Mary ~ Responding to the Unexpected

One minute I was in a crowd watching my older son take part in a Baylor University Homecoming tradition—cleaning the bear pits. The next minute I was falling toward the pump room floor 20 feet away. A student had removed the cover, and when I took a step backward, I fell. How grateful I was that the young man coming up the ladder caught me! Unexpected, to be sure, plus frightening. For Mary, Gabriel’s visit (Luke 1) was also unexpected and frightening.

Unexpected Visits

The angel Gabriel paid an unexpected visit to Zechariah as he enjoyed his once-in-a-lifetime experience offering the daily sacrifice in the temple. When told he and his wife would have a son, elderly Zechariah doubted the angel’s announcement and asked for a sign. 

Six months later, Gabriel made another unexpected visit to someone society deemed unworthy. First-century Jewish culture had little regard for women, as illustrated by these common sayings:

• Blessed be God that he has not made me a woman. (Prayer recommended for daily use—obviously, only for men)
• In case of danger to life, the husband must be saved first unless the wife’s chastity is threatened.
• It is better to burn the Torah than to teach it to a woman.

Mary Faced an Unexpected Choice

Mary lived in Nazareth, an insignificant, Galilean village. She was young, poor, and female—all characteristics that in her culture would seem to make her unusable. Yet God saw her in another light and sent Gabriel to let her know.

“Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

Luke 1:28

God honored Mary despite her low honor status. But Gabriel’s unexpected words, not to mention his presence, troubled and frightened Mary. His next words, however, added shock and confusion to her emotions.

“You will conceive and give birth to a son.”

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

Luke 1:31, 34

Zechariah didn’t believe but Mary didn’t understand. She was the first to question the virgin birth. Although first-century Jews were watching for the Messiah, no one expected a virgin birth. Yet three times Luke mentioned Mary’s virginity (Luke 1:27, 34), emphasizing her purity. 

The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.”

Luke 1:35

The Greek Old Testament uses the word “overshadow” to describe the Spirit of God hovering over the face of the waters in creation.

Mary Gave the Expected Response

Mary’s response to Gabriel’s announcement was born in her perception of Israel’s relationship with God. And Israel defined their relationship with Yahweh using the language of patronage.

When God called Abram (Genesis 12:1-3), he offered to be Abram’s patron. The covenant at Mt. Sinai (Exodus 19-20) established a patronage relationship between Yahweh and Israel. Jayson Georges, author of Ministering in a Patronage Culture, states, “Patronage … is a reciprocal relationship between a patron and a client.” As patron, God committed to protect and provide for his people. As client, Israel promised to honor God with obedience and allegiance. Loyalty and love (ḥesed*) defined the relationship. Breaking the covenant would bring shame to both parties.

Despite the sacrifice required to bear the Messiah, Mary gave the expected response. Her reaction to Gabriel’s announcement changed her life and ours.

“I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.”

Luke 1:38

Refusing would have meant both she and God would lose face. A faithful client honored her patron’s request, even at personal cost, out of gratitude for the patron’s past and future blessings.

What Does God Expect of Us?

The New Testament description of salvation reflects the language, concepts, and mutual responsibilities of patronage. God acted through Jesus to restore his honor, reconcile our relationship with him, and offer his patronage to humans. Those who accept become his faithful, obedient clients/followers. Because of his loyal love (ḥesed), our divine patron expects us to let Jesus live in and through our lives both in what we say and what we do. Will we respond like Mary as loyal, loving followers, “I am the Lord’s servant; let his word be fulfilled in me”? When the unexpected happens, we can trust our faithful patron’s abiding presence and provision. We don’t know whose life may change because of our faithfulness.

*Ḥesed: covenant love that is steadfast, loyal, and expresses itself in action