It is most fitting that we consider the events about that first Christmas prior to our observance of the birth of Christ. In doing so, let us prepare our hearts with excitement for God’s movements toward men. The plans were laid and activated by God that took four thousand years from the first promise in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:15) for the birth of Christ.
Consider Mary’s reaction when the angel appeared to her. She was most troubled and why not? The very holy God himself was paying personal attention to this young woman. Any honest person would admit being troubled on such an occasion. It was not just Mary that God intervened for a special reason. All through the Old Testament he did so.
The world has spawned trouble as a rebellious child. We have all gone astray like wayward sheep. The world has created troublesome political and international community affairs today, not unlike that which happened two thousand years ago under Roman rule. The first thing that the angel said to her was a salutation. Dare she believe that the hopes of all Jews would come true through her to be the mother of the Christ child?
At first, she became afraid as reality set in giving her those troubled thoughts. She was actually talking to an angel that God sent to tell her something that was most important of all history! However, it was God’s desire from all eternity past to remove fear of death, of even life, for some people success, for other people the fear of failure. Now we can have the full confidence of salvation that was cleared away through this young woman. Surely, each of us has known fear, troubling thoughts. God says that we should not be afraid because he is in charge.
Mary heard more from God that made her progress to a state of confusion. In the case of everyone, our head asks questions, but it is our heart that must respond. We will never understand the magnitude of God’s love that he offers by salvation. This is the reason that we become God’s child by faith. There is no bluffing faith as there is no understanding of God’s love. It is only through submission that we come as believers overshadowed by the Holy Spirit. When the reality of her magnificent blessing set into her thinking she rejoiced, calling her unborn son who would be her own Savior. Imagine that that person in her womb would also be her Savior! It is by our submission that we do our part in God’s plan of salvation by accepting his offer of forgiveness through Christ. It is God’s part that he makes it possible. As with Mary so with us we are given the privilege of being overshadowed by God’s divine presence through his Holy Spirit
Christian Writer 