Luke 1:38 Commentary and Bible Study

Mary acquiesces in all that she is told. It is rapid, it is immediate: there is no lingering resistance or doubt, but she happily accepts what she has been told as authoritative and trustworthy. It does not trouble her that much remains beyond her understanding, for nothing is beyond the understanding of God who has told her these things. May God help us to accept his word as Mary did, and to find peace in that acceptance.‘Behold the handmaid of the Lord’ – an expression of her total submission to the divine will. She is convinced that whatever God wishes to do with her is for the best. She will be like a lowly servant before the Lord, taking instructions from him, and carrying them out promptly and eagerly. He may ask her to do anything and she will comply fully. That is her pleasure: to be a willing servant to one who understands far better than she does, what needs to be done. She trusts the wisdom of God – ‘be it unto me according to thy word.’ Whatever God determines is for the best, and so whether it seems hard or straightforward, she will go ahead with it. Now that she has understood enough to be sure of what God will do, she eagerly awaits the outcome. God has wonderful things in store for her, and she now does not want anything else to take place. She will fix her mind on all the other things that the angel Gabriel has said, and explore the wonder of them. She will have a child and will name him Jesus. This child will be the fulfilment of the many promises given through the prophets, and will reign from the throne of David, and will even be called the Son of God. Faith clears the way for meditation on all the wonderful things that God is going to give his people. The message is complete, and Gabriel returns to heaven, his mission completed.