Digging Deeper into the Narraphor of the Nativity: The Annunciation
Last time we set the stage- the culture, the mindset, and the historical setting. Today we start with just a small town girl...
Then the angel appears and just as every single time an angel appears one of the first things said is, "Don't be afraid!" Why start there? Because the angels are frightening beings- full of light and fire reflecting their time spent in the glory of God (read Ezekiel 1 and Isaiah 6 for descriptions of angelic beings- definitely not a chubby baby with a harp!). For a moment, imagine a being made of fire and light appearing in your bedroom out of the blue- what I would call terrifying- especially without any reference point or experience to come from (or CGI creatures conjured on a screen to prepare us for the real thing)! However terrified Mary was, the text notes her consternation at the angel's greeting to her. It's not normal and something she wouldn't expect: saying she's been blessed or favored (there's nothing she's done to deserve or earn this- it's a God thing) and God is with her (not wishful thinking but IS present with her). How? Why? These are questions any of us would ask- and ones that are running through Mary's mind amidst the fear of the angelic appearance. Why me? What does this greeting mean? What does "favored" (or graced) mean? God is with me? How? All of these things and more are running through her mind at a million miles an hour.
Then comes the bombshell- she's going to become the mother of the Messiah, the very son of God! Now, we don't understand the import here- the Jews have been waiting for the Messiah for a LONG time- expectantly waiting for the deliverance for their people from the series of ugly conquests, most recently Roman. Think about it this way [and no, this is not an analog but the closest thing I've got for most people!]- if you've entered the Publisher's Clearinghouse Giveaway year after year for several hundred years hoping to win millions of dollars but never seen the prize patrol, is there still hope? Perhaps, but it dwindles- until the moment they show up on your door step and you freak out! That's the kind of moment Mary is having mixed with questions, terror, and so many other emotions. But all of a sudden, things come into perspective- she's going to have the Messiah? How is that going to happen when she's "never known a man?" It's a question most anyone would ask- Mary knows how things work and babies aren't born in a void! The angel's answer is that God would "overshadow" her with His power. Not necessarily encouraging (particularly as it doesn't really answer the how, which is what Mary was asking), but it is an answer!
But there's more- Gabriel also tells her that Elizabeth, her aunt, is pregnant. This is a bit of news- Elizabeth is past childbearing years and barren (which equated to cursed in Jewish society, as children were deemed the greatest expression of God's blessing on people). Mary knows all of this, so when she hears these words, she has a simple test to prove or disprove the angel's message. If this was all I had to work with, there'd be some serious doubts becoming expressed at the impossibility of it all, but not Mary. She takes this in and replies in a most unexpected way, not with more questions or doubts or disbelief as most would, but with a resounding "Yes." Her answer is amazing in it's humility and total faith- "I am God's slave. May it be as you've said..." First note her humility- this terrifying angel has dropped this bombshell of a message on her, yet without further question she acknowledges her place in God's economy- slave- and commits to the task laid before her. No thoughts of what might happen to her, how any of this would happen, but total obedience. This is the Mary of Scripture- humble, slave to God's will (by her own words!), prepared to follow where God leads, yet thoughtful and possessed of a great inner strength. This is the woman God chose to bear, nurse, and raise His only son.
Mary wasn't perfect, wasn't completely sold out for the idea of having this experience- but was willing. That is one of the major lessons to be learned here- willingness to be a slave in God's service goes far beyond abilities, qualifications, or anything we could ever bring to the table. Mary was willing- not because a terrifying fire/light being showed up at her house and told her God had chosen her, not because the message sounded enticing (although, I have no doubt she would gladly want to bear the Messiah, just not the way it was being described!), not because of anything that happened here (or before), but because she knew who she was and who her God was. Knowing who her God was meant trust. Knowing who she was meant dependence. Both are aspects of Mary's answer- "I am God's slave. May it be as you have said..." This Advent, emulate the humble faith of Mary- be God's slave and let it be as He has planned for you. It might just make all the difference every year here after...
God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!” Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!” Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.” The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.” Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her. (Luke 1.26-38, NLT)The Christmas story starts so familiarly- God sends an angel, named Gabriel, to a young girl named Mary in the town of Nazareth. But, we find out she's engaged to be married- in waiting for the wedding, so to speak. This legally binding contract meant they were, for most intents and purposes, married despite there having been no ceremony or consummation yet. In the cultural context, Mary would likely have been between 13-15 years of age and Luke makes sure that it is noted and known that she is a virgin (he mentions it twice- once introducing her and once in her questions for the angel). That was important, as she could have been prosecuted for adultery (death penalty to being a social pariah dependent on the mood of the people) if found breaking the marriage contract before the ceremony. Nothing of her background is noted only her name, hometown, marital status, and chastity.
Then the angel appears and just as every single time an angel appears one of the first things said is, "Don't be afraid!" Why start there? Because the angels are frightening beings- full of light and fire reflecting their time spent in the glory of God (read Ezekiel 1 and Isaiah 6 for descriptions of angelic beings- definitely not a chubby baby with a harp!). For a moment, imagine a being made of fire and light appearing in your bedroom out of the blue- what I would call terrifying- especially without any reference point or experience to come from (or CGI creatures conjured on a screen to prepare us for the real thing)! However terrified Mary was, the text notes her consternation at the angel's greeting to her. It's not normal and something she wouldn't expect: saying she's been blessed or favored (there's nothing she's done to deserve or earn this- it's a God thing) and God is with her (not wishful thinking but IS present with her). How? Why? These are questions any of us would ask- and ones that are running through Mary's mind amidst the fear of the angelic appearance. Why me? What does this greeting mean? What does "favored" (or graced) mean? God is with me? How? All of these things and more are running through her mind at a million miles an hour.
Then comes the bombshell- she's going to become the mother of the Messiah, the very son of God! Now, we don't understand the import here- the Jews have been waiting for the Messiah for a LONG time- expectantly waiting for the deliverance for their people from the series of ugly conquests, most recently Roman. Think about it this way [and no, this is not an analog but the closest thing I've got for most people!]- if you've entered the Publisher's Clearinghouse Giveaway year after year for several hundred years hoping to win millions of dollars but never seen the prize patrol, is there still hope? Perhaps, but it dwindles- until the moment they show up on your door step and you freak out! That's the kind of moment Mary is having mixed with questions, terror, and so many other emotions. But all of a sudden, things come into perspective- she's going to have the Messiah? How is that going to happen when she's "never known a man?" It's a question most anyone would ask- Mary knows how things work and babies aren't born in a void! The angel's answer is that God would "overshadow" her with His power. Not necessarily encouraging (particularly as it doesn't really answer the how, which is what Mary was asking), but it is an answer!
But there's more- Gabriel also tells her that Elizabeth, her aunt, is pregnant. This is a bit of news- Elizabeth is past childbearing years and barren (which equated to cursed in Jewish society, as children were deemed the greatest expression of God's blessing on people). Mary knows all of this, so when she hears these words, she has a simple test to prove or disprove the angel's message. If this was all I had to work with, there'd be some serious doubts becoming expressed at the impossibility of it all, but not Mary. She takes this in and replies in a most unexpected way, not with more questions or doubts or disbelief as most would, but with a resounding "Yes." Her answer is amazing in it's humility and total faith- "I am God's slave. May it be as you've said..." First note her humility- this terrifying angel has dropped this bombshell of a message on her, yet without further question she acknowledges her place in God's economy- slave- and commits to the task laid before her. No thoughts of what might happen to her, how any of this would happen, but total obedience. This is the Mary of Scripture- humble, slave to God's will (by her own words!), prepared to follow where God leads, yet thoughtful and possessed of a great inner strength. This is the woman God chose to bear, nurse, and raise His only son.
Mary wasn't perfect, wasn't completely sold out for the idea of having this experience- but was willing. That is one of the major lessons to be learned here- willingness to be a slave in God's service goes far beyond abilities, qualifications, or anything we could ever bring to the table. Mary was willing- not because a terrifying fire/light being showed up at her house and told her God had chosen her, not because the message sounded enticing (although, I have no doubt she would gladly want to bear the Messiah, just not the way it was being described!), not because of anything that happened here (or before), but because she knew who she was and who her God was. Knowing who her God was meant trust. Knowing who she was meant dependence. Both are aspects of Mary's answer- "I am God's slave. May it be as you have said..." This Advent, emulate the humble faith of Mary- be God's slave and let it be as He has planned for you. It might just make all the difference every year here after...
Comments
Post a Comment