Pondering Mary
The time came for the baby to be born,and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:6-7
Jesus is Born
We have read, recited, and heard these Luke 2 verses often. We marvel at the birth of our Savior and the way God planned for it to happen. We rejoice that we have the true, historic account of the Bethlehem birth that fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies, and we trust that God has given us exactly the amount of information that we need.
Do you ever wish, though, that we had more details about those moments in the stable? Two short verses for the birth of a child leaves me wanting more. How wonderful it would be if we could read a detailed journal that Mary may have kept throughout this entire process!
“She gave birth to…a son.” It sounds so simple, but those of us who have given birth or have been with someone while they gave birth know that it’s typically not at all simple. The beautiful nativity sets we display in our homes no doubt lack much of the reality of that night.
Mary, Faithful Servant
I’ve been more tuned in this year, it seems, when I hear “Mary, Did You Know” and other such songs, sermons, and devotions with that theme. Meditating on the reality of the divine become flesh, I am overcome with awe and can only wonder at what it was like for Mary herself.
First, a young teenage girl suddenly receives the news – from an angel! – that she has “found favor with God” and has been chosen to be the mother to the Savior of all mankind. An unimaginable, grand pronouncement! How does a girl receive such news with neither self-righteous pride nor faithless disbelief? But Mary humbly and trustingly replied, “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.”
I wonder how much Mary remained “in public” when this news became obviously apparent. How many people were privileged with this special news? Did she have a best friend to confide in, someone who would believe her and rejoice with her? Did her mother and father demonstrate the same faith and trust that their daughter had shown, rejoicing with this incredible role that God had chosen for their daughter? Was Mary subjected to the pain of dealing with judgmental headshakes and gossip of those she had been close to?
Did she herself share the news with Joseph, or did he discover this news over time? How her heart must have ached when her God-fearing fiance planned to lovingly and quietly break off their engagement, though she had not been guilty of unfaithfulness. Then, the joy and relief that certainly followed when Joseph changed those plans after hearing from an angel himself. (Joseph deserves a post of his own – I would be glad to read his journal, as well!)
I would presume that Mary’s visit to her cousin Elizabeth provided a much-needed reassurance that someone fully accepted the truth of the miracle that was taking place, someone who was experiencing her own angel-announced miracle.
The Miracle of Mothering God Incarnate
When the time for the birth was growing closer, Mary had to prepare for a long journey. (I have memories of uncomfortable car rides during late pregnancy; I can’t imagine journeying on a donkey.) Was Mary fearful about the impending birth? Was she able to bring with her supplies that would be sufficient for childbirth and caring for a newborn baby? Was she ready to trust Joseph to serve in the role of a midwife? (Again, Joseph!)
This birth could not have been as sterile and serene as it is pictured. In reality, childbirth is messy in a number of ways. What comforts was Joseph able to provide Mary as her body contorted during the intensity of labor pains, sweat and tears pouring from her face?
What was used to cut the umbilical cord, the conduit that had provided life-sustaining nourishment for God himself?
Mothers stare with awe into the beautiful faces of their newborn babes while marveling at the tiny fingers and toes. Can you imagine what it was like for new mother Mary to look at the beautiful face of her brand new precious son and realize that she was staring into the very face of God? The almighty God became a helpless baby who relied on Mary his mother to sustain his life; the creator of the universe, the WORD who existed from the very beginning, was nursing at her breast, reliant upon her body for nourishment and dependent upon her loving care for his life on earth.
What an indescribable honor Mary was given!
How long was it, I wonder, before those shepherds, the privileged first to hear the news of the Savior’s birth, arrived to rejoice with Mary and Joseph? Was she ready for visitors? Had she come to regard such experiences as part of her life now as the mother of God’s son, or was she continually amazed by the ways God’s plans continued to unfold, which included shepherds who had gotten the birth announcement from heaven-sent angels?
Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. Luke 2:19
What ponderings these must have been! To know and see and experience all that had happened and would happen, and yet be limited by her humanity so that full and complete understanding would elude her. The ponderings must only have intensified in the years of raising this child and watching him grow to fulfill the purpose for which he became one of us.
Mary and Me
Yes, what an honor that was granted to Mary! Perhaps she wondered why God chose her. She likely felt unqualified and undeserving. And, truthfully, she was both of those. She needed a Savior to restore her relationship with God.
Mary was highly favored; she was granted the blessing of birthing and raising the one who would save her from her sins. In faith, she trusted in this forgiveness even before the angel first appeared to her. How very real and tangible her salvation, her Savior, was for her!
We are not blessed as Mary was with the opportunity to stare into that baby’s face and know that God is staring back; we are not able to feel the baby grip of the world’s Savior around our finger. But the baby that was born that day in Bethlehem is just as much our Savior. We are undeserving, but God’s blessing and favor have been given to us, through faith, just as they were to Mary.
I don’t know all the details about the life of Mary, humble servant of God, that my mind craves, but God has given me the truth that I need, the truth that brings great joy: A Savior has been born to you! Born from and for Mary, born for me, born for you.
In reality, it isn’t Mary’s story that is important. Mary herself, I believe, would point us away from what she had done and towards the work of her Son. I will continue to marvel at Mary’s experiences as the mother of God’s own Son, but my real joy and yours lies in the salvation won for us because of the life and death of that Son.
We are moved by faithful joy to endeavor to emulate Mary and strive to willingly submit to God’s will for our lives. May our words and actions always point away from ourselves and to the one whose time on this earth made all the difference for our time of eternity.
“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. Luke 2:10-11
This Christmas and always, we have news to treasure and proclaim: A Savior is born!
Phil Wickham does a wonderful job with this song of speaking to the wonder Mary must have experienced on that long-ago night in Bethlehem.
I loved your blog! It has the right balance of honoring Mary without worshiping her.
I too have been thinking a lot this past year about all the people in the Christmas story. The Bible tells us everything we need to know about these events, but it doesn’t seem like enough, so we add to it. Over the past 2000 years so much has been added that it is hard to separate the truth from the traditions. (The donkey is one such addition.)
Here are my thoughts on just one part of the story. I had always pictured Zechariah and Elizabeth living about two hours away from Mary. I was surprised to find it was a five day walk from Nazareth to the hill country south of Bethlehem. How did Mary get there? How did she know where to go? Where did she sleep? Was it safe for a single teenage girl to make this journey alone? (Think of the Good Samaritan story.) The more I thought about it, the more the traditional story started to fall apart.
Elizabeth and Mary’s mother are thought to be sisters or close cousins. So I pictured Mary telling her mother about what the angel said, and Mary’s mother got excited about Elizabeth being pregnant and decided to go and help Elizabeth through the last months and the birth. (This would mean Mary’s mother also believed the angel’s words about how Mary got pregnant.) But would even two women be safe making this journey? Mary’s father, or some other male, would have needed to go along. All Luke tells us is that Mary went. He doesn’t say if she went alone.
It’s comforting to think that Mary had her family’s support. Discovering that Elizabeth was, indeed, pregnant confirmed to them the angel’s words. And Elizabeth’s greeting to Mary was further confirmation, not just to Mary but to her family.
I am not trying to add to the simple words of the Bible. I don’t know if my thoughts are right. But I’m pretty sure the traditional story is not correct. Mary would not have made this journey alone. It just wasn’t the way things were done then.
Thank you for sharing more thoughts to ponder. There is always more to contemplate and meditate on when we study the Bible. God’s Word is fascinating in what it tells us, not to mention the details behind all the historic events, details of which God knew from the beginning of time. Scripture is continually awe-inspiring!
Linda, I also enjoyed reading your additional ponderings on this. Thank you! We have so many things we wonder more about in Scripture. It surely is a comfort to know that God has provided all we need for our salvation. God’s blessings to you and Dave!