Seven hundred years – that is how long it had been since God had promised the people of Israel a Messiah – the Savior who would rescue them from their oppressors.  But 700 years is a long time to wait for a promise to come true. And now . . . well . . . it seemed as though that promise was more distant than ever.

Despite the fact they were among the smallest of nations, there had actually been a time when they were considered to be one of the strongest nations the world had ever known. But that honor had been passed on to the Romans whose leaders were arrogant, unscrupulous, and violent. The situation had become so intolerable that many of the Jewish religious leaders had actually sold out to the occupying forces. Some say it was because they were greedy, but others insist it was a matter of survival for themselves and their families. As for those who refused – for those who insisted upon remaining faithful to the laws of Moses – they had become every bit as rigid, uncompromising and oppressive as Caesar Augustus, himself!

Is it any wonder the people were tired and depressed – that some were even attempting to take the law into their own hands by gathering disgruntled followers into vigilante bands that tried to overthrow the Romans through the use of their own violent means? Yet, despite it all, there were still those who were praying, watching, hoping, and waiting for the promise to come true – for the Messiah . . . the Savior . . . to come and save them all. 

Now we really don’t know if a young peasant girl by the name of Mary grew up in such a family – if her parents were among those who had continued to believe that a Messiah would someday be sent to deliver God’s people from the grip of bondage and oppression. We have no idea if they had told her that, according to the prophet Isaiah, the day would come when a virgin would be chosen by God to be the mother of this special child. 

What we do know, however, is that when the angel Gabriel appeared before her with the announcement that she was it – she was the chosen one – Mary was both confused and afraid. Her immediate response of, “Why me?” tells us that she saw nothing particularly outstanding about herself. There had been few, if any, events that led her to believe her life should be a part of God’s larger plan. Yet an angel came, stood before her and announced that after seven hundred years, she was the chosen one, she would be the mother of God’s own son.

Yet, who in their right mind was going to believe that!? After all, she was a no-name girl living in an obscure village with a family that was simply trying to survive one of the worst foreign occupations known to humankind. So, what possible reason did God have in choosing her for this important role? 

Why? Why had she found favor? Well, the amazing truth is that Mary was not chosen because of who she was – a simple girl living a simple life and dreaming simple dreams.  There was nothing . . . absolutely nothing . . .  spectacular or extraordinary about her. 

So, if this was the case -  if there were no apparent attributes or characteristics that made her outstanding, how did she happen to become the mother of Christ? The answer is really very simple. She was chosen because of who God is! It was God’s plan and God’s idea. All Mary had to do was say Yes.

In her book While We Wait, Mary Lu Redding states that this is very good news for those of us who have never felt as though we really belonged or that our lives really mattered. If we are among those who were always among the last to be chosen for the team; if we were the ones who always seemed to be on the outside looking in – who never felt like we quite measured up to everyone else’s expectations – then we should take a closer look at Mary. Because, like her, we have been claimed by God not because of who we are, but rather because of who God is.  [(Nashville: Upper Room Books); 2002, p. 45f]

And that, of course, leads us to yet another question. If we have found favor with God – if we have been chosen to have a role in salvation history – what does our future hold? Will we dine with the influential and be sought after by the elite? Will blessings upon blessings be ours as God’s truths are revealed to us and through us? If we have, indeed, found favor with God; if we, like Mary, say “Yes” to whatever God asks, what difference will it make? What impact will it have?

When the angel Gabriel appeared before Mary, it seemed as though the light of heaven had filled her soul. After all, she was going to be the mother of God’s own son. The Messiah was going to come into the world through her. Despite the seemingly impossibility of it all, she was going to witness it from its mysterious beginning to its glorious conclusion! After all, she had found favor with God! And so, in that moment she said “Yes! Here am I am, the servant of the Lord: let it be with me according to your word. (Luke 1:38b) 

Oh Mary, did you understand? You knew about the Garden of Eden, but did you know about Gethsemane? Mary, did you know?      

Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy
Would one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy
Would save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your Baby Boy
Has come to make you new;
This Child that you delivered
Will soon deliver you.

Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy
Will give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy
Will calm the storm with His hand?
Did you know that your Baby Boy
Has walked where Angels trod?
When you kiss your Little Baby,
You kiss the Face of God!

Oh, Mary, did you know?