Promise Fulfilled

“‘I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May your word to me be fulfilled.’” (Luke 1:26-38 NIV)

DEVOTION

I wasn’t raised in a Christian home. When I was young, Christmas meant bright, festive decorations inside and outside our house, loud parties with caroling to neighbors, tracking Santa’s route from the North Pole on Christmas Eve, and cinnamon rolls and presents on Christmas morning. The only time Jesus was talked about at all was when we would sing Christmas songs when we were caroling or singing along with Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, or Andy Williams from our extensive album collection. One of my favorite carols was “Silent Night.” I didn’t understand, or really even know all of the lyrics, but I loved the idea of heavenly peace.

When I became a teenager, I finally learned the words to “Silent Night,” and the lyric, “’Round yon virgin, mother and child” tripped me up. I knew that a virgin having a baby was impossible. I asked my parents about it, and they told me it was just one of those crazy religious things.

I can only imagine that might have been the thoughts of some people when the prophet Isaiah proclaimed:

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son.” (Isaiah 7:14a)

If a teenager asked his or her parents what the prophet meant, I’m sure some of the moms and dads responded with, “That’s just one of those crazy religious things.”

Hundreds of years later, this is how this promise played out with a teenage girl:

God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

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

The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. For no word from God will ever fail.”

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” (Luke 1:26-38 NIV)

Mary would have heard the words from the prophet Isaiah repeated in her house since she was a young girl. She knew the promise given to Abraham to bless nations through his offspring. Mary believed that no word from God would ever fail. Mary now understood she was part of this promise, part of the Messiah’s story. She responded, “I am the Lord’s servant, may your word to me be fulfilled.”

People in Mary's village most likely thought the story of the virgin pregnant with God’s child was impossible—just one of those crazy religious things—but Mary believed. Mary knew in her spirit that the angel was proclaiming a blessing of the fulfillment of the greatest promise. Her thoughts and emotions erupted from deep in her soul into a beautiful song.

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.

His mercy extends to those who fear him,

from generation to generation.

He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;

he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.

He has brought down rulers from their thrones

but has lifted up the humble.

He has filled the hungry with good things

but has sent the rich away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel,

remembering to be merciful

to Abraham and his descendants forever,

just as he promised our ancestors.” (Luke 1:46-55 NIV)

Mary was just a teenager when Gabriel came to her. She was going to be the mother of Jesus. Mary would be the “‘Round yon virgin, mother and child.” She would forever be known as blessed.

A crazy religious thing? Maybe. But true. Promised. Fulfilled.

Prayer

Dear God, Advent is the season of waiting—waiting for Jesus to be born, miracles to come true, promises to be fulfilled. You make the impossible possible. May we consider the words of your angel, Gabriel, as we sing familiar Christmas carols. Let the truth of the lyrics overwhelm our hearts with understanding and prompt our spirits to respond with belief and actions that bring you glory. In your holy name, amen.

Cindy Western

Pastor of Discipleship Materials & Small Groups

Cindy Western is Pastor of Discipleship Materials & Small Groups. She is passionate about helping people experience Jesus through Bible studies, small groups, and community.

cwestern@crossings.church

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