From time to time, I suspect we all have our daydreams of what the future may hold - dreams of what we will be doing years from now. Like many teenage girls, the young Israelite Mary probably had her own big dreams. Soon she would be getting married to an upright, godly Jew, just as she had expected since she was a little girl. What Mary didn't know was that God had plans bigger than her big dreams.
When their big plans were overshadowed by God's great purposes, Mary and Joseph showed humility. The well-known pastor and author, C.J. Mahaney, defines humility as "honestly assessing ourselves in light of God's holiness and our sinfulness" (Humility, p. 22). Instead of fighting God's plans, Mary and Joseph freely allowed God's purpose to supersede their hopes and dreams. Mary faced scorn and possible divorce, while Joseph also faced the wounds of local gossip. Moses, Israel's great leader, asked God if He really knew what He was doing. Gideon (and even Mary's relative, Zachariah) asked for proof that what he was told would truly come to pass. But Mary and Joseph never seem to second-guess God's will for them. Their big plans had changed drastically, but never do we see them even think of resisting in any way. As Mary answered the angel, '"I am the Lord’s servant...May it be to me according to your word'" (Luke 1:38). Mary and Joseph viewed themselves as God's servants, and willingly obeyed His will instead of proudly asserting their own will. They truly thought of themselves "in light of God's holiness and our sinfulness," as Mahaney defines humility.
Ultimately, Jesus Christ demonstrated humility. The Son of God was born into the world He created, with a manger as a cradle and a stable as a nursery. The Creator of all lived, ate, and spent time with those He created. While Jesus walked the earth and taught the crowds, the spiritual know-it-alls of the day haughtily complained, '"This man receives sinners and eats with them'" (Luke 15:2). Never did He claim a higher status or a greater honor, though all of creation was at His call.
Christ's whole life - and even His death - was characterized by humility. Legions of angels were at His bidding, yet He served those around Him, "'For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many'" (Mark 10:45). Jesus could rightly claim all possible honors; instead, He gave them up (for a time) to show His love for us. Even though all created things were at His bidding, He humbly gave up His rights for us.
The Christmas account is one we have (hopefully) heard many times. It is a story of hope, joy, love, generosity, mercy, redemption... It's also a story of humility. God came to earth. Christ made Himself a servant, sacrificing His rights for us. Mary and Joseph honored God's will and humbly submitted to His plan. This Christmas may we do the same.
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