Mary's Crisis Pregnancy

The following devotional was written by Cyndi Philkill, and appeared in the book "From the Field", Edited by Linda Perry and Cyndi Philkill, 1989.



"How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"

The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God...For nothing is impossible with God."

"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." (Luke 1:34-38)

This is the beginning of the most awesome crisis pregnancy of all time, as well as a wonderful example of the sanctity of human life and a servant heart. It is the story of the incarnation, God in flesh, Jesus Christ. Why did Jesus come into this world as a baby born of a woman? Why didn't God just zap Him down as a grown man, in the same manner He fashioned Adam? Jesus had to fulfill the Old Testament prophecies about the Savior coming from the line of David. He had to be fully human, to fulfill His mission. In order to be fully human, His life had to begin as all human life begins, at the moment of conception, not after He was "viable" outside the womb, or took His first breath or responded to external stimulus, but at the moment of conception.

What about Mary and her crisis pregnancy? Can you imagine what it would have been like 2,000 years ago to face a pregnancy outside marriage in a strict Orthodox Jewish community! Not only was she pregnant, but who would believe she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit and not by her betrothed Joseph? Young Jewish women were told the prophecy of the Savior of Israel, who would be born to a virgin. They had been waiting for hundreds of years. Why should they believe Mary was the mother of the promised Messiah? The scriptures don't go into much detail, but we can imagine how Mary must have felt. Even Joseph initially turned his back on her and wanted to end their engagement privately (Matthew 1:19).

An angel had given her words of encouragement before he announced her formidable mission. "Greetings...The Lord is with you...Do not be afraid. You have found favor with God...You will be with child...He will be great...His kingdom will never end." (Luke 1:25-33)

The angel verified her own wondrous experience by sharing the miracle of the pregnancy of her aged cousin, Elizabeth. When Mary visited Elizabeth, she received immediate acceptance and confirmation that she was a handmaiden in a miracle: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!" (Luke 1:42b)

Elizabeth provided a safe harbor, full of love and encouragement to Mary as she prepared her servant heart for the difficult life she faced. Mary was able to say: "My soul praises the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant." (Luke 1:46-47)

It is said that you can find out if you have a servant heart by the way you respond when you are treated like a servant. Mary accepted her servanthood and praised God that He had ordained her for a life of service. May her example be an inspiration to us as we love our pregnant daughters.