The Birth of Christ Announced to Mary (Luke 1:26-38)

An angel named Gabriel was sent by God on a special mission. The place: a city called Nazareth. His mission: to tell a young betrothed virgin woman that she was going to have a baby. This wasn’t the usual job for an angel but this was certainly no ordinary birth. Was it mission accomplished? You decide. Here is what happened:

Gabriel appeared to Mary and said, ““Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”

Mary responded with characteristic fear. It’s not easy to have a heavenly messenger suddenly appear.

Gabriel sought to assure her of the nature of his quest: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”

Confused, a bit overwhelmed, Mary responded: “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”

Mary understood that the conception was to be immediate yet she was still a virgin. Joseph and Mary were obedient to the Law of Moses and the traditions of their people.

Though Gabriel did not understand her confusion being an angel, he continued with the remarks that the Lord had given him. Everything that God said was going to happen did, just as he said it. Her exact words, her confusion, her need to know more.

Continuing, Gabriel stated, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing will be impossible.”

And just as God had assured Gabriel, Mary’s questions ended and she embraced the will of the Lord for her.

She stated, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.”

And the angel Gabriel departed from her.

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