Mary, the mother of Jesus, had several encounters with God that helped sustain her during her life, especially the storms. Mary’s life would never be the same after the angel Gabriel came to her and told her she would have a child by the Holy Spirit. Luke 1:38 Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.[1]
In Mary’s day, being pregnant out of wedlock would have brought her and her family great shame. To explain to her family that she was pregnant by the Lord must have been difficult. The Bible does not describe her family’s reaction, but her encounter with the angel Gabriel must have given her strength in this challenging situation.
The Baby Jesus is Born
Mary and Joseph had unexpected guests on the night baby Jesus was born. The angels told the shepherds about the birth. Luke 2:11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger. [2] The praise of the angel choir inspired the shepherds to seek out the newborn Savior. Luke 2:16 They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger.[3]
Mary Pondered What the Shepherds Said
The shepherds were filled with joy as they came to the stable where the holy family was. They eagerly told Mary and Joseph what the angels had said. Luke 2:17 After seeing him (baby Jesus), the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.[4]
The text tells us that Mary often thought about the shepherd’s encounter with the angels and what they said about the baby Jesus. Angels are God’s messengers, and through the shepherds, they gave an encouraging message to Mary. There is something about encountering God that helps us to look to the Lord, which sustains us. As we read God’s Word, He supernaturally allows us to meet Him, which empowers us. God’s word tells me the Lord loves me, died for my sins, and continually intervenes in my life. Knowing I am loved and cared for sustains me as my life unfolds.
“You can never learn that Christ is all you need until Christ is all you have.” ―Corrie Ten Boom[5]
To learn more about encounters with God, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/fulfilled-birth-of-jesus
[1-4] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Tyndale House Publishers.
[5] https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/102203.Corrie_ten_Boom