THIS IS TABLE ROCK FELLOWSHIP – PASTOR RYAN LADEN (DEVOTIONALS)
| An Amazing Calling The calling of Mary to be the mother of the Messiah sounds like something about which every child of God would love to be a part. To be visited by an angel of the Lord, to be called by name, to be told that you have found favor with the Lord, to be welcomed into the provision of salvation for all mankind; these are amazing acts of God that would make anyone feel alive in their faith. A Changed Future But when we look closer at what this calling would mean for Mary’s immediate future, and even her long term plans, we can see that this calling is one that would stretch even the most robust disciple of the Lord. As Mary is included in the miracle of giving life to the Messiah she is also saying goodbye to all of her previous plans and dreams. Would her family believe her story? Would Joseph, her fiancé accept that the Lord provided life for her baby? What would happen to her after the dust settled and the angel of the Lord left her? In the passage that follows we hear the reply that Mary gave to the promises and prophecies given to Mary about her child from the Angel Gabriel: ““How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?””Luke 1:34 NIV11 Biological Mary’s question back to the angel was a good one. She was aware that she was not able to be the mother of any baby much less this child of promise due to the fact that she and Joseph were investing in their future marriage by choosing to remain sexually abstinent until their wedding. In her mind, there is a problem with the promise of the angel. She cannot see a way around the biological question. After all, this is the only way any baby has ever been made up to this point in human history. Reply Next we hear the angel’s reply to Mary: “The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.””Luke 1:35-37 NIV11 Miraculous Mary’s question was biological or behavioral in nature but the answer of the Lord to Mary was one based not in the physical realm but in the spiritual. The Lord would provide what was missing in order for Mary to conceive. Son of God This is an important point in our understanding of the nature of the Christ. As the angel explained to Mary, the child will be known as the Son of the Most High, or the son of God. To be a son implies a birth has taken place. As Jesus Christ is the eternal Logos (Word) who was with God and was God (John 1:1-4), this means that Jesus has no beginning or end and that he therefore could only experience a birth in this physical way. Therefore, when we speak of Jesus Christ as the Son of God, we are speaking of him in this context only. He is a son in that he was born into creation as a son, fully man and fully God. The Messiah is as much of Mary as he is of the Father. Reply Next we hear how Mary replied to the call of God: ““I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.”Luke 1:38 NIV11 The Lord’s Servant Mary’s reply to the call of God over her life was one that should inspire faith in everyone who professes to be a disciple of Christ. She embrace the call of God with joy even though she could not see how doing so would being her good or bad. Reflection As you go through your day today, spend some time thinking about how you have been called to be about God’s mission and purpose. If you are willing, spend some time with the Lord, following in the willing footsteps of this amazing woman of faith. In Christ,Ryan Laden |
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