“Nothing Will Be Impossible with God” by Sharon Espeseth

The Setting

God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth to visit Mary, a virgin who was engaged to Joseph, a righteous man of the house of David.

The Angel Gabriel appears to Mary.

*“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you,” the angel Gabriel said to Mary. Perplexed, she “pondered what sort of greeting this might be.”

The Angel said, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus.” The angel told her that her son will be great; he’ll be called the Son of the Most High; he’ll be given the throne of David; and his kingdom will have no end.

“(But), Mary asked, “how can this be, since I am a virgin?” 

“The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child. . . will be holy; . . . will be called Son of God.” The Angel Gabriel also told her about Elizabeth, her elderly relative who had been considered barren, but was now six months pregnant. Mary remembered the angel’s words, “For nothing will be impossible with God.”

That’s a lot to think about! As a woman of faith, however, Mary composed herself enough to say with trust and conviction, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.” Gabriel departed. *(From Luke 1:26-38 ESV)

Marriage Customs of the Time

Mary and Joseph were betrothed to one another before Mary’s pregnancy. Betrothal was a binding agreement made in front of others. This made them husband and wife, although they didn’t live together until the actual marriage. During the betrothal, the couple remained chaste and pledged to be faithful to one another. Unfaithfulness was cause for divorce. Unfaithfulness could also be cause for stoning.

Joseph’s Dilemma

*After Mary was betrothed to Joseph, “she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.” Joseph, not wanting to make a spectacle of Mary, had decided “to divorce her quietly.” While Joseph was considering the situation, “an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. The message was, Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.”

The angel further explains that Mary will bear a son and Joseph is to name him Jesus, “for he will save his people from their sins.” Awaking from his sleep, Joseph did as the angel had directed him. *(From Matthew 1:18-25 ESV)

This was the beginning of Mary and Joseph’s marriage. Mary and Joseph were poor in the earthly sense. They lived under Herod’s tyranny, which required their travelling to Bethlehem to pay their taxes. It’s an understatement to say the trip was difficult and dangerous. 

We may romanticize the celebrated birth of Baby Jesus, but we need to remember that Mary and Joseph had no modern amenities and not even the comforts of home. Still the birth of Baby Jesus in a humble stable changed the world.

An angel warned Joseph, again in a dream to take Mary and the young child into Egypt. Herod was determined to kill the Baby King. They eventually returned to Nazareth where Joseph worked as a carpenter. We don’t know exactly when Joseph died, but we meet Mary a few times during Christ’s intense years of ministry. She was with Jesus for his first miracle at the Wedding at Cana. Mary was with Jesus at Calvary. 

Mary had much to ponder and many concerns to pray about.

A Newer Favourite Christmas Song

A favourite Christmas song that speaks to me right now is “Breath of Heaven (Mary’s Song)”, originally written by Chris Eaten. With permission from Eaten, Amy Grant rewrote and recorded the song from the female perspective. Grant was pregnant at the time she wrote the song, which she believes helped her in personalizing the words. 

To view Grant singing this song, please google “Breath of Heaven” with Amy Grant. One video gives the lyrics. Some videos show the story of Mary and Joseph and the young child Jesus. A few videos show a young couple, presumably Jewish, wearing period costumes. 

In “Mary’s Song,” we hear her prayer. Here are a few samples.

“Breath of heaven,

Hold me together,

Be forever near me. . .

Lighten my darkness.”

* * * * *

In the lyrics, Mary asks God if he wonders if a wiser one should have had (her) place. Still she says, “

“But I offer all I can

For the mercy of your plan. 

Help me be strong.”

In Job 32:8-9 ESV, we read, 

“But it is the spirit in a man (or, in Mary’s case, a woman)

    The breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand.

It is not the old who are wise,

    Nor the aged who understand what is right.”

Mary was young, but God’s breath and spirit gave her the wisdom to trust in God and follow His lead.