Most of us struggle with the ethical implications of knowing a scriptural stated value of God. Example: "Love your enemy" (Matthew 5:43-48). What does that mean? Does that include my wife when she sues me for a divorce? Does that include my husband when he abuses me? Does that include a teenage child when he or she is addicted to drugs, or to alcohol, or to both? Does that include war? Does that include a man or woman acting in ungodly ways in the church? How do I show love in each situation? Did that mean something then that is different now? Is the example to be seen in Jesus' dying on the cross?
Remember, these questions only illustrate the challenge/struggle. They are neither the lesson or the point. They just illustrate the difficulty of putting some values from God into practice in "real life" situations. Do not use this class time seeking an answer to these questions.
What about letting your light shine (Matthew 5:16)? Does that apply to my work when I want to "fit in" on the line? What am I to do then? What am I to do in a meeting when people tell or laugh at ungodly jokes? How do I do it? What do I do when I hear racial slurs? What do I do if the person does not know what he/she said is a racial slur?
Again, remember these questions are only an illustration of the challege/struggle. Do not spend this class period seeking to answer these questions. They are not this class's point.
We could illustrate the challenges in numerous ways. It is one thing to have hypothetical Sunday class discussions in the "safe" environment of believers in Jesus Christ. It is quite another matter when I am in the "real world" environment. The issue is commonly the same: When a Christian is serious about his/her spiritual commitment, what should he/she do when he/she finds himself/herself in an ungodly situation?
Make certain your student's understand the difference in the challenges of a Bible class discussion and the implementation of one of God's values in an ungodly situation.
The situation is real and great when we know the godly value. Isn't it likely it would be even greater when we are forced to deal with the unexpected and unknown?
A hypothetical discussion in the friendly environment of a Christian discussion should be in distinct contrast with implementing a godly value in an ungodly environment. The difficulty increases when a Christian deals with the unexpected and unknown. It is one thing to decide how I should act if a known situation occurs as I anticipate, but quite another when something completely unthought of happens.
One of Mary's admirable qualities was her reaction to the unexpected. She did NOT say this prayer: "Lord, I will do what You want as long as (a) I clearly know what You expect before You make Your request. (b) Your request seems reasonable and sensible to me."
Too often we restrict God's use of us to what we consider reasonable and sensible. Too often our willingness to obey God involves our evaluation of God's request. Too often we demand God's instructions fit our expectations.
When God sends His messenger (Gabriel) to Mary, she is likely a teenager, engaged, and quite aware of how women get pregnant. Note two things. (1) Gabriel's greeting distressed her. He called her "favored one" or "richly blessed woman." He said, "The Lord IS (or BE) with you." She thought, "Why would an angel refer to me in that way?" This greeting caused her significant anxiety. She found the statements confusing. If God sent you a compliment, and He had never said anything to you previously, would not such a compliment trouble you?
Help your students see that Mary's concern focused on the greetings of the angel rather than the fact she saw an angel. She was concerned about what the greeting meant. How did this refer to her? Could it be that she felt she was not worthy of such a greeting?
(2) Gabriel told her she had no reason to be afraid. Easy for Gabriel to say! Considering what he told her and the possible consequences involved (see Deuteronomy 22:23-27), that would almost seem to be an arrogant reassurance! If ever a person might feel "setup," this would be the occasion. From a human perspective, Gabriel had the audacity to suggest that what he was about to tell Mary was a blessing from God. Not many engaged Jewish people would regard Gabriel's message as a blessing! Not many Christians of today would regard Gabriel's message as a blessing!
Looking back, we would not regard the angel's messages as a source of blessing. With the potential for personal disaster--please read Deuteronomy 22:23-27--it is difficult for us to classify what the angel said as blessing. Try to have your class imagine Mary's position when she heard these messages.
Message one: You are pregnant. I know you are about to marry. I cannot yet tell you what your intended husband's reaction will be. He most assuredly knows this is not his child.
For any engaged woman, notification of pregnancy is not good. It is worse if you are from a family of high moral commitment. It is worse to a greater extent if the child is not your fiance's child.
Message two: Your child will be a son, and you are to name him Jesus. He will be an unusual person. He will be called God's Son. He will fulfill the promise God made to King David (see 2 Samuel 7:13-16). He will rule over a kingdom that is permanent.
Few women want the responsibility of being the mother of a special child. To be the mother of a special child and be a single mother must be especially frightening.
Today we might say, "Great! First, you tell me I am pregnant with a child who is not my fiance's. Second, you tell me this is a special child. And I am supposed to say this is a blessing?" Today, in the church, most of us would regard that as very bad news!
To most of us, this would be disastrous news, not good news. It would be filled with more questions than reasons for joy. If that is true for us in our permissive society, how much more true would it be for Mary 2000 years ago in a closed, structured society?
To make matters worse, Mary knew what Gabriel said was physically impossible. She was a virgin, and she knew she was virgin. She knew how pregnancy occurred. With her physical state of being a virgin, and with her knowledge of how children occur, she knew what Gabriel said simply was not possible. Thus, she asked how this could possibly be true.
The fact that the core of the news was physically impossible (pregnancies did not inexplicably happen) would make it more difficult to accept. That would make it all the more difficult to regard the event as "good news." Be certain your students understand the miracle of the pregnancy was in the conception, not in the pregnancy or the birth.
From Gabriel's response, it sounds as if the pregnancy had not occurred yet. Basically, she was told it was possible because it would occur through the intent of God. Because it would occur through the intend of God, the son born would be called the Son of God.
It would occur because God made it occur. It was not a sexual event.
Right! So she would tell her parents that she was pregnant because God made it happen. And that is what she would tell her friends. And that is what she would tell her fiance. And all of them would say, "Okay, if you say so." Right! As if no one knew how a pregnancy occurred? Gabriel's explanation: "Nothing is impossible with God." It would happen because God willed it to happen.
Mary's explanation of her pregnancy would present real problems for her. Would you believe such an explanation?
Mary's mind could have raced into instant overdrive. "How will I ever support this child? What will my fiance say and do? What will my parents say and do? Will I ever have another chance to marry? Who would want us?"
Our anxiety at such moments commonly cause us to focus on the imagined "what ifs."
She could have reacted in that way. Instead, she said: "I am the Lord's slave. Be it done to me according to your word." "My parents may not believe me. My fiance may reject me (that was his initial intent--see Matthew 1:19). I may be an outcast among my people, or even subject to death. However, if this is the way the Lord wishes to use me, let Him use me to serve His purposes." What an incredible attitude!
Mary's initial reaction: "I am God's slave. If He can use my life to fulfill His purposes, it is fine with me." Her focus was on God's purpose, not on her potential difficulty.
For Thought And Discussion
The two examples given focus on loving an enemy and letting your light shine.
When a Christian is serious about his/her spiritual commitment, what should he/she do when he/she finds himself/herself in an ungodly situation?
It is likely even greater when a godly person must deal with the unexpected and unknown.
"Lord, I will do what You want me to do as long as (a) I clearly understand what You expect of me before You make Your request. (b) Your request must seem reasonable and sensible to me."
She was likely a teenager (the common marrying age then), engaged (most marriages were arranged by the family), and knew how pregnancy occurred.
Gabriel's greeting disturbed her. Gabriel said she had no reason to be afraid.
The first: You are pregnant. The second: Your son will be a special child.
Today, we might receive both as horrible news.
Mary knew she was a virgin. God would make her pregnancy happen.
"I am God's slave. Be it done to me according to your word." Her attitude is incredible! God's purpose is more important than my convenience.
Link to Student Guide
Lesson 2