Luke 1: 26-28:
“In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
Mary was greatly troubled at the angel’s words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.” (Luke 1:26-31) Can you imagine what must have gone through Mary’s mind and heart when she began to digest the message from Gabriel? It must have been a ‘good news, bad news’ kind of reaction. Mary may have had these thoughts, “The angel said ‘I am highly favored by God!’ Me? Really? Why me? And he says I will be with child!” She asks the angel, “How can this be since I am a virgin?” The angel assures her that the Holy Spirit will come upon her…”and the holy Child shall be called the Son of God.” Certainly ‘good news’ for this young women!
But, then the ‘bad news’ …
The reality must have sunk in quickly, “I’m not married yet…I am going to be with child. What is Joseph going to say? What are the townspeople going to think of me?” Undoubtedly it would have been extremely difficult for Mary to tell Joseph about her pregnancy as this was not a time and place in which a woman could lose her virginity before marriage without fear of serious repercussions, even threats to her life by stoning! Mary was taking a risk by staying committed to her betrothed, and telling Joseph that she was pregnant. Mary demonstrated the depth of her faith and hope in her Lord and her future by responding to the angel, “May it be done to me according to your word.” She would bear the Son of God, Jesus, whose name means, “The Lord is salvation.”
As we near the end this first week of Advent, may we be reminded of this from J.I.Packer: “The Christmas message is that there is Hope for a ruined humanity—Hope of pardon, Hope of peace with God, Hope of glory—because at the Father’s will Jesus Christ became poor, and was born in a stable so that thirty-three years later He might hang on a cross.”
Dear Sovereign Lord, we all have “good news, bad news” days. Whether we experience a time of great blessing or are dealing with tremendous hurt, pain, loss, disappointments or challenges, may our response be one of trust and hope in the You, the One who holds our circumstances and our future in His hands. May we embrace the Hope of pardon, the Hope of peace with God, and the Hope of glory knowing one day we shall see You face to face. May it be done to us according to Your word, Lord. In the name of Jesus, the Lord is salvation. Amen.
