THE FAITH OF MARY

Luke 1:26-38

Dr. Wm. J. Maxwell

First Presbyterian Church, Newport, RI

December 16, 2007

As we look at the subject of faith found in the people of the “Christmas Story,” there is not perhaps a faith more impressive than that of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Yes, we need to recall that Scripture never portrays Mary as an absolutely perfect and flawless individual. No human being is, and that includes the mother of our Lord who was a sinner in need of redemption, just as we are. But in the passage before us, at the time of the annunciation, Mary displayed such an exemplary faith. She exercised her faith in such a way that her faith can become a model for us, as elements of Mary’s faith can be applied to the exercise of our own faith.

THE FIRST LESSON:

FAITH NEVER MEANS ABANDONING

OUR MIND OR OUR INTELLECT.

Some people say that one must discard sound reason to be a Christian. They feel that Christians are but naïve and simple minded people. But this is simply not true, as exemplified in the life and witness of Mary.

When Gabriel approached Mary, he greeted her as one “highly favored” by God. Now, she was taken aback by this angelic visitation and with such an amazing greeting. We’re told: “Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.” She was greatly disturbed and perplexed, but she was also seeking to understand. The verb translated as “wondered” means to ponder, to reason, and can even mean to discuss. In fact, we get the English word “dialogue” from the Greek word that is used here. So, clearly, Mary’s mind was at work as she exercised her faith.

As Christians, we need not accept the undue denigration that Christians are credulous people. Fighting this notion in his book, Your Mind Matters, John R.W. Stott has written:

Faith is not credulity. H.L. Mencken, the American anti-supernaturalist critic of Christianity, once said that ‘faith may be defined briefly as an illogical belief in the occurrence of the improbable.’ But Mencken was wrong. Faith is not credulity. To be credulous is to be gullible, to be entirely uncritical, undiscerning and even unreasonable in one’s beliefs. But it is a great mistake to suppose that faith and reason are incompatible. Faith and sight are set in opposition to each other in Scripture, but not faith and reason. On the contrary, true faith is essentially reasonable because it trusts in the character and promises of God. A believing Christian is one whose mind reflects and rests on these certitudes. [i]

As an example, I think of Michael Faraday, the great English chemist and physicist, who was a man of great intellect and also a man of great faith. Faraday contributed to the fields of electromagnetism and electrochemistry. His inventions were many, including forming the foundations of electric motor technology and the discovery of Benzene. But this gifted man of great intelligence was also a Christian. At the age of 75, when Faraday lay dying, he was asked, “What are your speculations?” Faraday replied without hesitation: “Speculations? I have none. I rest my soul on certainties!”

SO, FAITH INVOLVES THE MIND,

and THUS WE AREN’T AFRAID TO ASK QUESTIONS,

OR TO ACCEPT DEFINITIVE ANSWERS.

Looking again at Mary, it was announced to her that she would become the mother of the Messiah. The description of this child and of what He would become was absolutely staggering! He would be called “Jesus” and “the Son of the Most High;” He would reign forever, and His kingdom would never end.

Now, Mary followed this amazing announcement with an appropriate question: “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” She had remained sexually pure, so how could this come to pass? In short order, Mary got her answer from the angel Gabriel: “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.” Mary asked a very good question, and she also got a very good answer!

When it comes to asking God questions, we must never fear that God will become angry if we do. We must never fear that, should we dare to ask God a question, a thunderbolt will soon strike at our heels! God is not afraid of our questions at all, and numerous references in the Bible support this. Look at so many of the Psalms, or at Paul and his thorn in the flesh, or at Job.

As a Christian individual as well as a pastor, I’ve had many questions for God. Some of them, in the process of time, have been answered definitively. As for others, I have learned that I must wait - either in this life, or for the day of eternity when He will make all things plain.

On my own journey of faith, I’ve often turned to the wisdom of one who knew many a “dark night of the soul.” William Cowper experienced many hardships and deep valleys, and his questions were not always answered, though some of them were. Nonetheless, Cowper trusted in the Lord, and he believed and wrote poetically of this journey – of the good and yet mysterious providential working of God:

“Deep in unfathomable mines

Of never-failing skill,

He treasures up His bright designs

And works His sovereign will.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,

But trust Him for His grace;

Behind a frowning providence

He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,

Unfolding every hour;

The bud may have a bitter taste,

But sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err,

And scan His work in vain;

God is His own interpreter,

And He will make it plain.” [ii]

Yes, we can ask the questions. And in time – God’s time – He will make it all plain to us.

III

FAITH, AS SEEN IN MARY,

ALSO WELCOMES A FAITH-BUILDING EXAMPLE

and A FAITH BUILDING WORD.

When the angel spoke to Mary of what would happen, he also gave her both an example and a promise to build up the young woman’s faith. First of all, Gabriel gave an example of the wonder-working power of God – “Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month.” The case of Elizabeth was mentioned to inspire Mary with confidence. She could have the assurance that God is not limited to “the natural” or “the probable” in the way that He works out His plans and His purposes.

Then came the promise, the word that reassured her and emboldened her faith even more: “For nothing is impossible with God.” Mary received that example and that word of promise and as a result, she was willing to continue on that journey of faith.

Likewise, if we are to continue on our journey, we need to be sure that we are “standing on the promises,” because the Lord cannot be anything but true to His promises. We can also look to examples of those who have been transformed and sustained by God’s amazing grace and unlimited power.

Recently, I came across the story of the “Survivor Tree.” This tree is an 80-year-old American elm that can be found in Oklahoma City, OK. No tree in the city is as equally cherished and treasured as this one. People love to have their pictures next to this tree and arborists are diligent to preserve it. The reason for such attraction and appreciation lays not so much in its beauty as in its endurance. This tree was only yards away when Timothy McVeigh’s hatred vented in the destruction of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building., killing 168 people and wounding 850. This tree was buried in rubble and it appeared to be devoid of all life, until in the passing of time, buds appeared, new sprouts emerged and then green leaves, and this tree was christened the “Survivor Tree” by a city needing a symbol of resilience and resurrection.

If you and I look carefully enough, we can find several “Survivor Trees,” only they are not American elms, they are Christians. They show us by example that God is able to sustain and care for His own, keeping them on the journey, and bringing forth a wonderful testimony. We need only look and take notice, and find our own faith renewed and revitalized.

IV

LASTLY, FAITH AS SEEN IN MARY,

WILL ALWAYS INCLUDE OBEDIENCE.

When all was said to Mary, she responded in a most commendable way: “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Mary used the language of a slave, a servant, a bondservant, to indicate the attitude of her own mind and heart. Now, Nazareth was a small village in her day, having only one spring to supply fresh water for everyone. People would surely begin to whisper, then talk openly, then criticize and ridicule and condemn Mary. Joseph would wonder, question, and then feel the pain only a beloved could feel. And as for her parents and friends – would they all forsake her, abandon her, refusing to believe her story as well?

But we are never told that Mary faltered in her obedience, eventually marrying Joseph and giving birth to Jesus. No, the citizens of Nazareth did not stone Mary or exclude her from living there. But, as the Gospels testify, they did have a difficult time accepting Jesus as the Messiah.[iii] Nevertheless, she remained obedient to the call and purposes of God for her. And today, as we all know, she has been vindicated. And what of that spring? It is known today as “Mary’s Well.” [iv]

“Trust and obey, for there’s no other way,” as the hymn goes. No, it’s not always easy. Sometimes it’s a hard road to take. But it’s the best road to take when taking a journey of faith, a journey of faith in a God for whom nothing is impossible!