Throughout Advent, we would like to inspire you with Bible passages that prepare you for Christmas. Click on the Bible passage to read along in the Study Bible app ⤵️
An angel announces Jesus | Luke 1:26-33
An angel announces to Mary the birth of Jesus. The words in Luke 1:26-28 recall the familiar words in the Nicene Creed: 'He came down from heaven for us men and for our salvation. He was born by the Holy Spirit from the virgin Mary and became man. In the medieval church, it was customary in this regard for church members to bow the knee at the phrase "and became man.
Why me?
The angel's greeting to the virgin Mary is the pure gospel. The virgin is she to whom God the Lord has been gracious. Mary reacts somewhat bewildered to this glad tidings. She is troubled and arguing with herself about the particularity of this greeting and the angel's words. Why me? What responsibility does God give me now? Angels on Christmas cards do not alarm us. Real angels do and often say, "Don't be afraid.
Mary need not be afraid. God will treat her as one of His favorites. She may be a recipient of grace. "Do not be afraid. 'The Lord is with you.' 'You have come into favor with God.' We know these things are true because God kept promise.
The miracle of birth
A pregnant virgin giving birth to a child is a miracle. How she comes to name her Son is even more miraculous. The name Jesus means "the Lord is salvation. Taking into account all that will follow, we see that this is not just a common Jewish name (Joshua, Joshua, Yeshua).
This Son is a unique child. All the names and terms the angel mentions apply to Him: 'He will become a great man and be called Son of the Most High, and God, the Lord, will give Him the throne of His father David. For ever and ever He will be King over the people of Jacob, and His kingship will have no end' (Luke 1:32-33).
This Son will be called "Son of the Most High" - not as an honorary title, but because He truly is. The throne of David will be His. God had promised David that one of his descendants would remain on the throne forever (2Sam.7:12-16). Solomon or anyone else did not fulfill that promise. The Son of Mary will.
"What will this be like?
A baby is born of a virgin. The Son of God becomes man. A Man executed by experts rises from the dead. Stubborn rebellious lost people become faithful children of God. All of that is God's work. Nothing is impossible with God!
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