The story of Jesus Christ’s birth is an amazing story. As the story goes, Mary and Joseph are engaged to be married when an angel appears to Mary and says she is with child. Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin,” (Luke 1:34, NLT). The angel, Gabriel, responds, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. For the word of God will never fail.” (Luke 1:35-37, NLT). In this passage, Gabriel encourages Mary; the Lord God will not fail, for He has never failed before. I can’t imagine how Mary must have been feeling, but she responds in simple and humble obedience, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true,” (Luke 1:38, NLT).
God takes a situation that would be otherwise impossible and shows His power and glory by choosing Mary, a virgin, to be the mother of Jesus Christ. Mary never doubts God. She never demonstrates a lack of faith. Her questions are truly from a place of desiring to know and understand how the Lord will use her in this incredible way. I believe she also asks the question, “why me? How can I be the one to carry out what you have described?” How many of us when God calls us to do something have asked similar questions? It is easy for us to doubt our abilities, especially in light of tasks that would be otherwise impossible. This is why it’s important to remember that God is capable of doing the impossible.
In Acts chapter 1, verse 8, Jesus says, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all of Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” This verse comes after the ministry of Jesus, after he has been crucified, dead, and buried, and after he arose from the grave. He appears to His disciples, having conquered death and proving that the impossible is no match for God’s power. God’s promise about the power of the Holy Spirit is as true for us today as it was for Mary on the night when Jesus was born and on the night when Jesus commissioned His disciples: God will never fail.
During this Christmas season and in every season of the year, remember that God’s power is no match for the impossible. His plans will never fail, and He chooses people like Mary, a young, poor girl, and like you and me to be the vessels through which He is glorified. Let’s take an example from Mary and say, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.”
