![]() It is incredible and wonderful that God chose to mark time of His Son's earthcoming using an elderly woman's pregnancy: "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 favored! The Lord is with you," [Luke 1:26-28]. It is equally incredible and wonderful that Gabriel addressed young Mary, whom biblical scholars estimate to be about 12 years old, as "you who are highly favored." Mary joined the ranks of Abel, who had God's favor because he righteously chose the first fruits of his flock, and of Noah, who had God's favor because he righteously walked with God even in the midst of a storm of sin around him. Mary, a young woman, engaged to a righteous man named Joseph -- both of whom were descendants of David, who also had God's favor. Mary, with the mighty archangel Gabriel standing before her, was "troubled" at his words, Scripture said, even going so far as stating that Mary "wondered what kind of greeting this might be," [v. 29]. God shows up in our lives and we wonder what in the world is He up to. Eighteen months ago, I prayed that God would allow me to go on a mission trip. I was thinking the Appalachian mountains, Florida, or somewhere else that was a day's drive away. Then, to my shock and awe, God revealed rather suddenly, "Africa." Africa is most decidedly not a day's drive away...I wondered very much what kind of greeting that was, when God very clearly said "Africa" -- then proceeded to provide the funds for the trip. That African mission trip changed my life, blessings upon blessings, and I give all the glory to God for the 45 children who accepted Christ as their Savior on that trip. Mary, though, was about to embark on a once-in-humanity adventure, as Gabriel explained to her, "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," [v. 31-33]. As she stood there, the thoughts through her head must have been like a waterfall of emotions... Conceive. Virgin. Son. Jesus. The Messiah whom she had heard about all her life, the Savior of her nation, this Wonderful, Counselor, Almighty God, Prince of Peace....she was to conceive and bear this Child, and give Him the name Jesus. Jesus. A thousand years' longing for the Messiah and finally His Name crosses angelic lips and into the ears of the first human to hear His name, and it's His mother's ears who hears her Savior's name first...Jesus. Mary then gathers her courage and showcases the righteousness and faith that made God smile upon her: “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” This question was not like Zechariah's question, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” His question asked for proof; Mary's question was one of logistics, since she was not just a virgin, but an engaged virgin. She knew the Law and the ramifications of a pregnancy out of wedlock. Yet, she trusted God. Everything that was taught to her about the Law seemed to scream against this, but what could she do? She, Mary, was highly favored by the Lord God of Hosts. “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” She humbled herself, answered in the words and tone of a servant, and accepted the Word as fulfilled to her. And God smiled. In Jesus' Name, Terrie (c) 2014 For Reflection: Read Isaiah 7:14. What does "Immanuel" mean? Gabriel mentioned Elizabeth to Mary in Luke 1:35-37. How was this reassuring to Mary?
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