Christmas is far more than the birth of a baby. It is more than a holiday, or a celebration or a season of goodwill. It is the beginning, the beginning of the end, actually. Christmas is the final act in the redemptive story that began long ago, in eternity past. Last week, the first stop in our journey to Christmas was a beautiful garden. This week’s stop is a town in Galilee, Nazareth.
The city of Nazareth is not mentioned in the Old Testament, so it may not be as old as some more familiar biblical cities. It clung to the slopes of a three-sided valley. The main road for traffic from Egypt to Asia Minor passed by Mount Tabor six miles to the east. The Sea of Galilee was only fourteen miles away. There was a significant Gentile influence there, so the rest of the Jews believed Nazarenes to be lazy and even immoral. There’s no evidence that they were, just a prejudice. Nathanael reflects this bias when he skeptically asks Philip whether anything good can come from Nazareth. (John 1:46). To top is off, the area was noted for a distinctive accent. It’s not unlike our perceptions and prejudices against places like Arkansas or Eastern Kentucky, where I’m from. At the time of Christ’s birth, though, the town had a population of fifteen to twenty thousand people, which made it a fair-sized town.
One of those inhabitants of Nazareth was a teenaged girl named Mary.
Mary lived with her parents and spent her days preparing her trousseau and waiting for the evening when Joseph, her espoused husband, would come leading a torchlight procession to call her to the marriage ceremony. The young carpenter might not ever achieve wealth or status, but he would provide for her and love her. Everyone knew Joseph was a fine young man. Mary’s father had done well, accepting Joseph’s proposal. Just as Joseph was named after the Old Testament son of the patriarch, Jacob, Mary’s own name was a modern update of Miriam, the sister of Moses. With the rebellion of the Maccabees still fresh in the collective consciousness of the people, this was a time of connection to the past, renewed hope, and longing for the promised deliverer.
Now in the sixth month [of Elizabeth’s pregnancy] the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, (Luke 1:26).
The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” (Luke 1:30-33)
Luke says in verse 29 that Mary was deeply troubled by the angel’s appearance. Confused. “Thoroughly shaken” The Message renders it.
Let’s be honest for a moment. How do we respond when God calls our name?
Me? Why me? What does He want? How hard is this going to be? How long is this going to take? What will it cost me?
This stop at Nazareth presents us with a simple question: When all is said and done, who is God in my life? If it’s me, then MY plans, MY goals, MY wants and needs merit the highest consideration.
BUT if someone else is GOD, is LORD of my life … then HIS plans are my commands.
On this point, Mary puts us to shame.
And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38)
With the scantest details and clarifications, Mary says, “I am the Lord’s servant. Whatever He says, whatever He wants, I will do.”
While we’re here in Nazareth may we consider our surrender to the proclaimed Lord of our lives. Is He? If not, why not? If so, let us adopt Mary’s declaration, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord.”
Next week: The Fields
