Luke 1:1-7
The Purpose of the Gospel Unfolds
Luke 1:8-17
Gabriel Announces John’s Birth
Luke 1:18-25
Zacharias is Unable to Speak
Luke 1:26-38
Christ’s Birth is Announced
Luke 1:39-56
Mary Visits Elizabeth
Luke 1:57-66
Elizabeth Gives Birth to John
Luke 1:67-80
Zachariah Prophesies of John’s Ministry
Luke 2:15-20
The Shepherds Visit Jesus
Luke 2:21-24
Jesus is Circumcised
Luke 2:39-52
Jesus Celebrates the Passover
Luke 3:1-14
The Message of John
Luke 3:15-22
The Imprisonment of John
Luke 3:23-38
The Genealogy of Jesus
Luke 4:1-13
The Temptation of Christ
Luke 4:14-21
Jesus is Rejected at Nazareth
Luke 4:22-30
Jesus Makes Three Important Announcements
Christ’s Birth is Announced
Luke 1:26–38
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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 (English Standard Version)
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