And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
Luke 1:38
Mary is alone in her room. We don’t know what she was doing. Was she busy in her prayer? Was she doing some household job? But certainly she was alone. At this point the angel enters into her room. As a human being, Mary must have been very much afraid. Maybe when the angel entered he brought great light, the room became very bright. Maybe Mother Mary was very excited to see an angel in her room. Most probably she was afraid to see the angel.
It was all unexpected.
Mother Mary did not plan or expect to have the visit of angel. There were many virgins in Israel but God in his sovereignty chose Mary. It is the divine will of God as to whom He chooses.
God speaks to people when they are alone.
We must be separated, apart from the crowd at times to hear God’s voice, to concentrate on His Word and listen to His divine promises. Some people think God speaks in a crowd. Yes, He can speak in crowd but many times God speaks when people are alone. Moses was alone, God spoke to him. God spoke to Jacob when he was alone and he saw that stairway going to heaven and the angels of the Lord moving up and down on this stairway. God is always looking for an individual with whom He can share His heart’s desire.
The angel came with a specific message.
The message was profound and clear. Peace be unto you. God has granted grace unto you. The Lord is with you. You will conceive. You will bear a son. You will call him Jesus. He will be great. He will be called the Son of God.
But she was nervous and frightened. The angel further added, “Oh Mary! Fear not. God has shown His favor upon you.”
And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
Luke 1:31-33
The angel told Mother Mary, that Jesus would be the eternal King. The Angel speaks to Mother Mary about eternal things but she is a human being. She thinks like a human: I have no human relationship. I have no physical relationship with any male. How I will conceive a child?
Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
Luke 1:34-35
God’s ways are different than human ways.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts
Isaiah 55:8-9
Our human thinking and ways are limited. The angel explains to Mother Mary how she will conceive and how her son will be born. The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the Holy will be called the Son of God. He will be born through you, not by a human father but by the power of the Holy Spirit, by the power of God.
Mother Mary must have been extremely astonished! Sometimes we cannot fathom His mysteries, His promises and His Word. She is human. She will give birth to the Son of God because this Son will be born by the power of God’s Spirit!
Whatever is from the Lord, let it come to pass. She surrenders. She is willing to accept her call to serve. She is willing to face the challenge, the mission. She said I am the maid of the Lord. She is God’s slave, His maidservant. What surrender! What submission!
And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
Luke 1:38
Even today God is looking for men and women who can joyfully follow Him and are willing to face hatred, opposition, hardship. God is looking for such vessels that He can use for His glory and honor.
Are you willing to pay the price? People spoke many ill things about Mary, but she persevered.
People want to be blessed but they are not willing to pay the price.
Mother Mary is a picture of total submission and surrender unto the Lord.
Blessings.
