A few weeks ago, we took our kids to watch a much-anticipated new movie of the Christmas story. We found our seats, dug into paper bags stuffed with buttery popcorn and settled in for the show. Good acting? Check. Great music? Check. Entertaining? Check. As far as movies go, it hit all the marks, and yet we left feeling disappointed.
The Mary depicted in the movie, though a likeable young woman, stands in stark contrast from the real Mary we find in the Bible. When she finds out she's been pledged to marry, the Mary on the screen, with contemporary feminist ardor, bemoans the fact that she won't be able to be a teacher as she had hoped and begrudgingly accepts that she must take a lesser role of wife and, later, mother. But in first century Israel, no woman would have had aspirations to be anything but wife and mother, which was considered an honorable calling.
I've been reading through an advent devotional, Don't Miss the Wonder, by my friend, Becky Meyerson. On Day 5, the Scripture reading is Luke 1:38 where Mary responds to the angel Gabriel's shocking news that she will be the mother of the Son of God. Her response is:
“Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”
As I engaged with the text, I wrote this description of Mary:
Humble, Willing, Gentle = Beautiful
Is it any wonder that God chose Mary to raise His Son? Instead of complaining or flat out rejecting God's plan for her life, with a godly fear of the Lord, she readily accepts His will. She then moves a step beyond acceptance as she breaks out in spontaneous, awe-inspired worship.
And Mary said:
"My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name,” (Luke 1:46-49).
This Christmas season, may we learn from Mary's example. Though confusing or overwhelming circumstances may confront us, let's choose to humble ourselves before the Lord and rest in Him no matter how big the obstacles may seem. A humble and gentle spirit is truly a beautiful thing.
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