Surprise to Surrender

Young Mary sat at home, excited at the prospect of marriage, and then fell back in instant shock as an angel exploded through the door of her kitchen. The pots clattered to the floor and the dog skipped away yelping. The angel told her she would be pregnant with God”s Son.

Amid the shock, she humbly uttered, “I am the Lord”s servant. . . . May your word to me be fulfilled”” (Luke 1:38). A teenage girl who was about to face ridicule, maybe a stoning death, allowed her surprise to become surrender.

Soon she went to visit Elizabeth, who was married to a priest. Elizabeth was pregnant and was thrilled at the possibility that God would use her for a great kingdom enterprise. As Mary rushed to see her, Elizabeth noted a special glow in the girl”s smile and felt the baby inside her kick hard as Mary squealed Elizabeth”s name.

Her smile became surprise as Mary recounted that an angel had come to her; Mary was the chosen one and would give birth to God”s son! Elizabeth said, “Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (Luke 1:43). The wife of a priest could have been jealous, yet her surprise turned immediately to surrender.

Some of the poor shepherds told jokes around the evening fire. They finally slept as the last embers faded beneath the brewing coffee. Suddenly a shout came from the clear night sky! They awoke, wiped the sleep from their tired eyes, and stood, ready to ward off invaders.

Yet there were no wolves or robbers. Instead, above them shown a majestic light and crowds of angels. The figures tried to calm the surprised shepherds, but it was impossible. The heavens had chosen to shine upon the humble! The shepherds” first response was to take action, saying, “Let”s go to Bethlehem and see this thing” (Luke 2:15). Men who were cultural outcasts and part of the social undercurrent chose to surrender to God”s plan.

A handful of wise sages and philosophers from the east had seen a special star or cosmic occurrence in the sky. They sat surprised, for they had read the testaments of great prophets and knew this might well signal the long-awaited King of Israel! That night as they packed away their telescope, one suggested that the star should be followed. They agreed that the journey would be difficult but justified.

After saying goodbye to family, hugging kids, and finalizing investment plans, they left Persia to begin the dangerous 900-mile trek west. Upon arrival, they saw the young King and knelt before him in surrender (see Matthew 2:11).

What a transformative list of real people who became world-changing personalities! Each dealt with the birth of King Jesus his own way, allowing surprise to become surrender.

What then of evil King Herod, who instead moved to destroy the baby Messiah? Surprise did not become surrender, but slaughter. By his actions, Herod eternally marked his place in history books as one of inhumane corruption!

Why is it Christmas can be so good for some and so hard for others? Am I prone to be a Mary? Elizabeth? Herod? The answer is likely surrender. Mary surrendered to possible suffering, Elizabeth surrendered to second place, the shepherds to simple obedience, and the Magi to security.

Our Surrender

Our response to Jesus” birth determines our Christmas story.

I remember our son”s second Christmas. We walked into a large toy store as a family. I figured at 2 years of age, he would be pumped to play with massive balls, action heroes, and electric cars.

Instead, he stopped at the entrance, grabbed a tube of wrapping paper, and spent 30 minutes playing with the cardboard roll. Inside this gigantic store of wonder, he never even made it past the thin veneer that would cover the gifts themselves.

Maybe his Christmas experience is similar to our own. We could walk into the mall of God”s wonder, stopping to peruse the heavenly gifts of privilege. But instead we sit at the entrance, entranced and utterly focused on the thin worldly veneer that keeps us from the glory inside.

Tony Wood is teaching pastor for Moment Christian Church in Irvine, California.