Luke 1:26-38
This is like a bomb going off.
- Do you see?
- Can you consider what it meant for this young woman to nod her head to this?
- And she did. She said yes.
- And she suffered for it the rest of her life!
- A reproach hung over her that was undeserved…the rest of her life.
- It nearly wrecked her relationship with her future husband.
- It was an awful trial for this young woman to have to face this.
The Lord knew that Mary…by His grace and help…could go through this.
- A lot of people could not.
- He designed this for her.
- He sent His angel with this trial to her.
- And it was a severe trial.
- For this to happen to Mary in this way.
- It was going to completely take away her good name.
How can you explain such a thing?
- Who would believe you?
- The man that she was planning to marry.
- He loved her and she loved him.
- He thought that the obvious had happened.
- In his mind he was deeply disappointed in her.
But he was a kind man…the Bible says:
- “Not willing to make her a public example”.
- Which he could have done.
- He could have put her away privately…secretly.
- And he would have done it…too.
- Except for one thing.
The One who gave Mary this trial stepped into the picture.
- He appeared to Joseph in a dream and told him the truth.
- And so…Joseph picked up his side of this trial.
- It does not look like a favorable way for the Son of God to come into the world.
- Does it?
- With such reproach hanging over her.
- This may have proved too much for Mary’s strength.
- And even her trust in God.
And so…we have the rejection.
- The shame.
- The ridicule.
- The reproach.
- “Mary has always been such a good girl…but see now….”
- All those things that go with human life.
And so…Mary visits her cousin.
- And it was just like the Lord had told her.
- And her cousin received her and believed the story she had to tell.
- And…indeed…she said the babe in her womb leaped for joy when she first heard her voice.
- All of this was what sustained this sister and helped her in this trial.
But like the hawkers on the TV infomercials…there was more:
- “For with God nothing shall be impossible.
- And Mary said:
- Behold the handmaid of the Lord.”
She did not just say:
- “Lord…you sent this angel and I guess I don’t have anything to say about it.
- I am just stuck.”
- She did not just go on and doubt in her heart and say:
- “Well…I guess we’ll see if this will come true.”
- No…she accepted what the Lord had given her.
- “Behold the handmaid of the Lord.”
The handmaid of the Lord.
- This speaks volumes about how this young woman walked with God.
- “Lord…I am yours.”
- “Lord…I belong to you.”
Are we ready for service?
- Can God just tap us on the shoulder and tell us:
- “I want you to do this today”?
- Are we the Lord’s handmaid?
Mary was.
- And she was only 13?
- 14?
- “Behold the handmaid of the Lord…be it unto me according to your word.”
“Lord…I accept the trial.
- I accept the reproach of the trial.
- I accept the consequences of doing what You want me to do.
- I am Yours…
- I belong to You…Lord.
- Be it unto me according to your will.”
Do you see this same young woman…now getting older steadily?
- She was a mother many times over.
- Jesus had brothers and sisters.
- She had a many-pierced heart.
- This was a trial that went on and on and on.
- It was her part to be blessed among woman and it was her part to be tried among women.
Great blessings…great trials.
- Do we want the blessings?
- The trials must be there too.
- Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
Are we willing to say:
- “Lord…I accept the trials that you have for me.
- Behold the handmaid of the Lord!
- I want what You have got for me!”