Christ’s Birth is Announced
September 4, 2022
Commentary
Gabriel is used again to declare glad tidings (v.26). When Elisabeth was in her sixth month of pregnancy God sends His angel to a virgin by the name of Mary in the town of Nazareth. Mary had not yet had sexual contact with any man. She was engaged to be married to a man by the name of Joseph (v. 27). She was a young, poor female, all characteristics that would make her seem unusable by God for any major task. But God choose Mary for one of the most important acts of obedience He has ever demanded of anyone. You could think that your ability, experience or education makes you an unlikely candidate for God’s service. We should never limit God’s choices. He can and will use us if we will trust Him.
In Jewish culture, at that time, a man and woman were pledged or engaged to each other for a period of time before the actual marriage (vv. 28-33). The engagement period was much more binding than an engagement period today, for the two were considered husband and wife except that they did not live together until after the wedding.
When Mary is told that she is going to give birth to Jesus she does not express any doubt, as did Zacharias. She merely wanted to know how such an event would be accomplished in view of the fact that she has had no relationship with a man (vv. 34-38). When the angel explains that the miracle will be accomplished through the divine power of the Holy Spirit, Mary meekly and submissively agrees to the Lord’s will for her life. Of course she must have realized that this would cause her embarrassment and misunderstanding.
Application
Just think of what it would have been like for Mary to tell Joseph,"I’m pregnant by the Holy Spirit." I’m sure I would have had lots of questions and I’m not sure what I would have said or done.
Luke 1:26– 38 (NET)
26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, a descendant of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled by his words and began to wonder about the meaning of this greeting. 30 So the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God! 31 Listen: You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will never end.” 34 Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I have not been intimate with a man?” 35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called the Son of God.
36 “And look, your relative Elizabeth has also become pregnant with a son in her old age—although she was called barren, she is now in her sixth month! 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 So Mary said, “Yes, I am a servant of the Lord; let this happen to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.