Mary: The Humble Instrument of the Incarnation
Introduction
We have entered the Christmas season. During this time, many are moved by the story of the birth of Jesus Christ. The birth of a child is exciting and important, and nothing is more beautiful than a mother holding and caring for her newborn. This image brings joy, hope, and love to any heart; the birth of Jesus Christ even more so.
Yet, there is a danger in allowing our emotions to lead us to ideas that are not true. Regarding the birth of Jesus Christ, this has happened for two reasons. First, a union of religious philosophies—paganism rooted in the lies of Nimrod’s wife, who claimed her son was Nimrod reincarnated—led to the deification and worship of both mother and child. Second, several biblical records about Mary are ignored or misinterpreted.
These two factors led to the practice of elevating Mary to a position not taught in the Bible. The truth is that worship should only be directed to Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of God. Mary was an important instrument in the incarnation—the union of the divinity of the eternal Son with perfect humanity in the conception of Jesus Christ. But Mary was nothing more than a humble instrument graced with this privilege. She herself acknowledged that she did not merit the position given to her.
Three Biblical Statements About Mary
Luke records three important statements about Mary that teach essential truths about her as an instrument, and nothing more. Paying attention to these truths will lead us to focus our attention where it should be focused: on the Baby Jesus Christ. Mary had no halo the night of Jesus’ birth, but she had love for her first-born child. She had wonder in her heart as she realized that the baby she had carried in her womb for nine months and now held in her arms was the eternal Son of God who “took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:7). Surely her heart overflowed with rejoicing, adoration, and gratitude. The promise given on the first day of humanity’s sinful existence was lying in her arms.
1. Mary Was Blessed Among Women
The angel said, “Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women” (Luke 1:28). This statement was declared when the angel gave Mary a message she never expected. Like all young Jewish women, she probably wondered what it would be like to be the privileged instrument—the woman of the promised seed that would crush the head of the serpent’s seed. The angel’s declaration made it clear that although Mary was favored by God, she was not different from other women. He said she was blessed “among women.” The word “favoured” means she was not given the privilege to be the instrument of the Messiah’s birth because of merit or position. Scripture shows Mary was humble and obedient—a godly Jewish woman, but so were many others. Her being chosen was the manifestation of God’s grace, both to her and to humanity.
2. Mary Was a Mother
Elizabeth, Mary’s cousin, declared, “And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (Luke 1:43). Elizabeth was seeing and speaking to a young pregnant woman. Mary’s physical condition was proof she was the mother of a human being, which is exactly what the incarnation is about. By God’s miraculous power through the Holy Spirit, Mary conceived a son as all women do—the only difference being the baby had no human father. God provided the male part of the seed that united with the “seed of the woman” for a natural conception. Jesus was truly 100% God the Son and 100% humanity. She was not the mother of divinity, for divinity, being eternal, cannot have a mother. The union of the divine with humanity made the baby born in Bethlehem the Lord of all. The word “Lord” here means “master” or ruler. Mary was given the wonderful position of being the mother of the Lord of the universe. She fulfilled it well until the day of Jesus Christ’s death. She conceived, gave birth, and cared for the God/Man because she was privileged to be “the mother of the Lord”.
3. Mary Was Human and Sinful
Mary herself declared, “My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden” (Luke 1:47-48). Not only did Elizabeth recognize Mary was no different from any other young woman, but Mary herself declared she was just a servant of the Lord, calling herself “of low estate.” Her mind was in awe of the miracle God was doing in her. How could she conceive a child when she had never had a physical relation with a man? Yet, 700 years before, the prophet Isaiah had declared, “a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son” (Isaiah 7:14). To remove Mary’s wonder, the angel said, “For with God nothing shall be impossible” (Luke 1:37). God promised by His prophet, and He was bringing it to pass. In her praise after meeting Elizabeth, Mary declared God to be mighty, holy, and merciful. She praised God for giving her the privilege of being the instrument of the coming of the eternal Son of God as a man to be God’s sacrificial substitute for sinful humanity.
Mary recognized her status as a human being and confessed to her sinful condition. She recognized God as the source of her salvation and all good things. He made an insignificant and helpless sinner the instrument by which He performed the greatest of miracles. God promised Abraham the birth of this child, saying this seed would bless all nations and rule for eternity. He was now fulfilling that promise, and Mary, as an unworthy recipient of the method of salvation, was the instrument by which God would fulfill His promise to provide that salvation.
The Wonder of Christmas
Six months after her declaration of praise and thanksgiving, Mary was holding the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham in her arms. The Christmas song “Mary Did You Know?” brings to light the amazing facts of the birth of Jesus, the Savior. The song does not question Mary’s knowledge and understanding of the wonderful event that took place in Bethlehem that night. It emphasizes those things she knew and pondered. It was the voice of the Person she held that spoke the universe into existence. It was His hands that formed the first man and later made the woman. It was that mouth that breathed life into the nostrils of the first man. It was those feet that walked in fellowship through the Garden of Eden with the first couple. It was the heart that had been broken when Adam and Eve disobeyed His command and brought sin into humanity. This baby was the divine resolution to the consequences of that terrible day when humanity began its journey down the pathway of sorrow and condemnation. These truths made everyone who heard about it wonder with amazement. Mary’s reaction was to ponder or repeatedly rethink the facts that she knew about this baby. Her conclusion had to have been that of the psalmist in Psalm 139:6, “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it”.
Conclusion
In the Gospel of Matthew, we find the record of the visit of the Magi. “And when they came into the house, they found the child with Mary his mother, and fell down and worshipped Him; and when they opened their treasures, they offered him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh” (Matthew 2:11). Here it is clear that Mary, although present as all the religious paintings show, did not receive adoration or offerings. As the mother of Jesus, Mary had to be included in the scene. However, the Magi’s attention was focused on the boy for whom they had so long been looking.
Like Mary, our thoughts should be focused on the meaning of the event being celebrated during the Christmas season. She conversed within herself (the meaning of ponder) all the details, ancient and present, of who was lying in that manger and what His presence there meant to her and humanity.
Like the wise men, we should be focused on Jesus Christ. They could easily have been distracted by the scene of an infant with his parents in a humble stable. It truly was a warm and tender scene. However, they were focused on the child. He was the one fulfilling all the prophecies and teachings of Daniel that had been passed down to them throughout history in their own country. It is so easy to let the activities, the decorations, the hopes of gifts and the many other things related to the season turn our attention away from the real reason for our Christmas season. As the Magi, we should seek out the Lord Jesus Christ and offer Him the greatest gift we possibly can give—ourselves. We should repeat the words of Mary after hearing the message of the angel, “Behold the handmaid (servant) of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word” (Luke 1:38).