A devotional by Nanci Rubin
"And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name, Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest, and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David, and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there shall be no end."
~Luke 1:31, 32 (KJV)
"And Mary said, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it unto me according to thy word.” And the angel departed from her." ~Luke 1:38 (KJV)
I am ALWAYS awed by Mary’s statement in Luke 1:38 speaking to an angel of the Lord. “Be it unto me.”
Putting Mary into present day, as a young teen, probably between 12-14 years old when she was betrothed to Joseph. Some commentaries have Joseph much older than Mary, but most agree he was probably between 30-40 years of age. I can’t imagine a teenager of today conversing with Gabriel, an arch angel, and saying, “Be it unto me according to thy word.” Especially after him telling her she was going to become pregnant when the Holy Ghost came upon her. Mary was a virgin, she was engaged, and she was the first surrogate.
She was so willing to listen to Gabriel, and her faith in God allowed her to accept the miraculous, and say, “be it unto me.” There would be few, if any, present day youth who would accept such an arrangement, but there are still some. I am reminded of Columbine High School where the horrible massacre of nineteen-ninety-nine took place. It was reported that eighteen-year-old Cassie Bernall stood for her faith and refused to deny Jesus Christ, her savior and Mary’s son.
Then I’m reminded of this young Jewish girl who became the mother of Jesus, our Savior, and the beautiful song, Mary, Did you Know? I get cold chills when I hear the verse, “Mary did you know the child you delivered would one day deliver you?” And, “did you know that when you kissed your baby you kissed the face of God?”
These phrases bring me to tears when I think of my own child as a baby and realizing Mary’s plight in loving this child. Although Jesus was deity, he was a baby and Mary loved him as a mother would.
Did she know? Yes, Gabriel had witnessed about Jesus, but did she really know? I’m not so sure. His death and crucifixion I don’t believe was something she dwelled upon or even knew as he grew into manhood.
Did she know? Yes, Gabriel had witnessed about Jesus, but did she really know? I’m not so sure. His death and crucifixion I don’t believe was something she dwelled upon or even knew as he grew into manhood.
But only imagine, if you can, the horrific moment in time when she was forced to witness the inhumane treatment of her first born and the agony, she felt watching him agonize. I am convinced she could taste the salt of his tears.
But as miraculous as his birth so was his resurrection. Everything about Jesus is miraculous. This is the season of giving and God sent His son as the greatest gift of all. Share Him with those who do not know him. Give the gift of love.
May this season bring peace and joy to each household and what a privilege it is for me to be allowed to share this wonderful savior, Jesus, Immanuel, God with us.
Merry Christmas!
~*~
Author Bio:
Nanci is a poet and short story writer published in Cypress News, Family Times E-Zine, Free Verse and the Commonwealth of Poetry.
She belongs to RWA, ACFW, and Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild where she’s enrolled in his novel writing program.
Nanci lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and cats, Romeo and Julliette, along with their newest member of the family, Roni, a seven-month-old Goldendoodle.
Recently, Nanci completed her debut novel, A Betrayal in Cross Keys, an Amish romance. She has placed it in her agent's capable hands. The rest is up to God.
Recently, Nanci completed her debut novel, A Betrayal in Cross Keys, an Amish romance. She has placed it in her agent's capable hands. The rest is up to God.
