was not possible that he himself had fathered it? How angry would he be, and would he add to her disgrace?
Nevertheless, she found a resolve in her heart that she had never known before. Her simple response would echo across the entirety of the timeline of human existence. “I am the handmaiden of the Lord; Be it unto me according to thy word.”
In that simple expression, Mary had said so much. “If it causes a scandal, so be it. If my community sees me differently, I will endure. If Joseph cannot accept it, I will do it alone. If it costs me the future I had planned and hoped for, so be it! If God needs me, I am His! He does not need my permission, He just needs a vessel, and He chose me, so I will do as He asks.”
There is tremendous power in her response. “If you are looking for someone who is willing Lord, here I am. You can use me!” God undoubtedly knew what her answer would be when He sent His promise her way. He had to have known her character. She must have been one who made it a common practice to do what was right, regardless of the inconvenience. God knew this task would take commitment, so He had searched for a vessel among the committed.
Mary dutifully carried her little miracle with grace. She avoided unnecessary risks. She knew the stakes. She was essentially the first person to carry the Gospel, but she would not be the last.
Matthew 28:19 commands us to “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations…”. The great commission, as it is known, was issued to anyone who would follow after Jesus. He had further told his disciples in Luke 24:49, “…tarry ye at Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” (emphasis mine) The implication here is that they were not to remain localized after they received the promised power. It was intended that God’s people would carry His promise faithfully unto the uttermost parts of the world He created. That was, and still is the plan.
Allow me to speculate for a moment. What if Mary had said no? Undoubtedly, God would have searched until He found a willing vessel, but again, what if He had not? What if He simply decided to forgo offering salvation to mankind because He could find no willing vessel? We would be doomed for eternity. I am so glad He did not have to look beyond Mary to find someone willing to bear the inconvenience of His plans.
How this might relate to you? I am making the broad assumption that if you are reading my words, you are a follower of Jesus Christ. If so, you should be aware that the weight of the Gospel rests on you, too. Like Mary, you are pregnant with a promise. You carry the Hope of the world inside you. However, the question remains, what will you do with the promise He asked you to carry?
So often, the response from those claiming to be His disciples sounds a lot more like “no” than “yes.” “I would go, BUT my life is here. I would ask them to attend a Bible study, BUT they might say no, and then I would feel embarrassed. I would teach that Sunday School class, BUT it would take up too much of my time. You understand, right God? I just can’t bear the inconvenience of the Gospel. I’m sure You can find someone else to do it.” Yes, He can, and perhaps He will, but He is asking YOU!
Where are the Marys of our generation? Who will stand in the gap for our world that is searching for hope? The messenger stands with you today. What will be your response? As for me, I pray to have the courage that Mary found so that I may also say, “Be it unto me as You have said, Lord.”
God Bless You, and Merry Christmas!
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