When we first meet Mary, mother of Jesus, she had questions, spoken or (assumed) unspoken.
Remember that account of Mary's initial encounter:
One month later God sent the angel Gabriel to the town of Nazareth in Galilee with a message for a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to Joseph from the family of King David. The angel greeted Mary and said, “You are truly blessed! The Lord is with you” (Luke 1:26-28, CEV).What was happening to this young village woman? (I do hear it said Mary was just in her early teens - evidence?) What was happening seems to be the first question that arose in Mary's mind. Or was it, "Who is this?" That unexpected, and thus disturbing, stranger arrival was compounded by the pleasant and inexplicable words. Was she afraid, or was it possible she would now become afraid?
Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel[a] forever; his Kingdom will never end!” (Luke 1: 29-33, NLT).
So the emphasis again - who is this and exactly what does this messenger mean? The further information hardly clears it all up. There was more than one question that could be in mind. The first point to get past was an unplanned pregnancy without sex. If that could be understood in literal terms, there was still another possible challenge. A child from Nazareth who was to be king? Really? A throne returned to Jacob's descendants via that child? A child who would come to reign? (But - what happens to Rome and the Herods?) A child, not only to reign, but reign forever? A kingdom that will never end? (Dynasties were familiar, but not endless.) Clearly the angel was not talking about the usual politics and power structures.
It transpired that the angel was talking about Jesus. In that case - taking it seriously - we, right now, are in that kingdom of his. (Whilst connection to a specific entity may be the way to go, I certainly do not suggest any 2021 ecclesiastical structure is the embodiment or fulfilment of that kingdom. Nor any specific recognised human entity. Connection with a particular group hopefully may be worthwhile for you and you for the other members. See post, "Jesus: and YOU")
[We should recall what Jesus, the man, later told us to ask for:
Come and set up your kingdom, so that everyone on earth will obey you, as you are obeyed in heaven (Matt 6:10, CEV). That is our petition. So, we are also not in the kingdom. ]
Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?”[a] The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born[b] will be holy; he will be called Son of God. (Luke 1:34-35, NRSV) Questions may be to dispute or reject what is said. Questions may be seeking guidance. Was Mary to proceed with the wedding plans?
The record we have gives Mary's responses in terms of the cornerstone of all this: The birth of the Son of God by God's own action and her willingness to be a true subject in God's kingdom on earth.
“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her (Luke 1:38, NIV).
Mary recognised that God is God and wanted to see God's plan unfold. She would welcome the earthly fulfilment of God's will. Human rebellion had no future!
The earlier part of that chapter in Luke has Zacharias asking a question. I think Zacharias' question is in a different category. Questions may be for the sake of argument, to express rejection. Questions may seek information or guidance. God welcomes those who ask, seek, knock...
And Mary said:
My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
because he has looked with favor
on the humble condition of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations
will call me blessed,
because the Mighty One
has done great things for me,
and his name is holy.
His mercy is from generation to generation
on those who fear him.
He has done a mighty deed with his arm;
he has scattered the proud
because of the thoughts of their hearts;
he has toppled the mighty from their thrones
and exalted the lowly.
He has satisfied the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering his mercy
to Abraham and his descendants[a] forever,
just as he spoke to our ancestors. (Luke 1:46-55, CSB)
When did pregnant Mary say that - in response to Elizabeth's praise of her? I note what Mary is exulting over -
her Saviour God doing mighty things for just lowly her;
God powerfully upsetting the ways of the proud and knowing;
God lifting up the lowly;
God overturning human priorities;
God remembering the ancient promise.
We can see that Joseph also wrestled with questions. What to do?
The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant from the Holy Spirit. So her husband, Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly.
But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
See, the virgin will become pregnant
and give birth to a son,
and they will name him Immanuel,
which is translated “God is with us.”
When Joseph woke up, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him. He married her but did not have sexual relations with her until she gave birth to a son. And he named him Jesus (Matthew 1:18-25, CSB).
But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
See, the virgin will become pregnant
and give birth to a son,
and they will name him Immanuel,
which is translated “God is with us.”
When Joseph woke up, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him. He married her but did not have sexual relations with her until she gave birth to a son. And he named him Jesus (Matthew 1:18-25, CSB).
Joseph's initial question was resolved. His path was clear. Did Joseph wonder about how Mary's son would save his people from their sins? Seems likely to me.
Jesus means saviour. That is his name. What Jesus would do was clear; in time the plan for salvation was revealed, even though questions can remain.
Then, later on, we have the parental question arising from the time they found the missing young Jesus in Jerusalem. Mary spoke for Joseph and herself: His parents didn’t know what to think. “Son,” his mother said to him, “why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere.”
“But why did you need to search?” he asked. “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?”[a] But they didn’t understand what he meant (Luke 2:48-50, NLT). They could not understand what Jesus had done, nor what he said. (Do we understand?) That word translated "house" might be "business"; Jesus knew he had to be "in the things of his father". Did they understand about 'his father" (his Father)? Could they?
“But why did you need to search?” he asked. “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?”[a] But they didn’t understand what he meant (Luke 2:48-50, NLT). They could not understand what Jesus had done, nor what he said. (Do we understand?) That word translated "house" might be "business"; Jesus knew he had to be "in the things of his father". Did they understand about 'his father" (his Father)? Could they?
Clearly the parents returned to Nazareth with questions unresolved. Honest questions may have humbly to be "in suspension". What about Jesus - did he understand their uncertainty and their need to take care of him?
This post is about the earliest part of Jesus' life. The curtain falls, and when he emerges into view the understanding is gradually revealed to those willing to understand. He is the Saviour Christ.
An earlier post: https://www.jesussaviour4unme.com/2015/09/salvation_28.html
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Note: I retain in the publishers' text where they occur the references to footnotes, but usually not the notes. You can check footnotes out by viewing the text on-line. Often they are replicated in different translations.
Bible passages accessed via BibleGateway.com
Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission.
All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NRSV) are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Note: I retain in the publishers' text where they occur the references to footnotes, but usually not the notes. You can check footnotes out by viewing the text on-line. Often they are replicated in different translations.
Bible passages accessed via BibleGateway.com
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