Sacred Conception

Read Isaiah 7:10-15 and Luke 1:35

“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those born under the law so that we might receive adoption as sons.” (Galatians 4:4-5 ESV)

Evangelical Christians tend to be very cautious discussing Mary that she is nearly invisible in conversation and preaching. Yet upon her was bestowed arguably the greatest of all God’s gifts: to bear the human nature of the second person of the Trinity. In an instant, the divine Logos was joined to a single cell, for, “in Christ all the fullness of the deity lives in bodily form” (Colossians 2:9). This is mind-boggling.

In Isaiah 7:14 the prophet uses the powerful word “Behold!” (Hebrew hinneh) which means pay attention: something big is going to happen in the future. ”Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and will call his name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). The sign is Hebrew, immanu-el, God with us. This name is unmistakable. No other child could be “God with us” than the Messiah. We are told that Gabriel was sent to a virgin (Greek parthenos) who told her “The Holy Spirit will come upon you”—the same phrase used in Acts 2:2 at Pentecost—a violent rushing wind would come upon her.

In 2020, someone will be chosen to carry the Olympic torch—one of the greatest honors on earth. Yet Mary was chosen from among the billions of all women of all centuries to bear the Son of God, the Messiah, The King of Kings. I am inspired by Mary’s response to all of this. When she is told she is the one chosen to carry out this prophecy, she simply replies, “I am the Lord’s servant…” (Luke 1:38).

About Mary, theologian Hermann Bavinck wrote, “She has been given an honor that has not been given to any other creature. She far surpassed men and angels in the undeserved grace bestowed upon her.” We’ve all been given gifts of grace by God…talents, relationships, opportunities to serve. May we, as Mary did, humbly respond to God with willing hearts eager to serve Him fully.

DIG DEEPER:

• Mary, this humble girl from the Middle East, did nothing to earn this honor. She was much graced. Have you considered the unimaginable grace that has been bestowed upon you? List ways God has graced you. How will you use them to serve Him?

written by Jim Bohn