“Mary, you have a valid question there, young lady,” smiled the angel Gabriel. “Naturally, since you are a virgin this would seem a very impossible thing. Indeed, how on earth could you possibly be expecting a child now – and the Son of the Most High, at that!
“Oh, Mary, if only you knew the overwhelming measure of God’s grace and unending love toward you! If you only knew the indescribable power of His very presence with you! You, my dear Mary, have found favor with God! You have been uniquely chosen as the recipient of the sweetest of heaven’s joys, the richest of delights, the greatest of honors among women!
“Mary, God is fulfilling His plan for the salvation of mankind – and He’s giving you a special role. The time has come for the Messiah to reign upon the throne of David, and over the house of Jacob forever, with His kingdom which will never end. This is the moment all Israel has been waiting for! As the Lord spoke through the prophet Isaiah long ago: ‘The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned…For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be upon his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing it and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.’
“Your Deliverer is coming to your rescue! Your Savior comes bringing the hope of salvation! Do you see it, Mary? You will call Him Immanuel – God with us – Jesus!
“‘Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is He, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty – He is the King of glory.’
“So, uh-hum, back to your question at hand. I guess I was getting a little excited there. Here’s what’s going to happen. The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God.
“And I have some more good news for you, Mary. Even Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a child in her old age! No one ever thought Elizabeth and Zechariah would have a child. You know how old they are – Elizabeth is well past child-bearing years. Yet, God has answered Zechariah’s prayer, and Elizabeth is already in her sixth month, expecting a boy!
“I want to tell you something, Mary. You may not understand it all, and I can’t even explain the mechanics well. But I do know this, and I don’t want you to ever forget or ever doubt this one thing: Nothing is impossible with God. Nothing! What He wants to do, He will do. What’s impossible with man is possible with God. He is the Sovereign Lord who made the heavens and the earth by His great power and outstretched arm. He is the One who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. He is the One who parted the Red Sea to rescue His people and rained manna down from heaven to feed them. He is the One who delivered Daniel from the mouth of the lions and walked in the fire to save the three Hebrew boys. Nothing is too difficult for God. What God is doing in you is nothing short of amazing, spectacular and miraculous. But nothing is impossible with God. Nothing!”
“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary replied with the kind of humble faith and willing obedience that comes from a heart joyfully delighting in the grace of God. “May it be done to me according to your word.”
May the joy of Christmas be yours as you worship the Savior, Christ Jesus – the One for whom nothing is impossible.
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