Now the two things that Jesus demonstrated so unequivocally for us our relinquishment and acceptance when he went to the cross.

He gave up all rights when he came into this world as a helpless baby and he relinquished all to the father and he prayed in getsemai, not my will, but thine be done. And that should

be the note of our lives.

Similar to that of Mary, when Mary received that visitor telling her that she was to be the

mother of the son of God, Mary's response was an instant one of total relinquishment of her own plans.

How could she possibly imagine trying to explain to Joseph that she had not been unfaithful to him.

And as you recall in the story,

Joseph did believe that she had been unfaithful

because the Bible says that he being a righteous man was going to put her away private. faithful because of

the Bible says that he being a righteous man was going to put her away privately because of course in Jewish

law he could not marry a fornicator.

How would she explain to the people in the town? How would she explain to her parents, her pregnancy?

But we find not a word of self-defense on Mary's part, God took care of explaining to Joseph. He sent an angel to make that clear. But Mary relinquished her plans.

You can imagine, we can only try to imagine the shock of having that kind of a visitor

and that kind of an announcement through all of life toward Christ.

Opened her hands.

And that should be our attitude through all of life toward Christ.

Open hands.

Let him go of what God wants to take and receiving what God wants to give.

And we cannot receive what he wants to give until we have let go of what he wants to take.

So relinquishment and acceptance are the great principles of the cross.

Now look at the demands of the incarnation.

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