For over two weeks, we’ve shared scriptures and, hopefully, moments of mediation about the promises of God and the birth of Christ. Today’s verses are some of my most favorite. Out of the silent years, the first words spoken as a reminder of Christ were spoken to a woman. Those were “rejoice.” And not only were they said to a woman, but they were also shouted with joy!
Can you imagine the terror and the eagerness Mary faced at that moment? Hundreds of years have passed since the last revelation from the Lord. Generations of baby boys born lived and then died. But suddenly, at just the right time, the fulfillment of scripture was manifested in an instant. An angel shouts to Mary, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”
In verse 38, Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. Despite her confusion, Mary agreed with the prophecy and plan over her life! Will you agree with the Lord about the audacious, humanly impossible, spiritually sacred, divine, and monstrous plan He has for your life? Will you say yes to God? I believe the Lord is still looking for women and men to say rejoice in saying yes to the favor the Lord seeks to bestow upon them.
Rejoice, woman of God! Let Mary be our muse. With God, all things are possible, and through Him, and through our physical bodies, the next generations of children of God will be born! What glory!
Luke 1:26-45
Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”
But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”
Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”
And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.”
Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”