DAY #85: March 26, 2009 - Luke 1:26-28

Six months after Gabriel delivered God’s message to Zechariah, God sent the angel with another message, this time to a virgin named Mary. The angel Gabriel had also appeared to the prophet Daniel more than five hundred years earlier (Daniel 8:15-17; 9:21). Each time Gabriel appeared, he brought important messages from God. This time was no exception.

Nazareth in Galilee was Joseph’s and Mary’s hometown. Mary was not a prophet or a priest; she was not in God’s Temple performing acts of service. Instead, she was simply a young woman who was living at home and planning her wedding, for she was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph. In ancient Jewish marriages, the word “engaged” or “betrothed” had a different meaning than today.

First, the two families would agree to the union and negotiate the betrothal, including a price for the bride which would be paid to the bride’s father. Next, a public announcement would be made. At this point, the couple was “pledged” to each other. This is similar to engagement today, except that it was much more binding. At this point, even though the couple was not officially married, their relationship could be broken only through death or divorce.

Sexual relations were not yet permitted. This second step lasted for a year. During that time, the couple would live separately, with their parents. This waiting period would demonstrate the bride’s purity. If she were found to be pregnant during that time, the marriage could be annulled. After this waiting time, the couple would be married and begin living together. What Mary was about to hear from the angel would have significant impact on her engagement.

Gabriel told Mary that God had decided to bless her. The words did not point out any special virtue in Mary—she was not sinless. God chose Mary, blessed her, and she humbly accepted his call to be the mother of Jesus. Gabriel explained that this child would grow in her womb, be born as all human children are born, and be named Jesus. This son will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High.

The word “Son” was a designation of the Messiah, the long-awaited Savior (Genesis 49:10; 2 Samuel 7:9-16; Psalm 2:7; Isaiah 7:14; 9:1-7; 11:1-3). Jesus, a Greek form of the Hebrew name Joshua, was a common name meaning “Yahweh saves.” Just as Joshua had led Israel into the Promised Land, so Jesus would lead his people into eternal life.

Unlike Zechariah who desired a sign as proof of the angel’s words, Mary’s question displayed her faith. She merely asked how this miraculous event could occur because she was a virgin. She was engaged to be married and probably planned on having children. Engagements usually occurred when girls were in their early teens. Mary may have been as young as thirteen when this event took place.

The birth of Jesus to a virgin is a miracle that many people find difficult to believe. Jesus’ miracles, transfiguration, and resurrection were all actual, historical events that defy explanation. They were acts of God in a human world. Christians’ faith, however, rests not on the virgin birth—faith rests on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, not on his virgin birth.

Gabriel explained how Mary would become pregnant and yet remain a virgin. The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you—these words picture the powerful presence of God coming upon Mary. This would indeed be a special baby, for he will be holy. Jesus was born without the sin that had entered the world through Adam. He was born holy, just as Adam had been created sinless.

Through the birth of Jesus, God himself entered the world in human form.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

Why did God choose Mary? It wasn't because of her education because she didn't have any. And it wasn't because of her wealth because she was poor. And it wasn't because she was mature because she was a teenager. God chose Mary because she trusted God. As i think about how Mary's story relates to us, here's what i see today;

You've got to want to do His will, more than anything else. You've got to say, "I want God's plan for my life." We talk about this all the time here at COV that God has a custom plan for you. But it's not automatic. God made you for a purpose but you could miss that purpose. You must chose to cooperate with God's purpose for your life or you'll miss it.

The second thing that stands out to me in this passage is that there is always a cost in following God's plan for your life. If you were to say to God, "God, I want to be closer to You. I want to be more in Your will, in Your plan." It's going to cost you. You're going to have to give up some stuff. There will always be a cost, there will always be risks and it will always require faith and you're going to have to step out and do some things in the unknown that you're scared to do. Stepping out in faith.

Mary decided to take the chance, to risk, to pay the cost. Mary said, "God, I'm willing to do whatever You want." The first thing it cost her was her reputation. She was a virgin. She was pregnant. She was engaged to be married to Joseph. How are you going to explain that to everybody in the community? She gave up her reputation. Jesus was thirty years old before He started doing miracles to validate He was who He said He was.

The point is: If you get serious about God's plan for your life -- there are going to be people who'll misunderstand you and there will be people who misjudge you and there will be people who criticize you. You are going to be different. Count on it. God's purpose and plan for my life includes some problems. They're not accidental. They're part of the plan. And that's part of the cost. There's always a cost.

Jesus is very up front about the cost. Jesus said, "No one can be My disciple who doesn't carry his own cross - don't begin until you count the cost." Jesus said, Don't commit your life until you have really considered it.

Lord, raise up men and women who willing to pay the cost to be your disciples.