Mary’s Surrender | Northpoint Church

By: Amber McEwen

I started reading through the book of Luke this week. I haven’t gotten past chapter 1! It’s been very interesting, contrasting the differences between Zechariah’s reaction to being told that his wife would conceive in advanced years, and Mary’s reaction to being told that she would conceive while still a virgin. One reacted in unbelief, while the other other reacted in faith. She questioned how it would happen, but never that it would happen. Oftentimes we can take this out of context and make Mary into some super hero woman. Her faith was strong! That’s for sure! But we must be careful to find a balance. We cannot magnify her so much so as to put Jesus in second place, but we also cannot fail to give her the esteem that she deserves for believing in faith what God told her would happen.

Gabriel encouraged Mary at the end of his message with the news that Elizabeth had also conceived. God always gives us what we need!

Genesis 18:14: “Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.”

Job 42:2: “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.”

Jeremiah 32:17: “Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.”

Matthew 19:26: “But Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Sometimes God encourages us by showing us examples of what He has already done. Sometimes He encourages us by showing us that He is sovereign. Sometimes He encourages us through a friend or family member pointing us to Him. But all the time we can find encouragement in the truth of His Word. Nothing is impossible with Him! Why does life seem so hard sometimes? I don’t know! Jesus was born of a virgin… a betrothed virgin. Mary would suffer humiliation and disgust when others found out she was pregnant. But God knew what He was doing. And throughout, Mary experienced His grace.

Her reaction? She gave herself to Him body (“Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word”), soul (“My soul magnifies the Lord”), and spirit (“…and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior). Is Mary to be worshiped? No! Should she be esteemed for her sweet faith? Absolutely!