A Fair Question, if You Ask Me!

Tuesday afternoon, December 16, 2008 [a bit sunny; 680; my kind of weather!]
This is Mary’s response to what the anger, Gabriel, told her: “How can this be, since I am a virgin” (Luke 1:34)?
1. A Totally New Concept: In my mind, that was a fair question. Virgins do not give birth, certainly not in Mary’s day! How was she going to give birth when she had never, ever, had sexual intercourse? I do not know about you, but I can remember several times when God told me what was about to happen and I raised the very same question (my call to preach, for example). It is my guess that you can remember several such experiences, as well. This, however, was different—really different—over the line.

2. A Concept with Much Perceived Risk: What was Mary supposed to tell Joseph? What would she tell the Jewish leaders, when it became evident that she was pregnant? Rest assured that adultery was not considered a virtue; in fact, it carried the sentence of death by stoning! I can remember several times in my life when God’s direction for me carried considerable risk, or so I thought. The truth is this: There is NEVER any risk involved when we are following His direction—never! Oh, yes, it can appear to be risky, even dangerous, but in the end (and in the beginning for that matter), He is in control!

3. An Unbelievable Concept: Truth is, I have no idea how Mary convinced Joseph that the Holy Spirit had come upon her and she had conceived the Son of God. Now, folks, this simply an unbelievable story! I can only imagine the twisted gossip! “Mary is pregnant and she is going around telling everyone that she and God had some kind of affair, and she is pregnant with God’s child!” I am telling you this story is unbelievable. The fact is, you cannot believe it, and you will not believe it! Well, you won’t until He gives you the faith to believe it. Trust me about this! It ain’t going to happen, otherwise!

4. An Essential Concept: Nothing short of this virgin birth, whereby the Holy Spirit entered Mary’s virgin womb, could have wrought about our redemption. Had any other route been chosen, we would have continued on with Adam’s corrupt seed, passing it on from generation to generation. Thankfully, however, we have been born of the incorruptible, imperishable, sinless, seed of God!


“Hail Mary, full of grace; blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus!”

Let us not throw the baby out with the bath water; instead, let us honor the woman who was the mother of our Savior. To be sure, God did!