Luke 1: 26-38
The Birth of Jesus Foretold
In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you.”
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him 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 Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on 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. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.”
“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
This is where the nativity scene starts for many - the angel appearing to Mary. Immediately I have a picture of all the nativity plays I have ever been to, with a little (usually) blonde Mary with her mothers best blue pillow case tied around her head.
This encounter with an angel is so different from yesterday's with Zachariah. Although Mary is surprised and troubled, she isn't terrified. She knows she hasn't done anything wrong but all the same she is alarmed at the encounter and probably a bit surprised that a strange man is talking to her. Not the done thing.
Her reaction is the same as Zachariah, but she doesn't get struck dumb but the angel. I suppose this isn't an answer to prayer as it was with Elizabeth. She isn't challenging God's power. She is just querying the logistics. She is a virgin. At least Elizabeth and Zachariah were sharing the marital bed. She may be innocent, but I'm sure she knew that you didn't just fall pregnant at a random moment.
Gabriel explains it to her and then she accepts it. Without hesitation, without whining about her reputation, without argument. She graciously accepts her future. How would I have done? I guess Gabriel and I would still be arguing about it now! Although he would have taken away my power of speech in desperation! I am challenged by Mary's acceptance and obedience. This was a big, BIG thing she was taking on, and she did it in humility. I pray that I might accept God's future for me with such grace.
Her reaction is the same as Zachariah, but she doesn't get struck dumb but the angel. I suppose this isn't an answer to prayer as it was with Elizabeth. She isn't challenging God's power. She is just querying the logistics. She is a virgin. At least Elizabeth and Zachariah were sharing the marital bed. She may be innocent, but I'm sure she knew that you didn't just fall pregnant at a random moment.
Gabriel explains it to her and then she accepts it. Without hesitation, without whining about her reputation, without argument. She graciously accepts her future. How would I have done? I guess Gabriel and I would still be arguing about it now! Although he would have taken away my power of speech in desperation! I am challenged by Mary's acceptance and obedience. This was a big, BIG thing she was taking on, and she did it in humility. I pray that I might accept God's future for me with such grace.
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