Stories travel fast in small towns. “She says she’s still a virgin,” they clucked. “Come now, who is going to believe that?” Even Joseph, her betrothed, didn’t believe it until an angel paid him a visit.
Mary knew the truth from the beginning. But few others did.
Jesus came to earth on a day like any other and no one took notice except a few shepherds. What a mysterious and odd way for God to visit us. Why not a grand entrance to prove His existence? The religious scholars missed His entrance through the womb of a virgin girl.
When He told people who He was and where He came from, they couldn’t believe it. “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph whose father and mother we know? How can he now say I came down from heaven?” (John 6:42) His own brothers did not believe Him and said, “He’s out of His mind.” (Mark 3:21).
Then they put Him on a cross. They shook their heads and said, “if you’re really Him, come down and then we’ll believe in you” (Mark 15:32). Mary’s heart was pierced as she watched Him die.
And three days later, some of those people in that small town saw the truth for themselves. Finally they believed what Mary knew all along.
Would you and I have believed if we’d been there?
Father we know that with You all things are possible. Help us to believe the impossible. May we trust that Your purposes for us go far beyond what we can see in this life. Amen.
Go Deeper — Be open to God’s requests in your life even when they might not make sense.
Photo Credit: Ben White