________, Did You Know?
“26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 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, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” 34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 35 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. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.” 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.” Luke 1:26-38 (NIV)
Christmas time is here. As followers of Jesus, we celebrate a season in the Church calendar that has been observed since the 300s. It’s called Advent and the main focus is about remembering Christ’s arrival through His birth as well as anticipating and expecting His promised return for all those who have received the hope, peace, joy, love, and light of His death and resurrection.
If you attend a Church in this season, you’re more than likely to hear a sermon about a woman named Mary. Mary was a young girl who was engaged to a man named Joseph when something strange happened. Both Mary and Joseph had encounters in which they are told Mary would bear a child and name Him Jesus. This Jesus is the One who would take all the world’s sin upon Himself and make a way for right relationship with God now and forevermore.
As beautiful as the birth story is, more often than not these few lines are turned into a timeline that spans 9-10 verses rather than 9-10 months. The process that Mary was invited into was one in which she would be pregnant with the very Word of God. She was included in the plan, process, and promise fulfilled in Christ bringing wholeness, redemption, and renewal. As painful, difficult, and transformative as this process would be, it would yield the greatest gift to humanity ever.
In fact, from the very beginning of God’s story and all throughout it, there are invitations for humanity to be filled with the presence of God to join in bringing His goodness to all of creation. Whether it be through the creation of humanity (Gen. 2), the burning bush (Ex. 3), and the voices and actions of various leaders and prophets, the Lord has continually breathed His Spirit into and upon people to partner in God’s restoring work.
In Mary, we see this theme continue, but it didn’t stop with her. The offer through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus is for the indwelling of God’s Spirit in the life of those who will believe. In other words, those who receive the gift of Christ’s finished work are given the same Breath that was breathed into humanity at creation and the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead. Those who believe are made pregnant with the Word and are transformed so that they may proclaim the hope of God’s redeeming love to all. Those who follow Jesus are filled with the very essence and expression of God’s Presence as we partner with the Lord’s work in our lives and world.
As those given access to these gracious gifts, I wonder if many Christians are aware of what, or rather Who is within them. I don’t know about you but one of my least favorite Christmas songs is “Mary, Did You Know?” As somebody who plays a few instruments and sings on tune sometimes, it’s not the minor key that pushes me away; it’s the question itself. “Mary, did you know?” seems so silly to ask. OF COURSE SHE KNEW! An angel of the Lord gave a dream to her fiancée and then she had an encounter with an angel as well. She was told about Jesus and she knew that her baby would be the one to raise the dead, heal the sick, perform miracles, and be our Messiah.
But perhaps the song isn’t frustrating to me as much as the fact Mary knew what was inside of her and I know what is inside of me, but I forget too often. I forget too often that the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead dwells within me. I forget too often that I am pregnant with the Word that brings perpetual hope, truth, and grace. I forget too often that the One who is able to do immeasurably more does it by His power at work in me. I forget too often that the pains I may be experiencing, the things I may be facing, and the circumstances I may be going through are all able to be transformed into something that is birthed through for the sake of life, renewal, and revival.
I bring this up to ask: do you know? Do you know what’s, or rather Who, is inside of you? Do you know about the power that has been given to you? Do you know what God is forming in you? Do you know what God wants to bring into the world through your life? Do you know what God is shaping in you and preparing you for? Do you know that your present circumstances are not the final word, but that the Word of life is presently working in you for eternal impact?
As beautiful as all of these promises are, the simple reality is that many are distracted by their current struggles, limitations, or even statuses. These things are not leading to a greater awareness of what God has placed within us, but rather a response that questions our involvement in His promise.
In the first chapter of Luke’s Gospel account, there are two stories about pregnancies. The first story is actually not about Jesus, but rather about John the Baptist and his parents, Zechariah and Elizabeth. Zechariah is told about a promised child that was to come and his response was questioning the whole thing. “How can I be sure of this?” was his question to Gabriel. There were real truths including age, status, and position that could have limited the elderly couple of Elizabeth and Zechariah. As real as these circumstances were, they were not the most important factor in the promise that had been declared. Gabriel shows this in his response telling Zechariah that he stands in the presence of God and that this good news was given to be received. But, because Zechariah did not believe it, he was quiet until John was born (for those ladies who have been pregnant before, perhaps this was a blessing for Elizabeth…).
In contrast, Mary’s encounter with an angel of the Lord is very similar. She is also told that she would have a child and she asks a question as well. However, the question is not about being certain of the promise, it’s about how God will make it happen. In fact, after she was told the life-changing news that she would become pregnant with the Son of God, she proclaimed, “May your word to me be fulfilled.”
Beloved, we may experience real truths in our lives that are limiting, painful, and difficult to understand in the moment. These circumstances, relationships, and situations are all valid. As true as they are, they are not the Truth. As limiting as they are, they are not impossible for God. As painful as they are, it doesn’t mean it can’t be transformed into something life-giving. As unclear as things may be right now, the Lord is able and is already making things good, right, and as they ought to be.
As followers of Jesus, we are are invited to not just a truth, but the truth: the Lord is in us, the Lord is with us, and the Lord has made us pregnant with His Word to bring good news and revival to all of creation. Do you know that God is preparing you for a glorious and beautiful outpouring of redemption in and through you? Do you know that God wants to birth revival through your life? Do you know that your present circumstances are not limitations but opportunities for God to prove that “no word from God will ever fail?” Do you know what’s inside of you? Rather, do you know Who is inside of you?
The same Spirit who filled humanity with life at creation, the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead, and the same Spirit who was poured out on disciples of Jesus to form the Church dwells within you. And this One is ready to bring about goodness in you and through. As you discover or rediscover the truth, I pray that your response would be, “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Amen.
