I WONDER....

I have been reading the Christmas Story in the book of Luke this week
As I was reading there were some things that I wondered about...
I thought I might ponder them with you.

Mary was alone when the the angel Gabriel came to her to fill her in on the miraculous occurrences God was planning for her life.
"Greetings favored one! The Lord is with you."

I WONDER... if Mary was more surprised at seeing an angel or at the fact that God called her favored?

I would expect what the angel said next couldn't have calmed Mary much, after all she was only around 14 years old and a virgin,
"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."

I WONDER...if at that point Mary even vaguely understood what the angel was telling her, she was to be the mother of the King of Kings.

Mary asks the obvious question,
"How can this be, since I am a virgin?

The angel gets very specific here, " the Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will over shadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God."

Mary knew of the old testament prophesies for the Messiah. The Jews had been waiting for centuries for the Savior..

I WONDER...if Mary thought " Why now? Why me? Why would God choose me?"

Though Mary didn't ask for it,
I WONDER...if the angel sensed Mary might need more confirmation of what he was telling her, so he said,
" and behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age, and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month, For nothing will be impossible with God."

Mary didn't seem to be aware of Elizabeth's pregnancy,

I WONDER... if Mary was surprised at this news, and also reassured that if this was true then truly nothing was impossible for God.
I didn't matter that she was a virgin, or that her aunt was old and gray because God had a plan, and all things are attainable for Him.

I WONDER...if at that point she consciously choose to believe God because I see
she responded with belief and humility,
"behold the bond slave of the Lord, may it be done to me according to your word."
and the angel departed from her.

I WONDER...if when the angel left and the emotion of it all disappeared if she might have thought maybe what she remembered had been said wasn't really said, and she had just been dreaming.

I WONDER...if she thought about telling her mom, or Joseph and getting their response or reassurance.

But instead she rose up and went in a hurry to see her Aunt Elizabeth, to confirm what she had been told.
I WONDER...at such wisdom from one so young.

Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting,
I WONDER....if Elizabeth was surprised at this unexpected visit or at the response of her own unborn son who leaped in her womb.

Filled with the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth responded,
I WONDER... if she cried tears when she said in a loud voice,
"Blessed are you among women, and Blessed is the fruit of your womb."

I WONDER....if Mary thought, the angel was telling the truth my aunt is pregnant, and she knows about me. She understands.

I WONDER...if Mary was relieved at Elizabeth's confirmation when she said.
" and blessed is she who believed that there would be fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord."

I WONDER...if Mary fell on her knees in tears when she spoke these profound words of praise,
"My soul exalts the Lord,
and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
For He has had regard for the humble state of His bond slave,
for behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed.
For the Mighty One has done great things for me;
and holy is His name
And His mercy upon generation after generation,
toward those who fear Him.
He has done mighty things with His arm;
He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts
of their hearts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones,
And has exalted those who were humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent away the rich empty-handed
He has given help to Israel His servant,
In remembrance of His mercy,
as He spoke to our fathers,
To Abraham and his descendants forever."

And Mary stayed with her aunt for about three months, and then returned home.

I WONDER....if these two women, one old and one young, spent many hours talking and
rejoicing over what God was doing in their lives.

I WONDER...if they talked about being pregnant, about the aches and pains,and the labor they both would be facing.

I WONDER....if they discussed their husbands and their responses to the pregnancies. Would Zachery ever speak again? Would God tell Joseph,and how would he respond?

I WONDER... if God used this time they spent together to prepare them for the difficult things they would both face in their future.. ...

I just wonder over some of these things.