When we read the Christmas story, we have this sense that Mary was stepping into this romanticized role of abundant blessings. After all, we know the happy ending of the Christmas story and ultimately the fact that it met the biggest need in our life. Hey, Joseph doesn’t leave her. No one stones her. The Bible doesn’t tell us anyone ridiculed her for claiming to be pregnant because she was carrying God in the Flesh.
We know that many obviously did not believe her though because later, as Jesus began his ministry, the attitude of those in their community were not positive. “Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.” Matthew 13:55-58
Mary had set her self up for complete surrender to God despite all of the hardships that would follow. Sometimes we act like God’s will should be a “bed of roses.” We do His will and everything thing goes….just the way WE want it? Maybe His will is better described as a true “bed of roses” with difficult thorns to navigate through forcing us to keep our hearts so close to His while the beautiful fragrance of the Sweet Rose of Sharon encourages us as we catch glimpses of our suffering Saviour.
“Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.” Luke 1:30-31
If an angel appeared to us and told us to fear not and that we have found favor with God, would we automatically expect a life of ease or fame; or would we understand that most of the time His plans look nothing like our own? They may look more like rejection from friends, taxation in Bethlehem, birth in a manger and gifts arriving from strangers long after you think they should have. It may even include a simple carpenter life with some people still rejecting the Saviour you long for them to know. But, if God is magnified and His will is accomplished, it will be a perfectly glorious ending.
“And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.” Luke 1:46-52
