What comes to mind when you think about the gifts given in the Christmas story? Most people would say that they think of the gold, frankincense, and myrrh gifted to the Christ-child. Some people may think about the Magi that gave the gifts to Him. Until today, that was my first thought but as I was reading in Luke 2, I realized that these were not the first gifts given to the babe. In fact, it was given months before...
The prophecies of the Messiah were long held in the hearts of the Jewish people. Some dreamed of a warrior that would overthrow the government, some dreamed of a king on the throne ruling over all the land. The Jewish people waited in expectation. Then, on that fateful day, an angel of the Lord appeared to a young Jewish girl named Mary and the first gift of Christmas was given -- the gift of faith.
I cannot imagine how Mary felt in that moment. Being a Jew, she knew of Isaiah's prophecy, but when she woke up that day, she didn't expect to be chosen by The Most High to give birth to her Savior! Yet, Mary, young Mary, asked only one question, "how will it happen?" She wasn't questioning God. She knew that having a baby meant she would have to conceive the child and it puzzled her as to how that would happen because she was a virgin. It was more of an "okay, what's the game plan" type of question than one of disbelief and the next thing she said to the angel confirms that... " Let it be done as you said." In that moment, the first gift of Christmas was given; the gift of faith.
Mary could've had a myriad of different responses -- doubt, disbelief, fear, or "wait this doesn't fit into my wedding plans" - type of response but instead she pondered these things in her heart. She could've ran out boasting about being visited and chosen, but she didn't. She could've worried that Joseph would be angry, or her parents, or "what will people think?" But Mary loved God and by faith she believed what the angel told her. She had a "God's got this" mentality. Faith. When Jesus was born and the Shepherds told Mary and Joseph what they had seen, her response? She kept them in her heart and pondered them.
Whatever Mary must've thought in those moments and in the days and years ahead, her faith in God --that what He had called her to do, He would give her the ability to do it -- was evident all the way to the cross. Sometimes I think that Mary stored up these treasures in her heart so that on the day she watched her son being nailed to a cross, those moments of God's manifested promises would sustain her. By faith, she knew that God had a plan. She trusted Him. As a mother, it's hard to imagine what Mary's mama-heart endured that day. I get all warm and teary eyed thinking about the Baby nestled at her breast, but I weep for her at the thought of having to watch Him die. Oh, to have the sustained faith of that young Jewish girl. To trust what God says to the very end without injecting my two cents into the story. I'm so thankful that God wrote in Mary's story for us to read in the Bible. I'm so thankful that Jesus, our Emmanuel, wrote me into the story as well. Although I've failed Him so many times, His promise is everlasting. I would say that I should be more like Mary but the truth is, I should be more like Jesus. It wasn't the womb that saved the world, it was the Babe. It wasn't the blood shed on the floor of the stable, it was the blood shed on the cross. It wasn't the empty tomb, it was the risen King!
Isaiah 9:6-7 (English Standard Version)
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon[a] his shoulder, and his name shall be called[b] Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this." Isaiah 9:6-7.
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