If Matthew were writing this section, he would be all over this with the fulfillments. But it is Luke, and he is more concerned with the nature of the women, the poor, the outcast, the lonely. Likely as he was a doctor and saw these things.
Elizabeth in another town was 6 months miraculously pregnant. And now Gabriel, the same angel who had the joy of delivering the announcement to Zechariah that they would become pregnant, gets the privilege of doing this again. This time with Mary.
Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph who was a descendant of David. This was to fulfill the promise that the son of David would sit on David’s throne forever.
When Gabriel came to her, he said to her she was highly favored and the Lord was with her. Mary really didn’t know how to take that. Angels are already scary enough. The angel spoke and again said she was highly favored before God, and not to be afraid.
Then he said scary things.
- She would have a son (Isaiah 9:6)
- He would be called the Son of the Most High (Isaiah 9:6-7)
- He will be the King on his father David’s throne (Psalms 132:11, Psalm 89:3-4, 2Samuel 7:12-13, Isaiah 9:6-7
- He will reign over the house of Jacob forever (Isaiah 9:7)
- His kingdom will never end (Daniel 9:27)
If you are of Israel, which she was, all the teachings and alarm bells are going off. Because these are the words used of the Messiah, the Son of God.
Not only that, she was a virgin. She asked plainly how this could be.
Then the angel confirmed it.
- He said the baby would be from the Holy Spirit
- He would be a holy one
- As a sign to verify he also let her know her barren relative was 6 months pregnant
- Then Gabriel reminded her that nothing was impossible with God.
At this Mary received the angels word’s. And that wasn’t a small thing.
She likely would have lost her relationship with Joseph.
She definitely was going to be slandered, hated and rejected by her family and friends.
And she would be taking on a responsibility far beyond what a first-time mother would ever take on.
Yet those fears were not her focus. She truly was a righteous woman. What she did was extraordinary.
She first rushed to go visit her relative Elizabeth. There were no phones or emails to call and verify. One just showed up. She did this on faith. Gabriel spoke. She believed.
Then when Elizabeth affirmed her pregnancy, Mary inspired by the Holy Spirit worshiped. It wasn’t about her own suffering she would face. She just worshiped. Her God was bigger than the pain she and rejection and responsibility she would face. She worshiped because God, in his mercy, was bringing salvation and hope and help to the people of Israel.
Jesus and what he did is so much bigger than any of the trials of life we will face.
But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born[e] will be called holy—the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant[f] of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.