David Bahn – Reflections

Luke 1:34-38

And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”

³⁵ And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. ³⁶ And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. ³⁷ For nothing will be impossible with God.” ³⁸ And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

If there is a difference between the why of a clinched fist and the why of a searching heart (click here to read previous post about this), there is also the difference between the how of a skeptical doubter and the how of a willing servant such as Mary. Zechariah was sharply rebuked for asking how it would be that he and Elizabeth would have a child (Luke 1:18-23). In this case, however, Mary asks how it would be that she should bear a child when she was a virgin. The key is that she did not intend to do anything outside of God’s ways and commandments; this would put the possibility of a child being born to her in a different realm.

Gabriel speaks to Mary about how this will be: God was at work. Just as this encounter with Mary had begun with a word of encouragement (“don’t be afraid”), and a word of grace (“you have found favor with God”), the words of God’s grace, power, and work in Mary’s life and ours flow forth. “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.”

For years I have expressed my awe over the mystery of the incarnation. The first Christmas sermon outline I ever really studied was by my professor in the seminary 35 years ago. It was based on John 1:1-18. It was simple but profound:

The Word Became Flesh…
+ What a mystery!
+ What a Blessing!

All that aside, however, Mary’s answer is as profoundly simple. And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” What would the world be like if more of us would say, “I am the Lord’s servant, I live to do your will.” That simple word of faith embraces the majesty and grace of God for which he will eternally be praised, and we will eternally be joyful.

Luke 1:26-38

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, ²⁷ to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸ And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” ²⁹ But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. ³⁰ And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.³¹ And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. ³² He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, ³³ and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

³⁴ And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”

³⁵ And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. ³⁶ And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. ³⁷ For nothing will be impossible with God.” ³⁸ And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.