NOTE: Starting today and for the four weeks that follow, i will be posting a total of five short stories surrounding the incarnational birth of Jesus. These stories are fictional first-person accounts of the prophecies and events surrounding the advent of Jesus. Some of the characters and details are fictional, but you will find the truth they convey to be very REAL! My prayer is that, through the telling, you are reminded of the Good News of Advent this Christmas season. To that end, let’s look at the account through the eyes of five very different individuals:

Mary – the virgin (This week – November 18)

Eli – the father of Mary (November 25)

Miriam – the hostess (December 2)

Sarah – the granddaughter of Miriam (December 9)

Levi – the rabbi in Bethlehem (December 16) 

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I am Mary, the Lord’s servant, and I have truly been blessed. 

I was born in the small town of Nazareth in southern Galilee. It is located in the hills a day’s journey westward to the Mediterranean Sea and a day’s journey eastward to the Sea of Galilee. About three hundred people live in our town, so everyone knows everyone else. It is an obscure town; there is no reason for anyone to come visit. There are no Roman palaces or bathhouses or paved streets. As a matter of fact, there are no Romans living here at all.  All our residents are descendants of Abraham.

The town isn’t very old. It was settled about sixty-five years ago when the Hasmonean rulers led our people to expand into the uninhabited regions of the wilderness. The surrounding land is fertile and produces plentiful crops of olives, grapes, and grain. My grandparents’ family was one of the first to move here from Hebron. My grandfather, Matthat, was a carpenter and came here to help construct the cisterns, grain storage facilities, and olive and wine presses needed to support the crops.

My grandfather came from the tribe of Judah and the line of King David. My grandmother came from the priesthood line of Abijah and Aaron. Their son, Eli, followed in his father’s footsteps as a carpenter. He married a beautiful young woman by the name of Abigail. After four years of marriage, God blessed them with a baby girl – me!

My father did not have a son to teach his trade, but he had a daughter who loved to follow him around. I would sometimes hear my mother tell him to be careful that he did not spoil me. But she always did so with a smile and a twinkle in her eye. People tell me that I have my mother’s gentle ways and my father’s determination. But both of my parents continually reminded me that Jehovah God created me for His purpose, and they raised me to walk in His ways – no matter where He leads or how He leads.

My father often worked together with his friend Joseph, who also did not have a son. The two men were similar in age and manner. They were both kind and godly, and I could tell they greatly encouraged one another.

Their bond of friendship was never more obvious than when my mother unexpectantly died when I was nine years old. My father was overcome with grief. My parents had been deeply committed to one another as life partners and best friends. Though they both loved God first and foremost, they loved each other with all of their hearts. It was obvious that part of my father’s heart died with my mother. I saw Joseph do everything he could to encourage my father – as did I.

I became the woman of the house. My grandmother was still living with us, and though she tried to help, she was elderly and limited in what she could do. I worked to maintain my father’s home according to my mother’s standards. And I tried to be strong for him.

Not long after my mother died, we received news that Joseph’s wife, Rebekah, had also passed away. I watched as these two friends lifted each other up in their sorrow and encouraged each other in their continuing journey.

As the years passed, joy returned to both homes – and even, on occasion, laughter. On my fifteenth birthday, my father announced that he had offered my hand in marriage to Joseph. I was surprised he had done so without my knowledge. I always thought I would marry a man much closer to my own age. But Joseph was a kind man, and the idea of marrying him was not displeasing to me. I was more concerned about my father being left alone. Who would take care of him?

My father assured me that he would be fine, and he wanted to make certain that my future was assured. I had now reached an age where it was appropriate for this type of arrangement. But my father told me that Joseph had insisted he would marry me only if that is what I wanted. I promised my father I would pray and seek direction from Jehovah God.

It didn’t take long before I had my answer. I told my father I would marry Joseph with a full heart. It was early December when my father publicly announced our betrothal. The marriage feast would take place in one year.

A few weeks later, I was walking alone in a nearby vineyard on a beautiful, cool day. I was thinking about all the changes the coming year would bring. I wondered what it would be like to be Joseph’s wife. Suddenly, a man appeared out of nowhere in the path ahead of me. I was immediately struck by his appearance. A light was radiating off of him. Though it was a sunny day, his light was not from the sun.

“Greetings, favored woman!” he said. “The Lord is with you!”(1)

I looked around to see if anyone else was nearby. Nazareth was a small town, so I had never been concerned about going for walks in the fields by myself. But this man startled me. I knew everyone in town – and I did not know him! And he didn’t speak like anyone I knew. 

Obviously, he sensed my fear. “Don’t be afraid, Mary!”(2)

I asked myself how he knew my name. 

 “You have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name Him Jesus. He will be called the Son of the Most High.”(3)

As he spoke, a peace came over me, and I knew it was from the Spirit of God. It was the same peace God had given me about marrying Joseph. I knew that before me stood a messenger sent by God. Was he telling me that Joseph and I would one day have a child?

So, I asked the angel, “How can this happen? I am a virgin.”(4)

He replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and He will be called the Son of God.”(5)

The Holy Spirit will come upon me! This will not be Joseph’s child. He will be the Son of God! I was hearing the words, but I didn’t fully comprehend their meaning. It was all so much to take in! A few moments ago, I was walking in a vineyard thinking about my future wedding – and now I was being told that I would bear the Son of God!

The angel closely watched my reaction before he continued. “What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. For the word of God will never fail.”(6)

Elizabeth was pregnant! She is older than my father! This, too, is according to God’s plan! And at that moment, I knew I needed to travel to Hebron to see her.

“I am the Lord’s servant,” I said. “May everything you have said about me come true.”(7)

Then the angel disappeared as suddenly as he had come. As I pondered our conversation, I knew I was not ready to tell my father this news – nor was I ready to tell Joseph.

I returned home and told my father that a messenger had just brought me word that Elizabeth was expecting a child and I needed to go see her. I didn’t know how long I would be there, but I felt I needed to go assist her. My father was so overjoyed for Elizabeth and Zechariah that he never inquired about the messenger. He encouraged me to go with his full blessing.

My father knew of a group of merchants who were preparing to leave for Hebron the following morning. The journey would take about a week. Gratefully, Jehovah God in His sovereignty had already prepared a way for me to make the journey, so I departed the next morning.

As I traveled to Hebron, I kept thinking about how I was going to tell my father … and Joseph. And now, how was I going to tell Elizabeth? Would she believe me when I told her about an angel appearing to me? And would she believe what he had said?

When I arrived at their home, Zechariah was gone. But Elizabeth greeted me. Immediately I saw that she was great with child. And she had the glow of an expectant mother. I was so happy for her.

But I was taken aback when she cried out to me saying, “God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me?”(8)

I didn’t need to worry about what I would say to Elizabeth – she already knew! She continued, “When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what He said.”(9)

I had only been carrying the Son of God for a few days. There was no physical sign that I was pregnant. I had told no one about the angel or what he had said. But Elizabeth knew it all. I doubted that everyone I encountered in the days ahead would know the truth before I told them. And I was sure that not everyone I told in the future would believe me. But for that moment, Elizabeth and I embraced, knowing that God was going before us and He had indeed blessed us greatly!

After we settled in her home, I proceeded to tell her about my encounter with the angel and what he had said. She then told me about Zechariah’s encounter with the angel in the sanctuary of the temple. The angel said their son would be called John and he would prepare the way for the child in my womb. And then she told me the angel’s name was Gabriel.

“Gabriel,” I said, “a messenger from Almighty God! Thank you for telling me his name.”

I stayed with Elizabeth and Zechariah for three months. I tried to help her as much as I could for those last three months of her pregnancy. We rejoiced together throughout that time and knew that God had given us those weeks together.

It was now early April. I was beginning to show – ever so slightly – that I was carrying a child. And I knew I must return to my father and Joseph before it became more obvious. I received word that another caravan was preparing to make its way back toward Nazareth and I knew the time for my departure had arrived. 

It was obvious that the arrival of Elizabeth’s baby was drawing near, but we also knew that I could not delay my return home. So, Elizabeth and I embraced as we said farewell.

All the way home, I continued to ask Jehovah God how He would have me tell my father and Joseph. I knew He would show me. He would not abandon me.

When I arrived home, my father and Joseph were together in my father’s house. They both warmly greeted me and anxiously received my news about Elizabeth, Zechariah, and the baby they were expecting. I told them how the angel Gabriel had come to Zechariah in the sanctuary of the temple. 

They told me they had seen Zechariah in the temple over Passover and how they had discovered he was mute. Now they understood why!

I told them what the angel had said and who the baby was to become – the messenger preparing the way for the One who would also soon arrive. They rejoiced in the news, not only for Zechariah and Elizabeth, but for all mankind. They were hearing the announcement we had hoped to hear all of our lives!

And then I told them about the day Gabriel had appeared to me before I left for Hebron and what he had said. I shared how Elizabeth had greeted me when I arrived in Hebron. I told them what had transpired over the past three months. And I announced that I was carrying the child within me. The Holy Spirit had come upon me and the baby in my womb was now about three months along.

Their excitement about Elizabeth’s news now turned to shock. I was not receiving the same reaction from either one of them that I had received from Elizabeth. I could see they were both trying hard to understand. But they sat there in silence, not even asking a question.

As I came to the end of my account, I said,  

“Oh, how my soul praises the Lord.

How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!

For He took notice of His lowly servant girl, 

and from now on all generations will call me blessed.

For the Mighty One is holy,

and He has done great things for me.

He has helped His servant Israel

and remembered to be merciful.

For He made this promise to our ancestors,

to Abraham and His children forever.”(10)

My father and Joseph looked at each other and then at me. Neither spoke a word. Both got up and walked out of our home, leaving me to stand there alone. As they went outside, they silently walked off in different directions. I turned to my Heavenly Father and prayed.

Little did I know how they would respond. Little did I know how others would respond. Little did I know what the Father had in store for His Son in my womb. But I knew I could trust Him. And I knew I would trust Him!

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This story is excerpted from Little Did We Know. The complete book of twenty-five stories is now available through Amazon in standard print, large print, for your e-reader, and as an audiobook. Click HERE for more information on how you can obtain your copy.

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In multiple instances the dialogue in this story comes directly from Scripture. Whenever i am quoting Scripture, it has been italicized. The Scripture references are as follows:

(1) Luke 1:28

(2) Luke 1:30

(3) Luke 1:30-32

(4) Luke 1:34

(5) Luke 1:35

(6) Luke 1:36-37

(7) Luke 1:38

(8) Luke 1:42-43

(9) Luke 1:44-45

(10)Luke 1:46-49, 54-55

Copyright © 2020 Kenneth A. Winter All rights reserved.

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