Mary Says "YES"

"Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to Your Word," Luke 1:38.

Yes, I am willing to carry the Son of the Most High God. Why choose me for such a privilege?
"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace," Is 9:6

Yes, I will travel to Bethlehem. Will my son be born there?
"When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, 'Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about'," Luke 2:15

Yes, I will havemy baby in a cave. God are You sure? Is this the place for a King 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 2:7

Yes, I will escape to Egypt with my husband Joseph and our son Jesus. Will we be safe?
"An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. 'Get up', he said, 'take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him," Matthew 2:13

Yes, I will go back to the land of Israel to protect my young child. Will we always wander Lord?
"After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, 'Get up, take the child and the mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who are trying to take her child's life are dead," Matthew 2:19

Yes, I will go to Nazareth. Is a King to be raised in an ordinary town?
"Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: 'He will be called a Nazarene'," Matthew 2:22b-23

Yes, I will consecrate my firstborn son to You God, for He is Yours and is the fulfillment of all the prophecies of the Messiah.
"Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, 'Sovereign Lord, as You have promised, you now dismiss Your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to Your people Israel," Luke 2:28-32

Yes, I will trust You God as I parent Your son. Can I do it God?
"And Jesus grew in wisdom & stature, and in favor with God and men," Luke 2:52

Yes, I will believe what You have promised God, even when I don't understand. How can I understand?
"'Why were you searching for me? He asked. Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?' But they did not understand what he was saying to them," Luke 2:49-50

Yes, I surrender my heart to You, even though my mother's heart is hurt and not understanding what accusations are being spoken about my son. Why can't I rescue Jesus and bring him home?
"Someone told Jesus,'Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.' He replied, 'Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?'...For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother," Matthew 12:47-49

Yes, I will trust You as my son is heading toward the cross rather than a crown. Did I mess this up? Could this be Your plan?
"Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, 'This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul, too'," Luke 2:34-35
"And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God!" Philippians 2:8-11

Yes, I will wait for the promises to be fulfilled. How long Lord?
"He gave them this command: 'Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father has promised, which you heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit...they all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with all his brothers," Acts 1:4,5,14

May it be to me as You have said

"Greetings you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you" (Luke 1:28). From these words, Mary's life was changed forever.

The angel unfolds the plan of eternity to this young woman, Mary and her response is: "I am the Lord's servant, may it be to me as you have said". Mary responds in belief to all that is spoken to her. She had settled all heart issues with God~ she believed Him and trusted God completely.

As a faithful servant, her life would never be the same. The word "servant" is the Greek word for "bondservant" which is one who served because of the love the Master showed and because of the love that he/she had for his/her Master. The bondservant gladly lived in the resources, schedule and property of the Master, since he/she had none of his/her own.

How did Mary get to this place in her heart with the Lord at such a tender age? There must've been an environment in the home that showed her how to love God. She was living a life a communion with God. Oh, that I would be one who is called a bondservant of the Lord~ one who gladly lives in the resources, schedule and property of my Master Jesus!

There are several characteristics we see of Mary in this passage of Luke 1:

1. Faith~ Mary had simple faith to believe that anything is possible with the Lord. Her love for God was bigger than her fears or her questions. Mary counted the cost & willingly gave herself to God. Her response to the angel Gabriel is one of total faith, "May it be to me as you have said" (Luke 1:38). Mary was given the blessing of carrrying the Savior of the world in her womb. What is it that the Lord is asking me to carry? What is HE desiring to conceive in my by His Holy Spirit? Is my love for God bigger than all my fears and questions?


2. Believe God~ Mary believed what God said. In verse 45 Elizabeth confirms Mary's belief, "Blessed is she who has believed what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished". Elizabeth has been living with her husband's silence for 6 months because he didn't believe. (Zechariah, whom the angel Gabriel had visited to tell him that Elizabeth would conceive and bear a son, named John the Baptist~ see Luke 1:18-20). Zechariah is living with the consequence of an unbelieving heart. He needed more information~ he wanted details & "proof" from God. Mary had 1 question, "how", since she had never been with a man. To "believe" is the Greek word, "pisteuo" meaning to believe; put one's faith in; trust; with an implication that actions based on this trust will follow. This kind of belief gives God permission to work unhindered in our lives. What kind of faith is working in my heart? When I really believe God, it will be evidenced by the "acts" I do.


3. Responds in Praise~ "My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior," Luke 1:46-47. Mary doesn't understand why God has chosen her, a humble young woman, but her heart sings praise to Him. He is her focus. How do I respond when the Lord asks me to do something for His kingdom? Do I boast? Do I focus on me and try to figure out how I will possibly do it? OR, do I surrender in praise to God~ lifting His Name and praising Him? Oh that the Lord would be my focus!


4. Treasured & Pondered~ With all the Glory surrounding the birth of the CHRIST, all the activity and excitement, Mary took it all in. Mary was amazed at the miraculous things that God had done~ they were treasures to her. She didn't talk about what was happening or how God used "her" to bring the Savior upon the earth. She didn't brag about being "chosen" or the "highly favored one". She held this between her and her God. Treasured means to keep or preserve. Mary didn't want to miss anything, paying great attention to every detail of this miracle. "But his mother treasured all these things in her heart," Luke 2:51. Do I ponder and treasure things of the Lord? Are His miracles treasures in my heart? Are there moments & miraculous events in my life that are just between me and Jesus?


5. Trusts God with her whole heart, even when she doesn't understand~ Mary says "yes" to God over and over in her life on earth, concerning her son. She doesn't always understand what is happening, but she believes God is working. Do I trust God even when I don't understand what He is doing? When it looks like He is absent? When my expectations don't line up with my experience?

Mary's response to the Gabriel, at that first encounter was a YES to all that God had for her to accomplish. She didn't know the whole of what that would look like while she walked the earth. She wasn't perfect in fulfilling her plan in the purposes of God, but she said YES. Mary was one who said, "All of me for all of Him"!