The First Christian

Luke 1:26–38

The story of Gabriel visiting Mary gives us the first full announcement of the good news. It tells us about the coming baby Jesus who will bring us salvation. Gabriel’s message about the child who will live eternally, who is God’s own, and who is also completely vulnerable, is met by Mary with a mix of doubt and acceptance. This teaches us how we should accept the good news. By understanding God’s love and His own vulnerability, we can accept our own, and this helps us to face difficulties and our own limits.

1. Healthy Doubt

Despite what some might think, having faith doesn’t mean we can’t question or think deeply about things. This is shown by Mary’s careful response to Gabriel’s message. The Bible tells us that belief can involve both our feelings and our thoughts, and that doubt is a normal part of faith when it’s used to seek the truth, not just to keep control. This tells us that people in biblical times were just as smart and curious as we are today, and they had their own struggles with belief too.

2. Careful Surrender

Mary’s decision to accept her special role from God, even though it could cause her trouble in society, shows us how important it is to give up control and trust in God’s plan. Her humility and surrender is a powerful lesson for us to give up our own wants and follow God’s will, even when we don’t know where it will lead. This story encourages us to live a life of surrender to God’s will, just like Mary showed us with her faith and humility.