Day 19- Christ’s Birth Announced to Mary
Mary was the first one to know. That’s right, after four hundred years of silence, the prophecy of the Lord from His prophets is now coming true. The Messiah will be born. Heaven agrees upon the moment and now the Word will become flesh and dwell among us and we will behold His glory full of grace and truth. The Angel of the Lord revealed this to Mary before anyone else on earth would know. The young virgin is visited by Gabriel in a city of Galilee named Nazareth.
Luke tells us that it had been about six months since the angel Gabriel had visited Elizabeth. Now he is paying a visit to her cousin, a young virgin girl named Mary. The virgin Mary is betrothed to Joseph who is of the house of David. There it is and Luke is including it too. The house and lineage of David. Luke, as well as Matthew wants his readers to know beyond a shadow of doubt that Jesus is the Messiah and that this lineage is all connected back to lineage and house of David.
Verse twenty-eight of Luke chapter one tells us, “And having come in the angel (Gabriel) said to her, ‘Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!’” So it appears the angel came in to where Mary was. It’s interesting how God always meets us where we are, isn’t it? However, Mary is troubled and confused about this greeting. Could you imagine a young girl minding her own business and a big angel from heaven shows up and tells her to rejoice because she is highly favored of the Lord among all women. Wow!
He goes on to tell her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.” Notice that he calls her by name. Without saying it, he is letting her know that he knew who she was and that God knew who she was as well. Aren’t you thankful that God knows us by name. Anyway, all of heaven had been talking about this moment and now Gabriel is letting Mary know as well. Jesus the messiah will be conceived in the womb of Mary and she will deliver heaven’s gift to the world.
Gabriel continues the conversation with Mary by telling her that she is going to conceive in her womb and bring forth a Son, and His name shall be called, Jesus. He was named before the conception. He continues by saying, “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give 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.” The proclamation that Gabriel is declaring about Jesus being the heir of His father David’s throne and about His reign being eternal is without a doubt, identifying Him (Jesus) as the Messiah.
Take Away: “And His name shall be called, Jesus.” The name Jesus is equivalent to the Hebrew name, Joshua. Matthew says, “His name shall be called Jesus, for He will save His people from their sin. Joshua was a shadow type of a deliverer and Jesus would become the ultimate deliverer of mankind. Mary was visited by Gabriel and given the news that she was going to deliver our savior and deliverer.
