An Ordinary Girl  "[26] In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, [27] to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. [28] The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." [29] Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. [30] But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. [31] You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. [32] He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, [33] and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." [34] "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" [35] The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. [36] Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. [37] For nothing is impossible with God." [38] "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her. Luke 1: 26 - 38 ""Imagine you are an ordinary teenage girl, a virgin set to marry a handsome guy who you've been betrothed to. In Jewish culture there was a period of time before the consummation of a marriage when the couple was considered husband and wife but did not live together. This is called betrothal and is a much stronger relationship that the relationship we know as engagement. So, technically this was a married couple. What would you do when suddenly an angel appears before you and tells you these words: "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." What would you do with such a profound announcement? Would you be afraid? Mary was. Would you ask questions? Mary did. In verses 28-31 Gabriel told Mary something about herself in relation to God. She had found grace or favor with God. God had bestowed a special honor on her. She was a special recipient of His grace. In verses 32-33 the angel predicted five things about Mary's Son. 1. He will be great. 2. He will be called the Son of the Most High 3. He will be given the throne of His father David. 4. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. 5. His kingdom will never end. In verses 34-38 Mary was surprised about something. Mary wasn't surprised that the Messiah was to come. Rather she was surprised that she would be His mother, since she was a virgin. The angel did not rebuke her as he had Zechariah in verse 20 indicating that Mary did not doubt the angel's words to her, but that she merely wanted to know how such an event would be accomplished. Gabriel then explained to her that the Holy Spirit would creatively bring about this physical conception of Jesus. This miraculous conception and virgin birth was necessary because of Jesus' deity and preexistence. (See Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; Galatians 4:4) Mary never faltered in this moment with the angel Gabriel. She became afraid and asked questions, but he comforted her with his answers. Mary gave a servant's answer to all she had been told. She said she was the Lord's servant and that whatever God wanted for her life she would willingly accept, and even desire. How much more should we be like this ordinary girl from Israel. She was given special grace from God to perform His will for her. We are also given grace to perform God's will in our lives. May we be as Mary was and say "May it be to me as you have said"   © 1997 Michael's Hope Ministries. All Rights Reserved. |