Luke 1:26–38

Article 5: Jesus’s Birth foretold

2 babies, 2 testaments, Old and New

Barabbas
IamBarabbas
Published in
12 min readSep 2, 2017

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Luke begins his narrative by presenting the birth and childhood accounts of John and Jesus. The parallels between the two highlight the continuity between the old (John the baptist) and the new (Jesus). Episodes that uniquely apply to Jesus highlight the discontinuity. This narrative emphasises both Jesus’ continuity with the prophetic traditions of the past and his unique identity as the Messiah and son of God.

Luke 1:26–38

26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee,

27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.

28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.

30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid,Mary; you have found favor with God.

31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.

32 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,

33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.

36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month.

37 For no word from God will ever fail.”

38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

Angel Babies

This, in it’s essence is part 2 of what I’m nicknaming the angel baby stories with good reason of course. Last week there were obvious notions from Zechariah and indeed Elizabeth that God could not intervene personally in the lives of us, with the story of Mary’s we see a differing moral approach to God’s intervention.

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee,

We read first in this verse that Elizabeth was already a good distance through her pregnancy. To be potentially three times Mary’s youthful age and be pregnant would have been seen as an act of God to many, others may judge there was a low statistical chance of pregnancy all along, yet some would wait for the baby’s first cries before calling an opinion generally out of their own scepticism (stuffing pillows under her dress to delude people?). But for Mary, a faithful Jew would give her great reassurances in times to come and perhaps even more-so given that Mary and Elizabeth were good friends and potentially relatives.

As we read further. Again we see signs of Doctor Luke(the author) with his intrinsic details, Gabriel was sent which notions he came down from heaven.

We know that the Angel Gabriel appeared not only to Zechariah and to Mary but also to the prophet Daniel 500 years earlier (Daniel 8:15–17; 9:21). Each time Gabriel appeared, he brought important messages from God.

http://www.jesus-story.net/images/Houses_Native_village.jpg

Luke names specific towns (Nazareth)and their regions (Galilee). Nazareth was Joseph and Mary’s hometown, it was a long way from Jerusalem, the centre of Jewish life and worship. Located on a major trade route, Nazareth was frequently visited by gentile merchants and Roman soldiers. It was known for its independent and aloof attitude. Jesus was born in Bethlehem but grew up in Nazareth. Nevertheless people the people of Nazareth would reject him as Messiah when he came (4:22–30)

Reading important details like pledged to be married helps us to understand they were engaged, we now have their names (Mary & Joseph) and Joseph’s Davidic descendant paves the way for Jesus, who will sit on “The throne of his father” (V32)

but we’ve also been given further details of Mary’s chastity, and well that’s a bit excessive right?

Doctor Luke strikes again as Mary’s chastity is the heart of this matter and a series of problems.

Although Luke specifically doesn’t quote it, the Virgin Mary shows a connection in prophecy From Isaiah over 700 years prior to Jesus’ birth. The promise of a virgin birth and this will be a sign of God becoming more personal than ever thought imagined, to walk alongside us.

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

Isaiah 7:14

28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you.”

Mary was a young, poor, female — all characteristics that to people of her day, would make her seem unusable by God for any major task. But God chose Mary for one of the most important acts of obedience he has ever demanded of anyone. You may feel your ability, experience, or education makes you an unlikely candidate for God’s service. Don’t limit God’s choices. He can use you if you trust him.

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid,Mary; you have found favour with God.

She’s standing before a great big angel, this would trouble or terrify anyone who isn’t expecting it. Why was she favoured? She wasn’t of a high social standing or a position of influence she was wondering (as said above) what on earth this greeting meant. Gabriel makes it clear him showing up is a good thing!

Then the baby bombshell hits…

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.”

Before even reaching Gabriel’s second sentence, Mary would’ve been reeling through the why’s, what’s, how’s and then not to mention…what’s Joseph going to think about all this?!

Unlike Zechariah, Mary wasn’t praying for a child, especially before she’s married. God’s favour does not automatically bring instant success or fame. His blessing on Mary, the honour of being the mother of the Messiah, would lead to much pain: her peers would ridicule her; her fiance would come close to leaving her; her son would be rejected and murdered, But through her son would come the world’s only hope, and this is why Mary has been praised by countless generations, Her submission was part of God’s plan to bring about our salvation. If sorrow weighs you down and dims your hope, think of Mary and wait patiently for God to finish working out his plan.

Jesus, a Greek form of the Hebrew name Joshua, was a common name meaning the Lord saves. Just as old testament hero Joshua has led Israel into the promised land (See Joshua 1:1,2), So Jesus was not lost on the Jewish people of his day, who took names seriously and saw them as a source of power. In Jesus’ name, people were healed, demons were banished, and sins were forgiven,

Centuries earlier, God had promised David that David’s kingdom would last forever (See 2 Samuel 7:16 for reference to this). The promise was fulfilled in the coming of Jesus, a direct descendant of David, whose kingdom will never end.

Virgin Birth

“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.

We all have questions, Mary had questions, I’m sure lots of them, but you can see her position in all this and the type of question she asked. Looking back to Zechariah, in the previous article, we see a man, strong in the faith and the chance to ask questions, but instead he hardens himself to the impossibility of what the angel is saying. Mary however asks the simple question, how? You see she knows the laws of nature and also knows who made them. What Mary wants to know is how’s it all going to work rather than pointing out the impossibility, Mary was open to God in ways where Zechariah, who lead the nation in prayer, wasn’t. Beware sometimes, even those in a position of leadership can and will make mistakes.

The birth of Jesus to a virgin is a miracle that many find hard to believe. These three facts can aid faith in believing this.

1: Luke was a medical doctor, and he knew perfectly well how babies are made. It would have been just as hard for him to believe in a virgin birth as it is for us, yet the reports it as fact because he can’t deny what’s he’s seen, heard and knows to be truth.

2: Luke was a painstaking researcher who based his gospel on eyewitness accounts. Tradition holds that he talked with Mary about the events he recorded in the first two chapters. This is Mary’s story, not a fictional invention created by the later churches.

3: Christians and Jews, who worship God as the creator of the universe, should have no doubts that God has the power to create a child in a virgins womb. This is briefly discussed in the previous article.

Why is the virgin birth so important to the Christian faith?Jesus was born without sin that entered the world through Adam. He was born holy, just as Adam was created sinless. In contrast to Adam, who disobeyed God, Jesus obeyed God (remember Adam had a faultless world, Jesus obeyed in the face of death) and was thus able to face sin’s consequences in our place and make us acceptable to God (Romans 5:14–19). Jesus Christ, God’s son, had to be free from the sinful nature passed on to all other human beings by Adam. Because Jesus was born of a woman, he was a human being; but as the Son of God, Jesus was born without any trace of sin. Jesus is both fully human and fully divine. Because Jesus lived as a man, human beings know that he fully understands their experiences and struggles (Hebrews 4:15–16). Because he is God, he has the power and authority to deliver people from sin (Colossians 2:13–15). People can tell Jesus all their thoughts, feelings and needs. He has been where they are and he has the ability to help.

Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.”

I want it all, and I want it now..

https://media.giphy.com/media/Eg2I6us1qy91K/giphy.gif

Gabriel reassures Mary that she’s seen what happened to Elizabeth so she may have learnt from them not to be so doubtful over angelic miraculous experiences. And if God says it will happen, it does. Now you might want God to claim a whole many things more, surely if He said I would have sunny weather everyday then I’ll get it right?

First of, God’s messages are beneficial for all of us but not always in ways we expect. He doesn’t breathe life into prosperity gospel, just the eternal one and looks at life from a perspective that we don’t. If every word we said came true then it’s probably not great for everyone, and in this case, farmers need rain (sorry Brits, the rain’s a blessing!).

There are characters in the bible who think as such, King David’s son Absalom but it didn’t work out well for him in the end. Mary trusted in God’s plans, something we should try and do also and if we don’t know God, ask him to reveal it in your own life and he honestly will but perhaps not in the way you might expect.

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

A young unmarried girl who became pregnant risked disaster, Unless the father of the child agreed to marry her, she would probably remain unmarried for life. If her own father rejected her, she could be forced into begging or prostitution in order to earn her living. And Mary, with her story about becoming pregnant by the Holy Spirit, risked being considered crazy as well. Still Mary said, despite the possible risks, “May everything you have said about me come true”. When Mary said that, she didn’t know about the tremendous opportunity she would have. She only knew that God was asking her to serve him, and she willingly obeyed. Don’t wait to see the bottom line before offering to do life with God. Offer yourself willingly, even when the outcomes seem disastrous.

Summary

The promise of a virgin birth as a sign of God who by this will become more personal than ever thought imagined, to walk alongside us. This is mind boggling stuff no matter what stance you’re in. It is hard to comprehend, yet if understood, it opens up a way of understanding life from a new perspective. One where God is personal, where he has walked in our shoes, and felt a pain none of us would ever achieve, just so that he could show us how much he loves us in spite of the suffering we all know and see.

God’s announcement of the birth of a special child was met with various responses throughout scripture. Sarah, Abraham’s wife, laughed (Genesis 18:9–15). Zechariah doubted (Luke 1:18). By contrast, Mary graciously submitted. She believed the angel’s words and agreed to bear the child, even under humanly impossible circumstances. God is able to do the impossible. Our response to his demands should not be laughter or doubt but willing acceptance.

Do not listen to the doubt you feel, try to understand things from God’s perspective, living in doubt will only hold you back.

Character profiles:

Who was Mary?

Motherhood is a painful privilege. Young Mary of Nazareth had the unique privilege of being mother to the very son of God. Yet the pains and pleasures of her motherhood can be understood by mothers everywhere. Mary was the only human present at Jesus’ birth who also witnessed his death. She saw him arrive as her baby son, and she watched him die as her saviour.

Until Gabriel’s Unexpected visit, Mary’s life was quite satisfactory. She had recently become engaged to a carpenter, Joseph, and was anticipating married life. But her life was about to change forever.

Angel’s don’t usually make appointments before visiting. Feeling as if she were being congratulated for winning the grand prize in a contest she never entered. Mary found the angel’s greeting puzzling and his very presence frightening. What she heard next was the news almost every woman in Israel hoped to hear; that her child would be the Messiah God’s promised saviour. Mary did not doubt the message but rather asked how pregnancy would be possible. Gabriel told her the baby would be God’s son. Her answer was the one God waits in vain to hear from so many other people: “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true” (Luke 1:38). Later her song of joy shows us how well she knew God, for her thoughts were filled with his words from the old testament. When he was eight days old Jesus was taken to the temple to be dedicated to God (Jewish ritual tradition). There Joseph and Mary were met by 2 devout people, Simeon and Anna, who recognised the child as the Messiah and praised God. Simeon directed some words to Mary that must have come to her mind many times in the years that followed: “A sword will pierce your very soul” (Luke 2:35). A big part of her painful privilege of motherhood would be to see her own son rejected and crucified by the people he came to save. We can imagine that even if she had known all she would suffer as Jesus’ mother, Mary would still have given the same response. Are you, like Mary, available to be used by God?

Strengths and accomplishments

  • The mother of Jesus, the Messiah
  • The one human, who was with Jesus from birth to death
  • Willing to be available to God
  • Knew and applied the old testament scriptures

Lessons from her life

  • God’s best servants are often ordinary people who make themselves available to him.
  • God’s plans involve extraordinary events in ordinary people’s lives
  • A person’s character is revealed by his or her response to the unexpected

Vital statistics

  • Where: Nazareth, Bethlehem
  • Occupation: homemaker
  • Relatives: Husband:Joseph, Relatives: Zechariah and Elizabeth. Children: Jesus, James, Joseph, Judas, Simon and daughters.

Key Verse:

“Mary responded ‘I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.’ And then the angel left her” (

Luke 1:38

Mary In Acts

Mary’s story is told through the gospels, she is also mentioned in Luke’s follow on book Acts 1:14

References

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SsNiJh1gKI

Life Application study bible

Life Application study bible (New Living Translation)

http://www.newlivingtranslation.com/05discoverthenlt/lasb.asp

NIV Zondervan study bible

NIV Zondervan study bible

http://www.nivzondervanstudybible.com/

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